What struck me most about 1984 was its relevance to today. The novel was written in 1948, just as Communism in the former Soviet Union was becoming a larger threat to the "Western" world. What is evident, however, is how much the threat of the world in the book is becoming to us (the world of now). The aspects of "newspeak," "Big Brother," and the other future parts of the book could easily be shown to be what today's world is leaning towards.
The Patriot Act could easily be compared to Big Brother, especially the fear that it invokes to some people. In the book, the main character of Winston is taken into custody without trial. The Patriot Act allows the government to detain people without trial (I do not know for exactly how long). Although this act was originally used to combat terrorism, some may say that it could be used and abused in order to condemn people that are in opposition of something. I do believe that the United States government would not use this act to abuse people or the human rights of the population, but the wrong individual could easily use it to his or her advantage. I am patriotic, but I think that the act does not represent what the United States believes in.
"Newspeak" is a term within the book that is used to represent the new shortened language of the population of Oceania. It is used to limit the communication of the people, so that the very experience of being human is changed. The ability to effectively communicate is one that our culture seems to be losing through Instant Messaging. Although most of the individuals who use this (myself sometimes included) have not lost the ability to write or speak correctly due to this new means of contact, some may. Teachers are finding that children who do instant messaging are not able to write papers that are up to par with their grade level. They are just as capable and intelligent as the generations before, but it is much easier to write "lol" then "that was funny." We may be losing our ability to say what we need to, through what could be described as an incredible source for talking to multiple parties.
Globalization can be simultaneously the worst and best thing to ever happen to the human race. It brings wealth to new economies, and an understanding of others to every corner of the globe. But it also causes the loss of cultures, and perhaps a widening between the poor and wealthy. In the book, there is a globalization into three separate nations. The nations of today could easily lose their identity: unity is good only if the nations are able to maintain their culture ( the positive). If materialism prevails and the gap between the haves and have nots widens, the world will become divided into the Party and the Proles.
I have faith that those that are in power right now will not abuse it to the point of becoming like Big Brother. I believe the United States has the right intentions, and we will not let the world of 1984 become the world of today.
1 comment:
Molly,
Your comparison of Big Brother to the Patriot Act is interesting and somewhat measured. (You point out some similarities but also the differences in, for example, the governments.) I'm a bit disappointed though that "the main character of Winston is taken into custody without trial" is the only detail from the novel that you use in this paragraph.
I find your comparison of Newspeak to IM lingo equally interesting though I'm not convinced by your paragraph that "We may be losing our ability to say what we need to." The example you give shows the same meaning represented by two forms of language (standard English vs. IM). Nothing seems lost. So could you imagine ideas and thoughts that perhaps cannot be expressed or that might be over simplified by IM lingo. For example instead of being able express "bliss" as opposed to "contentment" as opposed to "euphoria" as opposed to "pleasure" as opposed to happiness are we stuck with the emoticon :-) ?
Finally, I understand the comparison you make between globalization and the party/proles in 1984, but interestingly all of 1984 takes place in London in no one--beyond perhaps those most high up in the party--knows what is happening in the rest of the world. (With whom is Oceania *really* at war? Even Winston is unsure.)
Whereas with globalization we become increasingly interconnected with (as opposed to disconnected from) the rest of the world.
{The last paragraph doesn't really show an understanding of how the three nations function and interact in Orwell's novel.}
Thank you, Molly, for some interesting thoughts to consider.
Score:6/5
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