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The Fear Of Fear In George Orwell's 1984

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1984 has long been regarded as a cautionary tale about technology. Yet, his fear seems to be happening today. George Orwell wrote 1984 exactly forty years before the year actually took place, but we still see similarities between his fictitious nightmare and our world today. Winston is a common man in London, but after he meets Julia, his life takes a turn for the worst. The stringent rules in their futuristic society are one of the main causes of Winston’s demise. 1984 not only warns about the dangers of totalitarianism, but also the risks of limiting free speech. Winston feels ominous danger throughout his life, and the effect of this is his growing unhappiness. Freedom of speech was written into the U.S. constitution, and it is now practiced all around the globe. However, in 1984, their free speech is severely restrained. For example, the telescreen restricts everyone’s personal lives. In Winston's home, his telescreen is “opposite the window… in which [he]” (5) would sit, so he would go unnoticed by the telescreen. Winston sits in his alcove to avoid being seen and heard by the telescreen. There, sitting in his corner, is where he genuinely expresses his hatred for Big Brother, writing “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER… over and over again” (18) until he fills a half of a page of his journal. Winston’s hatred finally breaks free from inside. His mind is so upset and distressed that he cannot contain himself anymore. This unnecessary stress is placed on Winston and the population

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