The Amazing Adventures Of Kavalier And Clay And Amazing Wondrous Life Of Oscar Wao

The idea of being ruled by a totalitarian power has never ceased to scare an audience that fears of being controlled. It is in this case that we can establish from the reality we see today in certain countries, that we create our own story of how dystopian societies can many ways be seen. Dystopian societies in movies and novels have played a huge role in our lives, from: Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games, Alduous Huxley’s Brave New World and Lois Lowry’s The Giver. Cementing humanities faults by exploiting them through harsh ideals of suppressing power. But among those movies and novels and many more, two have resonated in our minds; not only mimicking what is seen today in Syria and North Korea, but also presenting foreshadow of what is possibly going to be. The film 1984 and the novel Fahrenheit 451 use fear and illusion to capture the horror of dystopian societies that use totalitarian power to control the masses.

1984, a novel by George Orwell, represents a dystopian society in which the people of Oceania are surveilled by the government almost all the time and have no freedoms. Today, citizens of the United States and other countries are watched in a similar way. Though different technological and personal ways of keeping watch on society than 1984, today’s government is also able to monitor most aspects of the people’s life. 1984 might be a dystopian society, but today’s condition seems to be moving towards that controlling state, where the citizens are surveilled by the government at all times.

1984 has come and gone. The cold war is over. The collapse of oppressive totalitarian regimes leads to the conclusion that these governments by their nature generate resistance and are doomed to failure. The fictional world of George Orwell's novel, 1984, is best described as hopeless; a nightmarish dystopia where the omnipresent State enforces perfect conformity among members of a totalitarian Party through indoctrination, propaganda, fear, and ruthless punishment. In the aftermath of the fall of capitalism and nuclear war, the world has been divided among three practically identical totalitarian nation-states. A state of perpetual war and poverty is the rule in Oceania. However, this is merely a backdrop, far from the most terrifying

During Joseph Stalin’s regime of the Soviet Union, 1984, the Classic Dystopian novel by George Orwell, was burned and banned, because the book shone a negative light on communism. The book, 1984, follows the life of Winston Smith, who lives in a country called Oceania. Oceania is a totalitarian society, ruled by a government known as The Party, whose leader is called Big Brother. In Oceania, every movement and sound every person makes is constantly surveillanced, and one wrong facial expression, statement, or action can cause the ‘Thought Police’ to take the person away to never be seen again. A small percentage of the population questions The Party’s dictatorship, and the novel follows Winston’s struggles to keep his hatred of The Party

The monstrous event that happened on June 4th, 1989 will be forever remembered as one of the most tragic days in human history. However, many decades ago, this event was foreseen and was foretold in the book, 1984, by George Orwell. Orwell saw the rise of totalitarianism, and he was deeply disturbed by what he saw. He believes totalitarianism will be the method that communist party adopts to fight freedom. The book foreshadows many of the events that will happen in a communist society. In many ways, the incident of Tiananmen Square in 1989 echoes 1984, which is a warning that totalitarian government is a power abuser, propaganda manipulator, and democracy suppressor.

The struggle against a totalitarian government is unsurprisingly a frequent theme in dystopian literature. Almost by definition the genre is set in a futuristic society characterized by extreme oppression and despondence. Malevolent autocrats at the helms of totalitarian governments have, throughout our history, been responsible for innumerable travesties. This young century alone has witnessed the evil of Bashar al-Assad, Omar Bashir, and Saddam Hussein. Probing only slightly deeper into our collective memory, we are acquainted with the reigns of Idi Amin, Pol Pot, Mao Zedong, Josef Stalin, Hideki Tojo, Francisco Franco, and (of course) Adolf Hitler. The last hundred years have undeniably been bloody, and it is therefore only natural that

Another characteristic that is impended in these dystopian societies is, citizens appear to be under constant surveillance. In Harrison Bergeron, the society lives within prominent constraining barriers and there is always a preeminent sense that they’re under persistent surveillance. As suggestively articulated in this quotation, “All this equality was due to the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the Constitution, and to the unceasing vigilance of agents of the United States Handicapper General”. The citizens are not able to transcend the restraining limitations of the advocating government without the impeding oversight of the oppressive consequences. There is also the

