preview

Doublethink In George Orwell's 1984

Decent Essays

“1984” by George Orwell presents a dystopian picture where a society is being ruled by stringent totalitarianism. “1984” depicts a society where there is no freedom. Strict laws and ever-present surveillances create fear in people’s heart that suppresses their thinking. There are these two-way monitors that broadcast government propaganda, news and entertainment, and spy citizens’ private lives at the same time. The government also alters and filters the information it gives to the people to control their rationalization and mindset. There is a so-called memory hole in the book; a machine used to alter or eliminate damaging and incriminating documents that would make the government seems guilty. Doublethink was also introduced in Orwell’s …show more content…

As citizens of Oceania in Orwell’s book have no freedom at all, people in today’s society possess a very limited freedom. In fact, according to the Freedom House (2012), 23% of the world’s population have no say in how they are governed and face severe consequences if they try to exercise their most basic rights, such as expressing their views, assembling peacefully, and organizing independently of the state. “Citizens who dare to assert their rights in these repressive countries typically suffer harassment and imprisonment, and often are subjected to physical or psychological abuse” (Freedom House, 2012). States also control their citizens in a pervasive way, and individuals have little recourse to justice for crimes the government commits against them. Individuals struggle to gain full access to freedom of expression for a wide range of reasons including poverty, discrimination and cultural pressures (Index on Censorship, 2015). Poverty, discrimination, legal barriers, cultural restrictions, religious customs and other barriers can block the voices of marginalized people. Less fortunate people, or simply poor, are often denied an equal voice, and active and meaningful participation in political processes and in wider society. In fact, Human Rights Watch’s latest world report states, “traditional values are often deployed as an excuse to undermine human rights” (2015). Moreover, governments still continue to exert wariness and control on their people through media. Also, states monitor public’s opinions, and guide and dictate how people live and

Get Access