George Orwell's "1984"

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, although George Orwell's novel "1984" is essentially a fictional projection of possibilities and "what if" scenarios, the foundations of "1984" stem from the author's personal experiences and insights into the way governments and political groups manipulate and even construct the truth to suit their own ends in an effort to gain and maintain power. The author points out that the central theme of Orwell's book is power and control and the loss of human individualism and freedom; 'Big Brother' is the all pervasive observer who inserts the state and party into every aspect of life. The paper relates that aspects of the book resonate of modern society: The use of the word "terrorist" as 'newspeak', surveillance and control mechanisms implemented under the guise of 'security', the concept of the 'relativity of truth' and the idea that 'war is peace'.

From the Paper:

"While the story is fictional, there are numerous areas and themes that seem to have an all too familiar correspondence with modern life and with the contemporary history of American politics. American history is saturated with evidence that points to the need for power and control. This can be seen in the way in which the Native American Indians were abused and their culture virtually annihilated under the rubric of advancement and progress. A more contemporary example, which is aligned to the subtle manipulation of the media for purposes of public manipulation through the use of the words like 'terror' and 'terrorism' which is, we could say, part of the real world Newspeak vocabulary."

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