Control In 1984

The country of North Korea compares rather closely to the world in Ayn Rand’s Anthem. Both nations of people are very closed off from the community and the outside world. The citizens only know about what the government officials want them to know about. In North Korea everyone depends upon and worships their leader, Kim Jong Il, almost as though he is their god. They all only depend on what they classify as “we” and they rely only on that because they do not have access to anyone else or even know what it means to be an individual. In both the book and North Korea, the citizens are locked down and watched with a careful eye. Breaking the rules in Anthem would send you to the Uncharted Forest, which is very similar to what happens to those

Being completely controlled and even afraid is a part of people’s everyday lives, those of North Korea. Hatred towards this totalitarianism is a philosopher and novelist, Ayn Rand. Rand has written a novel, Anthem, to display the impact of totalitarianism and how she opposes this type of system. Between the everyday life in North Korea and the dystopian society in Anthem, are many similarities and some differences. The structure of the governments, the state of the people, and the little progress made within North Korea and the society of Anthem can certainly be compared.

“It really is as if he got hold of an early copy of the novel and used it as a blueprint.” The novel, 1984 by George Orwell, is a dystopian novel published in 1949. This novel is based in London, Oceania. This was Orwell’s prediction of what future societies would be like. North Korea is a country located in East Asia that is ruled by Kim Jong-Un. Kim Il-Sung set up the government they have now, around the same time as Orwell wrote his novel. Many similarities and differences are present between North Korea and the society of Oceania, including the rulers, the systems of government, and the restrictions that are put on their citizens.

Within the three pieces of 1984, On the Beach and Waiting for Godot, the authors explore several variations of control. In the unparalleled story of 1984, written by George Orwell, the citizens of Oceania live under a totalitarian regime. This type of government, allows their leader to have all the decision-making power; therefore, leaving no freedoms to the people. On the Beach, brilliantly written by Nevil Shute, expresses a lack of control an individual possesses. In this story, the country Australia will be the last to die due to radiation poisoning because of atomic bombs set off by countries in which they have little to no correlation with.

According to North and South Korea by Greenhaven Press, North Korea’s leadership “focuses on regime, survival, reunification, and achieving status as a “great and powerful nation.” To accomplish this, the modern-day leader Kim Jong-un relies heavily upon military and security forces. Kim Jong-un abuses his power as the hereditary dictator to prevent the citizens from leaving, learning too much, and having free speech. These forces and Kim Jong-un’s abusive leadership disrupt the citizens and take their rights away. To illustrate, citizens in North Korea have limited rights because they don’t have freedom of speech. If a citizen of North Korea were to speak negatively about the government, they and their family would ‘disappear.’ Furthermore, they don’t have freedom of the press because news providers go through the government before the people. Because of these limits, North Korea has evolved from a peaceful country to a commanding and dreadful dictatorship. This conversion occurred out of a misuse of power by Kim Jong-Il and current leader Kim Jong-un. Their abusive power was not checked, as there was no way to check the government in North Korea. Since there are no checks on power in North Korea, the innocent citizens there are often victimized. The people follow the laws and do what they are supposed to, as they had always done, but they are still punished. Kim Jong-un rules

Propaganda, historic inconsistencies, and fear are what keep the most of the people of North Korea believing anything their government says. No one dares to speak out against Kim Il-sung or any of his heirs, and when they do they receive punishment. No one has an option on where to live or where to work, it is all assigned by the government. If a North Korean’s family has tainted blood, they become part of the lowest work class and are not allowed into the top colleges in North Korea. Few continue their education after high school.

In George Orwell's dystopian novel 1984 it depicts a government that has full control over their people. Orwell uses his book as a warning to our society, to help us realize that every action has its consequences; we must choose the actions that will bring good one’s to our societies. Throughout the book Orwell uses many controlling techniques to depict his warnings; each technique uses literary devices to make his words have more meaning behind them. The two devices that stood out to me the most, was how the party uses language as mind control as well as how they use physical control to break the spirits and bodies of their people. As of right now we are seeing evidence in our own world that it’s not always best when the government has too much power.

