1984-Winston is Left in the Dark

Facts of 1984

Did you predict Winston would get caught from the beginning?

The government can really destroy you with their best abilities and this is their point of making you follow their rules and propaganda. The party completely destroys Winston. He was broken. The whole point to his torture was to break him and to destroy his sense of self, to make him not only an example to others but to crush his identity and make him happy to be broken. In the end, his joy was the complete destruction of his mind, his ultimate defeat and the victory of the state over the individual himself. One of the party's main goals was to take away Julia and make Winston go against her. He is released to her, but he feels absolutely nothing for her. We see Julia at the very end of the book as well, and can get a picture of her physical appearance, and she mentions things so you can infer what happened to her. "her face was sallower, and there was a long scar, partly hidden by the hair, across her forehead and temple...her waist had grown thicker, and, in a surprising way, had stiffened...her body felt like [a corpse]." It is very sickening that they had the capability to do this. A great number of memories appear in Winston's head. At first he remembers a day from his childhood, before his mother disappeared. It was a memory of joy, and Winston "pushed the picture out of his mind. It was a false memory. He was troubled by false memories occasionally." Or at least that is what they tell him.

Of course, this was a real memory, but he has now been "trained" to believe in only the thoughts that go with the Party's goals, which means forgetting all that made Winston unique because no one can be an individual person. They say no one at the Ministry of Love murdered Winston, even though O'Brien threatened that Winston would eventually be shot. But O'Brien and the Ministry of Love did murder Winston. They murdered who he really was. At the end of the book, Winston isn't someone who can think for himself. He is like a puppet for the party. He is now never going to be the same Winston, now loving Big Brother forever. Winston's self is the part that makes him human and unique, the real Winston that is dead and not coming back. 

It is sad to say all all around the world, parts of 1984 have become and are becoming a reality of todays society. As shown in 1984, there is no loyalty. While torturing Winston, O'Brien says “No one dares trust a wife or a child or a friend... there will be no loyalty except, for loyalty for the party. There will no love, except the love for Big Brother.” Although, we do trust our loved ones, many do have loyalty/trust issues due to lack of qualities some people have because that is how their lives have always been. 

Overall, what did you think about 1984? Do you think it is becoming a sad reality from 1984 turning into today's world?

1984- "How Easily are we Actually Influenced by Propaganda?"

                                                                                                What does propaganda mean to you?
According to dictionary.com :
propaganda- information, ideas, or rumors deliberately spread widely to help or harm a person, group, movement, institution, nation, etc.

So, how easily do you think you are influenced by propaganda?
It could be different for everyone. Some people can be very gullible and give in to what they are being persuaded to believe. On the other hand, some are very stubborn to their beliefs and will not change their mind easily on propaganda. Propaganda can easily persuade you with your emotions. A personal issue is brought to your attention and you are all about it. Well, in 1984 propaganda is used to keep the public controlled, using Big Brother as their major propaganda, and turn them against Goldstien. The main chararter Winston, seems very confused by propaganda in the book. He is very unsure of what to believe. He is one of the only ones who does not just believe in all the things the government tells him and goes along with it. He knows that there is something to it. One morning at work, Winston sees a girl fall and when he helps her up, he gets a note that says "I love you." Feelings like these aren't allowed in Oceania. Winston is unsure to believe the girl because what if she is just a sky seeking on his behavior? Eventually Winston does against the proganda and desides to meet her in Victory Square where they hide from the telescreens and movement/talk of the citizens. She tells him that her name is Julia, and rips off her Junior Anti-Sex League sash. Winston becomes curious as they make their way into the woods, and they make love. The experience he goes through is just like the sexual encounter that Winston had dreamed of. Winston asks Julia if she has done this before, and she exclaims that she has many of times. He tells her that the more men she has been with, the more he loves her because it means that more citizens are commiting crimes also. Winston tells Julia about a walk he took with his ex-wife Katherine, and he thought about pushing her off of a cliff. He says it would not have mattered whether he pushed her or not, because it is impossible to win against the force of government. Along with all of this rebellion in Winston, Julia, and it seems many others against the government, there are still all the ones following the rules. They all are lost in these lies that they are told and influenced by propaganda. So easily, we are influenced if we are "told the truth." We would not even know what the real truth is. 
They are told that
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
WAR IS PEACE
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
 So this is what they constantly believe. This is their truth and who knew it wasn't actually the truth? This is their form of double speak. The party is convincing the citizens of Oceania that what they want, is what they already have. Propaganda is brainwash. The citizens of Oceania are brainwashed to think that the party is really there to help them, and to make them happy. “WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS SLAVERY. IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.” and “Big Brother is Watching You” are both examples of doublespeak. These uses of propaganda prevent rebellion of the citizens of Oceania because they believe that this society is the ideal society. They believe they are protected, and that they could not be happier. Propaganda is the Party’s deadliest weapon of control, but they do not know this because they are so badly brainwashed. In any way, we can so easily be persuaded into propaganda. Sometimes we do not even see it. 

What is propaganda in todays society, and how easily do you think you can be persuaded into it without you even knowing?

1984-How Does "Big Brother" Connect to a Total Government?

Big Brother is Watching You

In George Orwell's book "1984" Big Brother is a fictional character or symbol throughout the book showing complete dictatorship. "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU" is often quoted. It seems that "big brother" has the abuse of government power. He symbolizes reassurance for most people but in fact the face of big brother is an open threat “one cannot escape his gaze.” 1984 is trying to show that a totaltarian government is dangerous to you. Throughout the book, Orwell gives you the perfect totalitarian society of what life would be like and the most extreme realization of a modern-day government with absolute power. Orwell is trying to show that it was very possible that the happenings in this book would become a reality. That big brother would be watching you. For example, your government(known as big brother) would watch your every move. Sadly to say, this is becoming a reality. In today's society, it is not this harsh. Although, the government still tracks our whereabouts, phone calls, and other personal information. It is a scary reality of what the world is coming to today. Orwell also goes to great lengths to show you how terrifying and controlling big brother could get. Big Brother is the face of the Party, the leader behind the great power in this society. The best part is that they never come to confirm his actual existence yet. Is he real?  Maybe the Party just hired an intimidating looking male to make those posters portraying big brother. Big Brother serves as a God-like figure to the citizens of Oceania. He is a symbol of power and is seen as a knowing figure gazing into the lives of every citizen's life around. Everyone is expected to be loyal to him and follow his commands of control.
Working, eating, drinking, sleeping, talking, thinking, that all are controlled by the state. Any hint of obedience or dislike can be detected by many such as the Thought Police, telescreen, or even your children who will not hesitate to betray you to the authorities. Even language is modified in such ways that you cannot express yourself. Everyone seems to be afraid of big brother considering if you are caught betraying him, you aren't to be found again. No one knows what actually happens, but you no longer come back. There is no real truth in Oceania. The "truth" is what the state says it is. Black is white and 2+2=5, if the state says so. Winston, the protagonist and main character does not fall within this belief of this being the world. He experiences multiple thoughts that could cost him his life and he feels alone in his reason of thinking. He even goes as far as dangerously buying a diary from a shop and starts recording his different opinions and thoughts. This could cost Winston his life, but he doesn't seem to care as he is so confused on how "big brother" works. The novel focuses a lot on how many freedoms we take for granted have been removed, and this is a terrifying thought.

How does 1984 make you realize that we should not take our freedom for granted? Do you think there will ever become a point where "big brother is watching you?"