1984 Essay
1984 Essay Government controlled by the people, for the people is the underlying idea and basis of a successful government. The ubiquitous need of the people to feel safe and protected in every aspect of their lives is what drives the power in society. When a government neglects this idea and takes control getting wrapped up in the power of their position in society’s hierarchy, chaos ensues and Big Brother has the ability to take control. Government control of society is an important subject due to the current state of the world today. From countries such as the United States to its polar opposite of North Korea government control of society plays an important factor in how people live their lives. The creation of new technology stirred George Orwell in nineteen forty-nine to write his epic novel of dystopian society and complete government control. Today, as new technologies such as iris scanners and street cameras are becoming more prevalent, the same issue arises as to how much control of society a government should have. “At the apex of the pyramid comes Big Brother. Big Brother is infallible and all-powerful. Every success, every achievement, every victory, every scientific discovery, all knowledge, all wisdom, all happiness, all virtue, are held to issue directly from his leadership and inspiration” (Orwell 264). In the novel 1984 government has complete control over society and every positive goal achieved throughout society happened because of the leadership of their great ruler. Most may think that since this novel is merely a work of fiction that it is completely blown out of proportion, since nothing to this level could ever occur in the modern world. However the current North Korea situation has many similarities to the bleak world Orwell created decades ago. The people may feel protected and cared for, yet if any outsider sees the world they lived in he would feel pity. The government has such control that people feel everything positive in
Citations: Inside North Korea. Dir. Perf. Lisa Ling. National Geographic, 2007. Film. Whitehead, John W. "The Total Control of Society is Here." Lewrockwell. 16 11 2010: n. page. Web. 4 Oct. 2011. <http://www.lewrockwell.com/whitehead/whitehead21.1.html>. Orwell, George. 1984. Martin Secker and Warburg, 1949. Print. Carr, Austin. "Iris Scanners Create Most Secure City in the World, Welcome Big Brother." Fast Company. 18 08 2010: n. page. Web. 4 Oct. 2011. <http://www.fastcompany.com/1683302/iris-scanners-create-the-most-secure-city-in-the-world-welcomes-big-brother>.