1984 Essay

In what ways is Oceania depicted as a dystopia?

Dystopia – a society that is dysfunctional, were everything is pessimistic

Oceania is a dysfunctional and defective society in terms of the rights of an individual.

In the novel Nineteen Eighty Four written by George Orwell, Oceania is depicted as a dystopia. The people of Oceania are constantly observed; with every move they make being scrutinized. Deprivation occurs in many ways to the people, depending on big brothers opinion on the matter. Furthermore, Propaganda occurs in nearly every way possible to brainwash the people living in Oceania.

London in airstripone is depicted as a decaying city, where little functions except for the methods of surveillance as installed by The Party in order to control the population. These means of observation of the population have replaced law, when people are found to go against The Party they are ‘Vaporized’. The thought of them being able to see you and being scrutinised by big brother through the Telescreen “Smith” pg 39 make people believe they can see them exercising. Interactive telescreens in the outer party members apartment, through the telescreens the population is monitored constantly. Every detail of an individual’s life is monitored and instructions are given such as during the physical jerks. Similarly, hidden microphones were placed in bushes, trees and statues to keep a constant ear on the outer party members. As a result of this the population lived in fear and the majority conformed with the ideals of the party. In addition there were thought police like Mr Charington, whose job was to pursue people who made suspecting purchases or actions. Diary, paperweight. Furthermore, Children were encouraged to spy on their parents and report them to the authorities. Parsons children used” Ear trumpets, for listening through key holes” and also spied on him and reported him to the authorities

“The most deadly danger of all was talking in your sleep”

Everybody...