Essay Preview: 1984
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In George OrwellпіÐs 1984, a light is shining on the concept of a negative utopia, or піЅdystopiaпіЅ caused by totalitarianism. Totalitarianism is, піЅa form of government in which political authority exercises absolute and centralized control over all aspects of lifeпіЅпіЅ and any opposing political and/or cultural expressions are suppressed. Having lived in a time of totalitarianism regime, Orwell had a firsthand account of its horrific lengths and negative affects. Within 1984, Orwell derives aspects of the actual government of his time to create, піЅThe PartyпіЅ, піЅBig BrotherпіЅ, and the піЅThought PoliceпіЅ. Using these fictional recreations of reality, OrwellпіЅs 1984 continues to warn people of the horror of an all controlling government. Relating fact with fiction, Orwell expresses his disgust and fear for a totalitarianism government by creating a піЅnightmarishпіЅ vision of the negative utopia.
Government in the 1930піЅs was what pushed Orwell to write 1984. By looking at the Soviet Union during this time, it could be said that 1984 was modeled after it.
Political trials, torture extracted confessions, labor camps, secret police, and the rewriting of history played a part in the SovietпіЅs government. In 1984, Orwell uses піЅtele-screensпіЅ and піЅThought PoliceпіЅ to monitor the people of Oceania. Following the storyпіЅs protagonist, Winston, the reader can see that everywhere he goes, the party watches him. Everywhere he looks, he sees the figure of піЅBig BrotherпіЅ. Saying or thinking negatively of the party in any way can be піЅsensedпіЅ by the Thought Police and is considered a crime. When Winston writes, піЅDOWN WITH BIG BROTHERпіЅ in his diary, he doesnпіЅt refrain from writing it over and over again. піЅWhether he went on with the diary or whether he did not go on with it, made no difference. The Thought Police would get him just the same.
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