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The Definition Of Slavery In 1984 By George Orwell

Decent Essays

“The most effective form of slavery is a system that allows just enough autonomy to give the illusion of freedom, while keeping the public in a perpetual state of indentured servitude.”-Unknown. In simpler terms, what this quote is saying that the most potent form of slavery is when a system just lets enough “self-rule” to give the false idea of being free to individuals while keeping them in an ongoing state of being an indentured servant for the government. The definition of freedom is “the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint” and “the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.” If those definitions are true then why are individuals enslaved in a society where the basic ideas of this “so-called …show more content…

In the novel, 1984, there is somewhat of a status quo since Big Brother separates its citizens into three groups: The Inner Party, the Outer Party, and the Proles. The Inner Party only makes up 2% of Oceania’s population, but they are the elite whom govern and create policies and decisions, the Outer Party is considered the “middle class”, but yet they are highly educated, given administrative jobs, and have no say in the Party’s policies, and finally the Proles, who make up “85 percent of the population of Oceania” (page 69, 1984) “the lower class of workers that perform the majority of menial tasks and labors, are in the poorest of conditions but are the most free of any of the classes in that the Party does not spy on them, thinking they aren’t worth it.” Compared to Oceania, the United States has confirmed to have six social classes: Upper class, new money, Middle class, Working class, Working poor, and Poverty level. These are self-explanatory, however what sets them apart is that the lower class in Oceania is not the main focus of Big Brother because they are ignorant and harmless, but in the U.S. the individuals in the lower class, the ones in poverty are the ones who need the most attention, the ones who need more assistance because they are weak and vulnerable. Although both lower classes have the most …show more content…

Either way that order was given by another individual or by yourself. Today in society we are allowed to think what we want and when we want, but it’s our actions that are limited and our actions can affect society in either a positive or negative way. In the novel, 1984, “Freedom Is Slavery” is saying that anyone who decides to think for themselves they will be arrested by the Thought Police and will also be independent and fail in Oceania but also the other way around “Slavery Is Freedom,” because a human being who is under control is “safe” from want and

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