English Term Paper

1984 is a novel of great influence. The novel illustrates many concepts of life in the future through the knowledge of the past. The descriptive theories within the novel are familiar in basic context when we look into the society of today. The author George Orwell has projected an image of the future through the knowledge of his lifetime, which is not far off reality. The novel talks about the social movement to a world of unbearable proportions, which takes the idea of security to the limit. A feeling of helplessness is bestowed upon the people as the government scrutinizes their every move. The government has created a society of fear, and people automatically fall into line for they cannot escape the eyes of Big Brother who is watching them. Many of the major concepts outlined in detail in the novel are applicable to life in the twenty-first century. The author has defined concepts for several areas, which he perceived the world would progress towards. Orwell's prophecies as illustrated in the novel 1984 are fulfilled in today's society.

One of the major prophecies that Orwell outlines in his novel is the idea of the telescreen which can watch anyone at any time this is a reality in today's society. One of the major connections that Orwell makes about the telescreen of 1984 and today's society is that you could spy on people. The telescreen might be the most closely compared to microphones and cameras, but there are also many other devices that can be easily used for spying. Within the area of the telescreen anyone could be watched as well as heard, which closely links to the surveillance of today, except people are a little more naive. "Any sound that Winston made, above the level of a very low whisper, would be picked up by it; moreover, so as long as he remained within the field of vision which the metal plaque commanded, he could be seen as well as heard. There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment."(Orwell, 6) The notion that "Big brother is watching you" from the novel is not that far off. In fact cameras are being installed all over the place for security reasons, but you do not know who is watching you and what kind of personal information you are giving away. "No matter how far our contemporary world may seem to 1984's Oceania, any suggestion of government surveillance of its citizens--from the threatened "clipper chip," which would have allowed government officials to monitor all computer activity, to New York mayor Rudy Guliani's decision to place security cameras in central park -- produces cries of "Big Brother is watching."(Fitzpatrick 1) The idea that the government would use a computer chip to monitor computer activity is a close comparison to the telescreen. The telescreen would watch people's every move as they go about their day, and the chip would allow the same capability. The difference is that it would watch your every virtual move: on the internet, every web site you go to, your online banking, credit card numbers would all be at the hands of the government. The fact that the government is putting cameras in public places is not uncommon. Cameras are in schools, restaurants, banks, convenience stores, some people have hidden security cameras in their homes, and now they are even in parks. Almost anywhere you go, except for the security of your own home you are being watched. These days, people have voice recorders as well, so they could be recording what you are saying without you even noticing this is mainly used for undercover people such as the FBI. Surveillance is not the only worry, which the telescreen provides, it is also a dangerous tool, which can be used for brainwashing as well. The telescreen can also be linked to the idea of the modern day mass media. In the book the telescreen was used as a device to brainwash and produce propaganda, and as well, just to deliver the news. The televisions of today can basically viewed in the same manor. Televisions provide the same services to the people that telescreens did in 1984. "The voice from the telescreen paused. A trumpet call, clear and beautiful, floated into the stagnant air. The voice continued raspingly. Attention! Your attention please! A news flash has this moment arrived from the Malabar front. Our forces in south India have won a glorious victory." (Orwell, 24) The telescreen is constantly delivering news to the people of Oceania. The facts and figures about business, the news of the war are all things that can be consistently brought to the attention of the people of Oceania. Although the news is not on everywhere you go, the news of each day can be found at any point in the day. There is accurate and up to date news being presented on several all news stations on the television, or on the radio. The news that the telescreen also delivers capabilities of brainwashing. "At this moment the entire group of people broke into a deep, slow, rhythmical chant of 'B-B! ... B-B! ... B-B!'" (Orwell, 17) The government has a good knowledge of how to use the telescreens to gain support from the people. The people in the novel are totally entranced enough to make them chant demonstrating a love for the party. The telescreens serve the purpose of hypnotizing people to develop a new sense of being. The televisions of today are used in the same method to create hypnotizing effects. "The most brilliant propagandist technique will yield no success unless one fundamental principle is borne in mind constantly... it must confine itself to a few points and repeat them over and over." (http://free.freespeech.org/americanstateterrorism/mediadeception/MssMdaBrnwshng.html) This quote from the Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels indicates the simplicity of brainwashing. After reading this statement, it comes to mind that this is the logic behind many of the television ads today. Many have catchy jingles and or rhythmical chants to stimulate the memory, and entice buyers. There may be different applications for the brainwashing of 1984 and the brainwashing of today, but still it is the same principles. The telescreens of 1984 were not only used for mass media, but for personal use as well. The telescreen can also be seen as something of an individual communication device, such as current day telephones or microphones and web cameras, combined into one device. A device of instant communication through seeing and hearing between two people at one time. "The picture had fallen onto the floor, uncovering the telescreen behind it. 'Now they can see us,' said Julia. 'Now we can see you,' said the voice."(Orwell, 176) The telescreen can see the movements of everyone, and even talk to people in specific locations, apart from all of the masses. The telescreen