-
Essay / The question of privacy in Orwell's novel 1984 and Today
1984 reveals a world where privacy is illusory. The author has created a dark manifestation of a dystopian future where the danger of national control is prophetic. Under this fictitious totalitarian government, citizens were constantly scrutinized, deceived, and pressured by the idea of “Big Brother.” While these characteristics can easily be used to highlight the stark differences between George Orwell's Oceania and today's United States of America, if you dig deeper into 1984 and its illustration of Oceania, you will discover that there are many similarities. find. One of them, in particular, is the use of technology and, as Orwell predicted, people today have given up their right to privacy, like the citizens of Oceania, thus allowing the government to continue to monitor and control them. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Throughout George Orwell's novel, technology is a vital weapon used to examine the population. Currently, the government of Oceania, called "the Party", openly monitored its citizens using a device known as a telescreen, capable of detecting facial expressions and movements. “With the development of television, and the technical progress which makes it possible to receive and transmit simultaneously on the same instrument, private life has come to an end.” Thanks to incessant surveillance, no one is free. Everything from actions to thoughts is monitored to determine anti-Party behavior. As a result, people's lives and individuality are destroyed. In fact, the protagonist Winston went from a rebellious member to a fellow brainwashed devotee. Technology limited people's knowledge and freedom. Throughout the novel, television screens are a symbol of the government's omnipresent control. In fact, microphones were also used throughout Oceania to identify who and what a person was saying. “There was always the danger of hidden microphones by which your voice could be picked up and recognized.” However, Winston and his mistress Julia still tried to continue their romantic tryst; However, nothing is private in the repressive world of 1984. This wired society has no laws to protect them, and they live with the constant reminder that "Big Brother is watching you." The Party's infinite power can only be supported by technology. Not only does this novel depict a future in which the government abuses technological progress, but it also warns of what could happen if it becomes too dominant. In today's world, privacy is almost impossible to possess due to constant improvements in technology. Currently, people share almost everything online, making government and corporate intrusions almost acceptable. Intelligence agencies continue to gather, document and control our lives through a vast surveillance network. Like the “telescreens” and “microphones” in Orwell’s novel, the televisions, cameras and satellites of our modern society can watch and observe. Citizens live with a false sense of privacy. In fact, the Internet contains and stores all information accessible from any device, and nothing is permanently deleted. For example, government agencies can record conversations, take photos, and track individuals without our knowledge. “It was even conceivable that they were watching everyone all the time.” Everything from your current location to what you posted five years ago can be obtained through”.