The government in 1984 is also known as “Big Brother”, he is always watching. If Big Brother does approve your intelligence he will send you to the Ministry of Love where they get tortured, they will suffer, and usually results in death. In 1984, execution is common for citizens, in North Korea if people are caught in a major crime it will also result to a public execution. Children that love the “enemy” will be hung in the story. Telescreens are a major help to the government, the telescreen can never be turned off. Only the people in the inner party have the right to shut off their telescreens. The people have no freedom or privacy, these telescreens monitor their every move. In every home of North Korea they have speakers and pictures of their leaders, the speakers remind them what to do every day, every day they had to clean those pictures.

Over the past couple months students have read the book 1984. 1984 is a book warning readers of the effects of dictatorship and totalitarian governments. Similar to real world, North Korea ruled under Kim Jong Un which uses fear and propaganda to maintain control over their citizens. North Korea also compares to Oceania because of its favoritism over different classes, the use of technology to control citizens, and media censorship. Throughout 1984 there are numerous examples of the government having complete control over its people from the way talk, eat and most importantly think.

1984 demonstrates a dystopian society in Oceania by presenting a relentless dictator, Big Brother, who uses his power to control the minds of his people and to ensure that his power never exhausts. Aspects of 1984 are evidently established in components of society in North Korea. With both of these society’s under a dictator’s rule, there are many similarities that are distinguished between the two. Orwell’s 1984 becomes parallel to the world of dystopia in North Korea by illustrating a nation that remains isolated under an almighty ruler.

Introduction The aim in this Extended Essay is to focus on the topic: "To what extent are the means used by the Party (Government) to control people expressed by George Orwell in his novel 1984 different from what has been used in the historical past and the present?". In the Extended Essay I am going to research how the novel is related to our today society, within the aspects of how governments have control over their people. The topic is worthy of researching in order to show that it is not only a fictional novel. That it is actually true that most of the means that are used in the novel are still present today. I will be using the novel 1984 written by George Orwell as well as other internet sources to prove that there is a lot in common

George Orwell’s 1984, widely known for its chilling descriptions of the dystopian society of Oceania, warns of a world in which individuality is virtually destroyed as one oppressive government controls all aspects of life. Decades after the novel’s publication in 1949, various nations today draw unsettling parallels with the characteristics of the government described in 1984. North Korea is one such example, particularly seen as a controversial topic in global debate. Although North Korea and Oceania in 1984 both possess totalitarian governments that attempt to control and restrict individualism, the means in which each government originated and gained authority differ.

In North Korea all aspects of life are ruled by the government, which essentially takes away human rights. North Koreans, rich or poor have this idea put into their head that their dictator is a supreme god. If someone had the idea of not worshiping the supreme leader in public, they would be sent to a labor camp. North Koreans who try to leave North Korea without permission may be shot on the spot or sent to a labor camp where they may never be released. In every house, no matter where you lived, there is a picture of the supreme leader that you pray to every day. When the supreme leader of North Korea, Kim Jong II, died recently, on December 17th 2011, there was a parade held that had mourners when the casket passed by. As the Supreme Leader’s casket passed by , the mourners were observed to see if they were actually crying. If they didn’t seem like they were sad enough they were sent to prison camps along with other North Koreans that didn’t join the parade. At these Labor camps imprisoned North Koreans are taught how important is to worship the supreme leader and sometimes kept there with their families for as long as they live.

Most people probably think 1984 is completely fiction, but there are many drastic similarities between 1984 and North Korean Society. These societies have forced labor camps, powerful dictators or government parties, and the use of propaganda. Both of these societies slowly gained power over many years and took full control of their country or territory. On the other hand, they differ when it comes to they way they designed their governments. Both 1984’s and North Korea's societies are similar in the ways they control, torture, and deprive their people, but differ when it comes to government organization.

George Orwell’s work of fiction 1984 is a futuristic, dystopian novel about citizens living in a totalitarian London. In this society, the government maintains power by controlling as many aspects of its citizens’ lives as it possibly can. The protagonist, Winston Smith, attempts to fight against the government’s controlling ways. For some time, critics have argued that this book was intended as a warning of the scenarios that could emerge if citizens traded freedom for security and allowed governments to take away too many of their rights. 1984 is a powerful warning against the risk of allowing governments to control too many aspects of the lives of their citizens through propaganda and the acquisition of personal information. These methods