The book 1984?

Question

I need to do a research paper for Lit somehow relating to the novel 1984. It must deal with a them represented in the novel.

ex: my friend read One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and is doing his on whether or not mental illness should be a liable excuse in murder cases. (see how it kinda deals with the book---mental illness)

okay, i've read the book, it was amazing! and i TOTALLY 4got 2 write my question....

any ideas on my topic?

Answer 1

How about the issue of cloning, whether the benefits outweigh the possible abuse? 1984 represents the ultimate nightmare of cloning.

Answer 2

Everything that happens in 1984 revoves around a totalitarian state that has absolute control over everything their population does, sees, etc. Everyone is being watched, either by hidden cameras or by informants.

You may have heard the phrase "Big Brither is Watching" whenever somebody complains about security in the US and the UK after 9/11. You could easily write a very entertaining paper by comparing the imaginary totalitarian state in 1984 (which is assumed to be England btw) to what is happening to us nowadays.

Answer 3

You could go at it from the point of the Mind Police - ThoughtCrimes. You were supposed to only think along the lines of party-approved stuff. Everything else had to be denied, repressed, laughed off or simply ignored.
It's like the story our Government gave us of 9-11. Anyone who doesn't subscribe to that official story is automatically suspected of possessing a criminal mind (If you're not with us, you're with "Them"), you're labeled, branded, outcast, suspicions are heaped on about your mental acuity, your emotional stability, etc. etc. You're being brainwashed into submission. Terrorized into accepting the official version.
Makes sense? Do read the book. It has more alarming pertinence today than ever before.

Answer 4

How about the fact that the government is currently reserving
the right to "bug" telephone and internet communications -
without having to explain why, when , how, or where.....
Why not take a poll at your school to see how many of the
students feel that this is an unfair invasion of their privacy....
It might make an interesting paper - unless Big Brother finds
out....

Answer 5

You could write about whether or not the government should have the right to keep tabs on you, keep personal information, force Americans to give blood to be typed or run for DNA... In other words, how invasive should we allow our federal or state government to be in our lives? Do we allow the government to assume everyone is guilty of something, and therefore that justifies government intrusiveness? Don't forget, our country stands for the proposition that we in America are innocent until proven guilty.

Answer 6

Compare/contrast Big Brother with the current US administration.

better yet, talk about how propagandists can manipulate language to serve their own devious purposes. (e.g. "War is Peace." ) You can clip out news articles from the newspaper and locate some of these
here are some examples:
"50 False News Stories By
Bush Propaganda Machine
A Strategy of Lies: How the White House Fed
the Public a Steady Diet of Falsehoods"

http://www.rense.com/general44/50.htm

Answer 7

How about How Government Is Keeping Tabs ON Everyone? That is what 1984 is about. Government is called Big Brother

Answer 8

"Big Brother is Watching"' represents government control over its people. Something like Bush is trying to do by wiretapping all citizens and keeping tabs on everyone and where they go and who they see and what they talk about. Not far off if he gets his way!!

Answer 9

Totalitarian governments, read the book, it well worth the time.

Answer 10

I liked mathew's answer. compare the book to our reality as americans today. so similar it makes your skin crawl.
he loved big brother.