1984

George Orwell is showing how society needs communication, pleasure, safety, individuality, and feedom in general, or else people are powerless. They have no way to express themselves which makes everyone a prisoner. No one can think anything bad, and there are no rules to state what is and isn't ok. Everyone is out to get one another, which actually is nothing like peace, but rather stressful. I'm so glad I don't live in a crappy socialistic community like Oceania!

Oceania...

George Orwell depicts the society of Oceania as one in which Big Brother forces it's people to believe whatever Big Brother wants them to believe. They censor everything to a rediculous extent. The words he uses to describe the landscape and the surroundings are rather bleak. He says that there is no color even though the sky is blue. It's like the people are brainwashed to not see color, only in the posters. And the posters are another thing. The society must feel under extreme scrutiny with all the "Big Brother is watching you" posters everywhere. They must feel like they can't do anything without being seen. Even thinking something "negative" is against what Big Brother wants, so it is punished. They live as Big Brother wants them to live. They do what Big Brother wants them to do. They say what Big Brother wants them to say. It's like they aren't real people anymore, just Big Brother's pets. If I want my dog to do something, she will do it. It's the same idea. The people feel like even though they aren't people, they are secure. Security is more important than free thinking. If they think freely, there security is gone. They are "vaporized." The fact that everyone is the same makes them feel uniform, like they are a part of something bigger than just themselves. They want to belong and the uniformity grants that.

It seems as though Orwell feels negatively about humanity. He probably saw the people around them as "pets." They followed what they were told, whether by their religion, government, family, etc. He probably thought that the people are not really their own people.

Orwell's Society

George Orwell depicts a very grim and even frightening view of society in 1984. Everybody is being watched, even their thoughts are being monitored. Even the thought of rebellion would get you "vaporized", which is a very frightening concept. In my view this whole concept of spying and monitoring people seems to be an extreme example of the abuse of human rights.

Pessimism Perhaps?

George Orwell wrote the book 1984 in the year 1949-which means he was predicting what would happen 35 years from his time. The overall tone of Oceania seems dull, isolated, and trapped. Orwell obviously had doubts about the intelligence of humans. For example when Winston was writing in his journal his thoughts were not concise, his grammar was incredibly demeaning, and his sentence structure was like that of an elementary student's. Orwell creates the character Winston because he represents the part of population that goes against the rulers (government today). Everything in this book so far seems to be not that far from what could happen in the near future; maybe not so exaggerated as the book depicts, but these events/ideas could surely exist.

Orwells views on humanity

It seems to me that he is writing based on things that are partially realistic. George Orwell is comparing the control to the war and what hitlers idea of control was. In a way Oceania is an ideal place because everything is set up for you. There are no worries. The Ministries reminded me of our government and some ways we run it. The one thing that was not so ideal is the fact that there are no laws so at anytime you could be committing a crime and you would not really know it. It seems like Orwell is looking at humanity in a negative way here in 1984. Although things may change as we read more.

How Orwell views humanity

In reading this book I'm finding different connection that relate to events in present day. Especially different characters or feelings that could easily relate to Hitlers time of complete control. This would make sense considering the book was written in 1984. However Orwell's different aspects of how life will be like in the "future" is dim. Having lost all privacy, and any sense of uniqueness. Just by thinking of the wrong thing you may be committing a crime that you didn't even know existed. He describes the way of life that is supposed to be "better", but in all actuality it hasn't gotten any better just worse. Also Orwell references different think that big brother does to what our government and the media do today. The government tries to convince us to think a certain way and to even think a certain way. Many of our actions are purely based on was society as a whole would do. Its scary to think about how right Orwell was with his prodictions of humanity.

Orwells View

The society in Oceanina described by Orwell in his 1984 novel was very depressing. Everyone was always feeling watched. Think of how it would be if you new everything you did and even thought could be seen by someone. You would never be completely comfortable. Things could get out of control like that. He's trying to show what society could be like if we let someone or something get too much control of our lives. Would not be able to live happily or sanely.

Orwell See's What We Can Not

Orwell was, as it seems, to be a very disturbed man. Even the best people are little troubled. He sees society as a dreadful place to be, a place where it is so perfect it is wrong. Within his writing there is (depending how you look at it) a positive and negative aspect of it. His views are negative because they are of unfortunate events happening to people, and what people have become. But they are positive because they open our eyes, to see how our society is so much like his fictional one. His thoughts make our heads spin, retaining new information that we most likely would never think about. He sees society as confining and manipulative. His character, Winston, he writes about aches to escape; to remember his old life with his family. Maybe this is how Orwell felt. He wanted to get away from his reality, so he started a fictional one of his own. Maybe he saw something coming that we still can't see?

Orwell's dismal depiction of the future! What a letdown!

Orwell gives such vivid descriptions of what he believes the future will be like that it depresses me! He believes that the future will look ugly. He implies that we will be living in homes that are disgusting, dark, and just plain nasty. People will be watching our every move, no privacy! Big brother represents the government, and the brotherhood represents radicals against the government. Orwell is explaining how dangerous government can be, and I think he believes that if things continue in the way they have been for the past 100 years or so, this is exactly how life will turn out; The government having absolute control. Our future is not looking so good if our society turns out in the way Orwell describes.

What does Orwell's description of Oceanian society imply about his view of humanity?

