The year 2002 has finally arrived. This is a time to take a retrospective look at what has happened in the previous year. The same thing happened in 1984. Back then; the people decided if what George Orwell had predicted in his novel had come true. Taking a quick glance, the appearance of the society then, compared with the fictional society of 1984 was like night and day. But, on further inspection, George Orwells predictions were really not that far off. Now in 2002, the evidence of a 1984 like society is ever the more visible.
The focus of hatred in the two-minute hate can be seen today as well. Hate is an emotion that everyone experiences. In 1984, two minutes is taken every day to focus hate on Emmanuel Goldstein. Very little is known about him except for the fact that he opposes the party. He was the primal traitor, the earliest defiler of the Partys purity. (14) Because the party always changes the past to coincide with their views, no one really knows if Goldstein ever existed.
He may have an object to focus party members hate on so that they love Big Brother all the more. This can be seen in the United States today, and in the past. In colonial times hatred was focused on Britain. They were the sole reason for all hardship in the colonies. They made life horrible for the settlers. In World War II hate was focused on Germany and Japan.
The Essay on Things I Hate Society Texts Katherina
In 'The Taming of the Shrew' by William Shakespeare, and 'Ten things I hate about you', directed by Gil Junge r, both contexts reflect the society of when each text was composed. When comparing these two texts and observing the themes, it is indisputable that these contexts have shown the similarity and differences of the values during the time, thus, it shows the evolution of society. Firstly, ' ...
Japan attacked the United States when the nation was not in the war. Americans then enjoyed seeing the atomic bomb fall on the Japanese cities. After World War II, the American hate was then focused Russian Communism. America had to make sure democracy prevailed over communism. Russia was a foe that the United States was always competing with. The Emmanuel Goldstein of today would be Osama Bin Laden.
After his terrorist act hate was focused on him. The media told Americans that he was the one to hate. Americans listened to what the media told them. Osama Bin Laden is made fun of by Jay Leno and other comedians. The rock band Jackyl even produced a song, I hate you Bin Laden. To dissemble your feelings, to control your face, to do what everyone else wad doing was an instinctive reaction. (18) The hate grew severe enough for some Americans to commit hate crimes against people of a Middle-Eastern patrimony. After the terrorist exploit, love suddenly arose for todays Big Brother, Uncle Sam.
People did all they could to show loyalty to the country (The Party) by putting up flags and even having a nationwide candlelight vigil. The United States Army cannot locate Bin Laden, they dont even know if he is alive. Yet, hate is still continually focused on Bin Laden. Similarly to 1984, thoughts fade quickly in this Nation. That act happened less than four months ago and people are already forgetting about the horrific deed. The past quickly gives way to the present in this nation where media is king.
Day by day and almost minute by minute the past was brought up to date. (36) The hate of the people of today is similar to the two-minute hate of 1984. The society structure of 1984 is also related to the nation of today. The proles made up 85% of the population of Oceania, but their thoughts didnt matter. They had no connection to the government. The freedom to do whatever they wanted was also one of their rights. They were born, they grew up in the gutters, they went to work at twelve, they passed through a brief blossoming period of beauty and sexual desire, they married at twenty, were middle aged at thirty, they died, for the most part at sixty. (74) Most countries have 85% of their population being very poor with a low life expectancy like that of a prole.
The Essay on American Live Today With Drugs
There are few problems as persistent in American life today as drugs. Despite the solutions put forth by our countries leaders by seizing ships and imposing has her jail sentences. The government policies have failed to reduce drug abuse and crimes resulting form the use of drugs. The amount of money budgeted to combat the illegal drug problems in our society have increased greatly to the point ...
The poor, who make up the majority of the population, live in very destitute living conditions. The proles only had a 40% literacy rate which is comparable to some countries today. The proles were very comparable to the middle class American in some aspects as well. They were only concerned with heavy physical work, the care of home and children, petty quarrels with neighbors, films, football, beer, and above all, gambling. (74) That is how television depicts the average American, and that is how they are pictured. Many Americans are obsessed with the lottery and even have a gambling problem.
The chance that they will win is so miniscule, yet they continue to buy more and more tickets. The Lottery with its weekly pay-out of enormous prizes, was the one public event to which the proles paid serious attention. (89) This was the principle or only reason that millions of proles remain alive. (89) The main goal in a proles life was to win a lottery with no actual large payout. Proles had very little to live for except the same life as the family before them. Proles can be seen in many places today. The party, especially the elite inner party is visible in todays society as well.
The party made up the other 15% of the population that were not proles. Only 2% of the population was the elite inner party with special privileges. They could turn off telescreens and could enjoy good food and drink. They also had servants to wait on their every need. This is similar to the Upper class in the World today. It was only on very rare occasions that one saw inside the dwelling places of the inner party, or even penetrated into the quarter of town where they lived. (138) The United States has a small amount of elite wealthy people as well. The Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that the Per Capita income of the average American is only $29,451.
Only a small fraction of the population have the money and power to have servants wait on their every need. The wealthy live in their own neighborhoods where the middle-class and poor never enter. But that is not just in the United States. In poverty-stricken nations there is no middle-class. There are a few extremely wealthy, and numerous impoverished peoples. There is still a noticeable division of wealth in the world today.
The Essay on Atrocity And The American People
An atrocity is defined as "An act of cruelty and violence inflicted by an enemy-armed force upon civilians or prisoners." Some believe this war in Kosovo is about politics. However, upon examination of the specifics of this conflict it is apparent that this is about religion. People must then decide whom, if anyone is committing these atrocities. Should the United States be involved in the ...
The image of Big Brother and The Party is seen today as well. Orwell stated in 1984 that loving a country or government is hard to do. But loving an individual or symbol is much easier to do. One person, Big Brother, symbolized the government and ideals of the people. He was all-powerful and infallible. He was given credit for everything. Americans today view Uncle Sam the same way.
They feel that this is the most powerful nation in the world, and nothing can stop this juggernaut. and in any case the party was invincible. (127) The citizens of Oceania were constantly reminded that Big Brother was watching them. His pictures and posters were plastered everywhere. Always the eyes watching you and the voice enveloping you. (26) The famous poster of Uncle Sam has him giving a piercing stare into whoever is viewing the image.
He almost appears to be watching the area in his vicinity. The United States uses propagandas similar to that of The Party in 1984. Americans are being monitored more and more as time goes on. When examining 1984 party members were watched wherever they went. There was even a telescreen in their houses and at the places of employment. They were scrutinized if they did anything suspicious. The smallest thing could give you away.
(54) A facecrime could have people thrown in prison ….
