"1984"

Is George Orwells 1984 grossly out of proportion or does it resemble the workings of our society? I feel that some aspects of the book resemble our society like the social classes, the use of propaganda, and the constant surviellance of some citizens within our society. In their society they have telescreeens for surviellance, in ours we have hidden video cameras. They have propaganda in forms of slogans and we have advertisments. He uses Proles to describe our middle class.

I think George Orwell used the basis of our social classes which are the upper, middle and lower class to make up the Inner and outer parties and the proles. Above them all is “Big Brother” whom I feel is based on the President. He is the most powerful being and is given credit for everything. The inner party, which falls directly under Big Brother, makes up only 2% of Oceania. In our society the upper class members has always made up a small portion of the population. They have a better quality of life than any other citizen on Oceania and are “privileged with good food, drinks, and servants to wait on their every need” page 178. Theses examples hold true for the upper class our society. The Proles resemble the middle class to me. They both make up a large portion of their population with 85%. The Proles lead a life in which they are given the liberty to do what they wish and express what they feel. We have these rights as written in the Bill Of Rights. “They were only concerned with heavy physical work, the care of home and children, petty quarrels with neighbors, films, football, beer, and gambling pg 74."Proles lived with much crime and drugs. They were free to be promiscuous, to have religion, to divorce, and to plat Lotto. In our society we entertain all the activities and liberties.

In 1984 the Outer Party members were continuously being brainwashed through propaganda or directly by the party. Some forms of propaganda were slogans that read, “War is peace,” “freedom is slavery” and “ignorance is strength,” all on page 7. These slogans are examples of good names and bad names. They also used the statistic propaganda in which they told the party members that the quality of life was increasing. Before the revolution 15% of the Proles were literate and now 40% of them are literate. These are 3 of the propaganda used in commercials, advertisements, and editorials to help sway our opinions in certain issues including who to vote for, where to buy your car, where to shop etc. The party members had telescreens for such jobs though we have the television and radios. The party members were brainwashed into believing anything the party told them to believe. We are constantly being brainwashed with subliminal messages to get us to vote Hillary or Lazio. They have us to believe one is better than the other or one is bad and the other is good.

In the book the Outer party members are constantly being watched either by the Thought Police or by Big brother himself, they have no privacy. In our society actors/actresses, singers, people in politics are always being watched either by the Paparazzi or are constantly in the public eye. When winston met and fell in love with Julia they had to do everything secretly because they were constantly under surveillance. Their affair was considered a crime punishable by death. Sometimes public figures try to hide their intimate relationships so they can have a sence of privacy or to avoid being scrutinized. All people in our society are contantly under surviellance. There are cameras in grocery stores, schools, on the street, retail stores, banks and even in restaurants. So it’s almost like Big Brother is watching don’t you think?