Orwell's dark descriptions of the Oceanian society show that he had little faith in the human race and believed that it was only a matter of time (with all of the technological advances) untill greed and corruption took over.  It also implies that people are willing to accept small changes against their lives by the government in exchange for protection (but it looks like it got out of control.)  For being a great writer, he seems rather dense and simple minded.  His fictional predictions are right to certin extents, but only with about 30 additional years of development.

Orwell's View on Society

In 1984, Orwell views society as a negative. Much of what he discusses is similar to what is going on in todays society as well. We depend so much on others and don't step up and take the initiative ourselves. We follow others in such a way that it becomes negative and unbeneficial. In the Oceania and in modern society the government has so much power that we let them control us in way we shouldn't allow. In Oceania everything seems ideal, no laws, family, and providing complete for everyone. But the flip side makes you change your mind on this state of mind. There may be no laws but that results in no guidelines or bouandries and anything could result in crime. Everyone may seem a sense of belonging, like a family but there is no trust/loyalty with one another. And even though you may be provided with everything needed it is of poor quality not giving any pleasure to them. Its hard to imagine living in a world with no laws but sometimes our government may gain to much power which is wrong too. This book so far shows the value of independence and not following everything everyone else does. Orwell is coming across negativly but I believe he is proving a point that we need to understand in present society.

Is Orwell's Oceanian Society Related to OUR Futures and Society?

George Orwell's view of a 1984 and futuristic society is revealed through his writing. Oceania is a society in Orwell's book that appears as nothing but a place of "rotting nineteenth-century houses . . . windows patched with cardboard," and other dark and filthy figures filling Winston's mind and life. In the story, Winston Smith stands for all people in society who know that things are not the way they should be. Life has changed so drastically over many years - to this strange community that should not be - that no one realizes how unorthodox they and their "people" truly are. Nobody is really a friend of any other, nor does anyone care. There is no individual personality or reasons behind actions that one may make, but rather it is just a pattern the society follows.

These first couple chapters have uncovered some of Orwell's ideas about how he felt society and even humanity itself would evolve and change dramatically over the years. There is more information to uncover and I can't wait to get further into the reading and start to see more of Orwell's views and feelings he had towards his future and the future of "society".

Orwell's Views

George Orwell thought very oddly for someone in his time. But sadly enough his views are somewhat accurate to what we see now. We get fed lies almost everyday from the people in the government. Just like the people in his books whether it be 1984 or Animal Farm. George Orwell might of thought in different ways but if you really look into the details of what he's saying it really isn't all that far off from the truth.

Orwell's view of society

George Orwell feels that society is full of mindless drones for people. In 1984, all of the people follow what they are told. I do not think that I would like to live in that society. No one is allowed to think outside of the box or to do anything out of the ordinary. Everyone is fearful that the thought-police will capture them for suspicious behavior, so they follow along without ever thinking anything for themselves. The history is constantly changed and the evidence is destroyed so they have no true records of history. There seems to be no true freedom and life seems to be meaningless.

~word~

1984

George Orwell society reminds me of hitlers society, the people there are always getting told what to do by big brother (hitler). Big Brother is always watching them so they have no freedom. They are not aloud to thing anything bad and there are no laws, so they could be breaking the law at anytime and not know it. Big Brothers society is very plain and unattractive. I would not want someone telling me what to do and or watching me all day. It seems to me Big Brother thinks that his people dont need Human Rights and they should be controlled at all times.

It's a bit grim...

I feel that Orwell's depiction of society, as portrayed in 1984, is a particulary negative view. He seems to feel that humanity is unable to keep itself upright, and just. Eventually everyone will give up what they beleive is right and go along with what others are doing. This seems to cause a domino effect and lead to a situation like in 1984. Orwell sees the population as the old 'herd of sheep' metaphore, we all go where the others do! I don't think this is entirely false however. Orwell may have a point that describes political campaigns, commercial advertisements, and fashion trends. Most people are influenced by them and go along with what their friends or family do. In 1984, Orwell portrays Winston as a person who goes along with the way society is, but questions it, much like many of us, including myself in some cases. We're just afraid of the concequences of stepping out of line (the thought-police or Big Brother) and doing something different than anyone else. Altogether I don't think its that far off from what happens in the present, giving us something to worry about.

Other people's thoughts on 1984

I started reading the book a couple weeks ago so i am further along in the bookand I feel that the book is great. Orwell does an excellent job in creating a society that is believable and makes us wonder if our society is heading that way. But i want to know what other people's thoughts are on the book?

Required Blog

Orwell's description of Oceanian society implies his view of humanity. He described Oceania as a society of people who are in fear to think. If a person dares to think, the Thought Police will know, and nothing good comes out of that. Orwell seems to think that all the human in the society are the same. They all work for the same person, "Big Brother." He seems to make all of the people seem brainwashed. They follow whatever is said to be followed and are scared to think any other way. I believe that it was O'Brien who even made younger children dress the same in shorts and the same colored t-shirts. They each have a red hankerchief around their neck and spy on their parents. They are made to believe that telling on their parents is a good thing and that they are involved with protecting their society. In Oceania, there are no laws meaning that there are no guidelines, which makes anything a crime. Killing people is actually amusing to children which seems sickly to me. Orwell seems to think that people are all the same and that everyone has to believe in the same thing or harm will fall upon them. I think Winston will be the one who takes a stand against what seems to be the government and will make others start thinking about a different world other than the one they are all in.

Oceania Implications for Society

What does Orwell's description of Oceanian society imply about his view of humanity?