I do not believe that our society is even close to “Orwellian”. We do have a government and they are controlling BUT the people in the book, including Winston, are way more than just controlled by their “government”. They can’t think, move, of even breathe without people watching them. Big Brother sees everything these people do. Winston has a little alcove where he escapes to where he can get away from Big Brother. This is the only place he can express himself. The fact that these people can’t express themselves takes away from individuality. The Thought Police doesn’t allow these people to have any thoughts.
It would be very hard to live in this kind of world. We express many of our feelings through facial expressions. We are very judgmental people, even if we just keep our thoughts to ourselves. It would be almost impossible to not think at all or have someone that would punish us for thinking.
As I said earlier, our government is controlling but it isn’t too bad. They aren't keeping us from thinking or having relationships with people. As far as monitoring calls and searching our properties, the government may be a bit intruding. On the lines of searching properties, as long as there is proper suspicion and a warrant to search, I feel it is okay. In other words, there shouldn’t be any freedoms lost to the government. If they do these things to keep us safe I also think it is okay. For example, if they monitor a call and someone is planning to bomb something and they can stop this person because they listened to the call, I personally think that was a success and no one will be complaining that they listened to this call. If we have nothing to hide from the government then what should it matter if they listen? Just my opinion though. Another example of having the government very much involved is air line safety. It may take longer to get boarded or get off your plane but this keeps us safe.
This book is very challenging and sometimes hard to understand. Im not a fan of how dark and lonely the feel of this book is.
I agree that it would be very difficult to survive in this society, if not just for the fact that we are in fact very quick to judge, but i would find it extremely hard to control my facial reactions or body gestures. I like to use my expressions and emotions when I talk, so I would be thrown in jail immediately in this society.
ReplyDelete"If we have nothing to hide from the government, then why should it matter if they listen?" I loved that you pointed this out. I am probably ignorant of alot of instances where I'm being 'watched', but who cares? I don't do anything 'illegal' to provoke a reaction from whoever is watching me. I agree that our government and way of living is nothing like the way of life in 1984. I had an English teacher in high school that called me her 'open book' because she would look at me to figure out what the students were thinking. I cannot hide my emotions from my face! I would be vaporized after living in that world for an hour.
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