The long and unjust reigns of Stalin and Big Brother are parallel in nature and highlight all of the flaws in their societies. The people are unaware of the fact that they are being lied to, manipulated, brainwashed, and tortured on a daily bases. The citizens of the USSR and Oceania are always under the magnifying glass held by their dictators. Both men use technology to mislead and monitor their own people to an alarming extent. Stalin and Big Brother use their surveillance ability to capture personal information from their people and use it for their own agenda. After Stalin and Big Brother gain access to the people’s intel, they use wide spread propaganda to boost their self image and God like statuses. By promoting themselves and controlling the media, the dictators

The way that the regime does this is through heavy amounts of propaganda that tell people only what they want them to hear. This can be seen towards the end of the book when Montage escapes the police; then after they realize that they lost him they kill an innocent man and claim that it is Montage. Ultimately, this is a prime example of the way that government covers up their failures by killing an innocent man; furthermore, this shows the bureaucracy creating propaganda through media outlets in order to keep a strong grip on its people. The final way that the government controls the society is by using fear tactics and intimidation. This can be seen when anyone in the society sells out anyone in order to obey the government. Furthermore, this can be seen when Montage gets caught with books; he ended up getting caught due to his wife and other neighbors ratting him out. This shows that Montage’s own wife gave him over not because she wanted to, but she feared what would happen to her if she didn’t. This is a clear example of the government using

Enforcing Fear Gains Divisive Obedience A contemporary American society is dramatically different from the one presented in the book 1984. The Inner Party, which is the highest ruling class of power in Oceania, is a totalitarian government creating an atmosphere of fear. Consequently, since no one is able to overthrow this organization, the government gets enough power to play a dominant role in the individuals’ everyday lives. Party members are always under strict surveillance, the worst part is that they have no one to trust.

The book 1984 depicts a society unimaginable to most; however, a further look shows us that we actually do live in an Orwellian society. Orwell describes a country called Oceania made of multiple continents which is ruled by the dictatorial “Big Brother” who uses different systems like the “thought police” and “telescreens” in order to have full control over the country. Our democratic government, through organizations such as the NSA and NGI, can look through our most private conversations and moments using spyware. Due to the secrecy of the government, citizens in 1984, as well as those in our society, fear the government.

The novel 1984 made me paranoid and suspicious of the government's power and intentions. I became aware of the potential manipulation of which the government could impose upon us. The very thing which I depend on for security and protection may be a conniving entity which feeds off of it’s own power and corruption. As I flourished in my naivety, I was unaware that the people I trusted, whom I believed to be wholly dedicated to our well-being as a society, could betray us at any moment they see fit. I gravely overlooked the potential and the power that the government has to rule us. In fact, they may have been conspiring against us this whole time, using us as pawns in their quest for ultimate authority. As a

In the novel 1984 and the film “V for Vendetta”, the protagonist for both stories are captured while performing various acts of rebellion against the totalitarian government, of which is controlling their city. In punishment, the government tortures them with harsh, inhumane methods that are similar to those used in dictatorships during the 1900s like the USSR under Stalin’s rule. However, both protagonists are tortured by different sides, and by people from completely opposite ends of the political ladder: one a government agent, the other a rebel. Although the themes disclosed in relation to the purpose and meanings of torture are similar, the overall message and final opinion that is expressed and conveyed to the recipients are complete

The topics dealt with in both writings “1984” by George Orwell (1949), and “Little Brother” by Cory Doctorow (2008), are inextricably related. In the books, the idea of freedom is belittled. As seen through the eyes of fatalistic protagonists who rose to place challenges to the oppressive regime, both writings serve as a warning of the devastating consequences a totalitarian regime poses to society. The novels, “1984”, and “Little Brother”, depict two different societies where people who are controlled by a totalitarian regime that uses the fear of authorities, the fear of fictitious terror acts, and scrutinizes human actions, are being lured to willingly comply with the government demands, and give away their freedom at the expense of fictitious security state of mind. Regardless of the outcome of

Living in a world that continues to make advancements technologically and politically, a book written more than 50 years ago still warns the world of what could happen if government becomes too forceful. Because of George Orwell's strong hatred for totalitarianism and its life dictating qualities, readers can get a taste of the perfect "dystopia". Though the people of today have been warned and are afraid of an all controlling government, they continue to allow the concept of 1984 to become more and more real. If people continue to just watch their governments make decisions and not ask questions, they will fall victim to its power. If a man not of this time understands the terror of totalitarianism, everyone should