Essay Sample: Contemporary Society Compared to George Orwell’s 1984

In Nazi Germany, many were sent to forced labor camps for no reason other than having different beliefs and values than Hitler. The well-known novella, 1984, showcases this punishment method as well as principles similar to Hitler’s ideology through the eyes of the main protagonist, an outer-party member named Winston. While living in this oppressive environment, Winston lacks individual freedom as well as endures constant questioning of what is true or not. Even though many believe that the dystopian society established in George Orwell’s 1984 is improbable, the status quo is more parallel with Oceania than one may think.

Oceania’s control over its citizens is easily comparable to countries today. To start, the party is constantly releasing new statistics and stories through telescreens and posters throughout Oceania, and many residents absorb them without question. Winston, who partakes in changing documents, is fully aware of the lies that are created each day. Winston states that the party consistently “bruised your ears with statistics proving that people today had more food…[were] healthier, stronger, [and] happier” (74) However, “not a word of it could be proved or disproved” (74). Fake news is prominent in both Oceania and the world today, and though they are expressed differently, they have the same effect on people. In the present, the news is received through TV or the internet, but it is especially diffused through social media. Telescreens and social media can be viewed in the same way. Big brother has the ability to post what he pleases whether the statistics are true or false, similar to the owner of a social media account.

Additionally, telescreens are Big Brother's way of keeping tabs on the behaviors of those beneath him. They are located in every home and public space, and they have a view of just about everything. Residents of Oceania have “no way of knowing whether [they are] being watched at any given moment” (3), and they live in constant fear that “every sound [they make is] overheard, and except in darkness, every movement scrutinized” (3). Cell phones are ubiquitous in our world today, similar to the prominence of telescreens in Oceania. Everyone has one and uses it constantly. Whether one is aware of it or not, the government can and is tracking activity on these devices, frighteningly similar to how the totalitarian government of 1984 is. According to a test done by the Washington Post, several apps share more data than they claim to upfront and track your searches, as well as messages and calls. Therefore, both cell phones and telescreens share ample amounts of private information.

Furthermore, children in Oceania are extremely desensitized to violence and enjoy it immensely. They take pride in snitching on not only neighbors but also family members for being “thought criminals”, or “traitors” (23). The Parson children demonstrate this behavior when pleading to watch the hanging. Mrs. Parsons vocalizes that the children are “disappointed because they couldn't go to see the hanging” (24) since neither parents are available to take them. The children respond abysmally with “Want to see the hanging! Want to see the hanging!” (24). Winston then makes a point of mentioning that children always want to go and watch the hangings. The desensitization of children in Oceania is because of long-term exposure to violence throughout their lives. This is comparable to the use of violent video games that are common in many young children’s homes today. According to a study done by the University of Michigan, “Most of us naturally have a strong aversion to the sight of blood and gore,” said one of the scientists, along with how “playing violent video games increases aggressive behavior and decreases helping behavior,” which was proved in the contents of the study. Children are being exposed to these things at a younger age each year, letting them attain an almost exciting reaction to violence. This is practically indistinguishable from the Parson children’s reaction to the hanging in 1984.

All the same, a contentious person may say otherwise and state that today's world is much different from Oceania. They could mention that Oceania has many holidays and activities relating to more hapless subjects such as hate, whereas the holidays celebrated in this reality are positive and correspond more closely to love and family. Each year in Oceania there is indeed a commonly distinguished week, best known as “Hate Week” (148). It is celebrated by everyone and is prepared for well before the actual week. There are designated songs written for it, as well as a myriad of decorations. Winston describes how the street is being constructed, “stitching banners, painting posters…[and] slinging wires across the street for the reception of streamers” (148). It is verifiable that they prepare immensely for the celebration of something so negative as hate week, and most holidays in this reality represent more positive notions. Thanksgiving, for example, is a holiday that symbolizes being with family and friends, as well as finding things to be grateful for. However, not every holiday on the calendar is all warmth and positivity. Columbus Day was once a largely celebrated holiday across America, but it has recently come to light that it is a historically problematic one. Many would now rather call it Indigenous Peoples Day as the detrimental ramifications of this widely celebrated explorer are becoming realized. Columbus is known to be responsible for, according to the New York Times, “the enslavement and genocide of Native American people.” Thus showing how not every holiday is necessarily positive in our world today, similar to “hate week” in 1984.

In the final analysis, it is clear that the corrupted world of George Orwell's 1984 is not all that different from the thought to be utopian environment lived in today. Whether one looks at the news, video games, or cell phone use, those similarities are showcased. As a country built upon the rights of the people, America needs to recognize the direction they are headed in and make a change. Citizens must acknowledge the similarities and consider the creation of this book a warning as to what could become of the government's power.