Big Brother Is Watching You. This single line sums up the fear of George Orwell’s frightening futuristic society. 1984 provides a terrifying glimpse of an all too possible society where there is no freedom, no rights, and no hope. There is only mindless obedience and compliance. Many details contribute to this portrait, such as the four ministries that rule the super-state of Oceania, the Thought Police, and even the language of Newspeak.
However, the most startling facet is the alteration of history. All of these factors culminate in a vivid portrayal of an alarming future. The main theme evident in Orwell’s society is the lack of freedom and privacy. The Party assures this lack of privacy through the presence of tele screens and microphones hidden and exposed throughout the city of London. By removing almost all privacy, the Party has left neither time nor opportunity for a person to become rebellious or conspire with others. The Party not only removes freedoms of speech and actions, but also deters the freedom of thought through the presence of the Thought Police and the imposing pyramid of the Ministry of Love where rebellious citizens are broken in response to their deviant actions.
A seemingly minor, yet very important element of Orwell’s future is the language of Newspeak. The character of Syme correctly describes the advantage of controlling the language: Don’t you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thought crime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it (83).
The Term Paper on Sociolinguistics Language In Society
1. Introduction The subject of my term paper is sociolinguistics: relation between language and society. In my work I will discuss all types of language in society, investigate an influence of the sociological factors on language, present different aspects and functions of it. Another a proach to language and society focuses on situations and uses of language as an activity in its own right. ...
It is almost unfathomable to think that any group or person could ever have such a complete control. Yet, if it were to happen that anyone could have the absolute power of the Party, the alteration of language would suddenly become very realistic and believable. However, the most terrifying aspect of the future society is the Party’s ability to not only control the present, but also, using that power, to alter the past. Ultimately, the Party is altering reality in itself.
In doing this, the Party can assure its control over the future, thus creating a never-ending cycle of rule. The hopelessness of this cycle is evident in Winston’s description of the proles: Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious (54).
This entry into Winston’s diary shows the helpless situation of not only the proles, but also all of the citizens of Oceania. The citizens have no hope for a better future because there is nothing in the past to suggest that conditions have ever been better than they are now. The people are content because they believe that conditions are constantly improving, and therefore, will never revolt or riot against the seemingly benevolent government. Tactics of control that are based on fear and bullying predominate throughout the novel.
The futuristic society so vividly depicted in George Orwell’s 1984 presents a dark, gloomy view of the future; a future where war is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength, and ultimately, if the Party wills it, 2 + 2 = 5.
