Preview

1984 Personal Response Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
821 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
1984 Personal Response Essay
Fear is something all humans share. This unity of having fear connects all of us together, along with many other things. Fears themselves are not universal, and every human may have different fears. In the novel 1984 written by George Orwell many common fears are brought into perspective, many of which I can say I fear myself. While the question asked for the implications of the ending, for me to fully understand the ending I must start from the beginning. The concern about the truth of history and truth of the past, that the people in power are always watching you, and not being allowed to have real emotions except towards the government are all fears brought on in the novel, especially with the implications of the ending. As much as it sounds odd, our past is very much so in our present. The newspaper, the television news, our high school social studies classes, our casual conversation about things that have already happened, our textbooks, and many other things that are a part of our lives are the past. The fear here is what if all that past is just an ever changing lie? To add on to this, even if you know it’s a lie you can not even prove it for there is nothing for you to compare the lie to, since everything is a lie in this respect. Also, what happens when you die? Your name can just be erased from history and thus you are erased. The possibility that no one knows you exist or existed is quite fearful. We, or at least I have always regarded the past as the truth and now this novel as put a wavering in my trust, sending a hint of doubt and fear in everything associated with the past. More than ever “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU”. The cookies you leave from surfing on the web, the call history log on your phone, the microphone and camera that are the phone in everyone’s pocket, all leads to a sheer lack of privacy. I am not saying that these things are actually being used to create individual profiles of everyone in some secret government agency, but the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    1984 Theme Essay

    • 1053 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Absolute control over society is the central theme in the novel, 1984, by George Orwell. One method this power over society is exercised is use of language to manipulate and control people. The story features a society called Oceania, which is located in the European region. In Oceania, there is a form of totalitarian government called the Party which controls the entire society. The Party controls thoughts by making certain words or phrases illegal. In addition, any anti-party thoughts or motives are also deemed illegal. To control society, thoughts are monitored by telescreens which read reactions and record speech. A force, called the Thought Police, is also engaged to take power over and eliminate society’s individual beliefs. The Thought Police control peoples’ ideas because they know if they have any anti-party motives then they will be killed. This intimidation and control via the use of language is extremely effective in 1984.…

    • 1053 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Response Essay

    • 809 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In reading the three articles, “From Degrading to De-Grading” by Alfie Kohn, “And Now He is Nothing” by Michael Specter and “Dilma Rousseff” by Simon Romero my impressions of each article varies from one of unbelief to affirmation. As compelling as the ideology of not grading is, the practicality of implementation would be enormous. The assumption that Lance Armstrong is now nothing can it really be so easily dismissed? Finally, Dilma Rousseff rise to power as a right of previous wrongs remains to be seen; each writer conveying a very persuasive argument.…

    • 809 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    1984

    • 714 Words
    • 3 Pages

    I completely agree that our technology today is bringing us closer to the world of Big Brother. I agree because even though we are not forced necessarily to mask emotions and hinder temptations, most of us (U.S.) lead lives which in reality are lead by the technology at our disposal. I would not be surprised if the government taps into our many devices such as computers, phones, and even private surveillance cameras to monitor our every breath and move. This greatly worries me, it makes me want to get out of this country and find refuge in a technology free paradise.…

    • 714 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Our technology is driving society to a world in which Big Brother is watching. There has been many technological advances made over time that can be used by the government to have power over the population. Many people are unaware of this situation they have been placed in the instant that they make a phone call, log into a computer or send an email.…

    • 979 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The concept of living in a surveillance society with no fear as long as individuals have nothing to hide sounds ideal; but even if people are not guilty of committing a crime, there are a number of reasons why loss of privacy should concern them. A significant concern is that the…

    • 1755 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    1984 Movie Review Essay

    • 770 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In this review, i will focus on the movie “Nineteen Eighty Four”. 1984 is a very meaningful movie which is one of the masterpiece of the antiutopia. In this paper, i will mainly talk about my feeling of the movie, who is the firm best for and discuss some of the technical aspects of the movie.…

    • 770 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Take a second to think about that fleeting feeling of being watched. Every second of every minute of every day spent on technology is being recorded and scrutinized, so why is it that the feeling so fleeting? The National Security Agency, or NSA, had such a promising name, but they ultimately slandered and disgraced it with their horrendous violations of privacy. Action must be taken in an effort to abolish the unforgivable acts of domestic surveillance performed every single day by the NSA.…

    • 536 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    1984 Ap Essay

    • 884 Words
    • 4 Pages

    1976. The conflict created when the will of an individual opposes the will of the majority is the recurring theme of many novels, plays, and essays. Select the work of an essayist who is in opposition to his or her society; or from a work of recognized literary merit, select a fictional character who is in opposition to his or her society. In a critical essay, analyze the conflict and discuss the moral and ethical implications for both the individual and the society. Do not summarize the plot or action of the work you choose.…

    • 884 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Response Essay

    • 608 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Overall, I found the argument presented in “ Anarchy in the Tenth Grade” interesting and informative. Author Greg Graffin presents a clear thesis and supports it well with logical examples and sound reasoning. However, I also found parts of the essay confusing which makes me wonder about the intended audience of the piece.…

    • 608 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The governments of 1984 and America both violate the privacy of their citizens. In Orwell 's 1984, the government violates its citizen 's privacy by monitoring them, using telescreens and the "thought police." Knowing that "at any rate they [the government] could plug in your wire whenever they wanted to," one could never achieve peace of mind. One has "to live-did live, from habit that became instinct-in the assumption that every sound they made was overheard…and every moment scrutinized." (49) The citizen 's right to privacy has been taken away, and furthermore, citizens in Oceania are not just being watched, but every one of their actions is studied closely. If one is suspected of a "thought-crime," they are harshly punished. The people in each society are forced to bottle up their emotions and thoughts about their government, and suppress their urge to rebel against the Oceanic Party. This creates a sense of uneasiness for the citizens and a need for a safe place to go where they can freely express themselves without being watched. Likewise, the government today restricts the privacy of its citizens. Around every corner lay security cameras, often causing citizens discomfort. The cameras discourage citizens from…

    • 810 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    1984 and Privacy

    • 893 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Many Americans are being watched, in great detail, by the government. In its ongoing battle against crime and terrorism, the U.S. has ramped up its surveillance on individuals over the years. As in the book, 1984, by George Orwell, "Big Brother Is Watching You". Many people feel that this surveillance is a major invasion of privacy and a violation of their rights.…

    • 893 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Essay Response

    • 567 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In the essay, "The Back of The Bus,” author Mary Mebane shares an usual ride in a bus on a Saturday morning she had which inspires her. The purpose of writing this essay is using her personal experience to demonstrate what it was like and how people were able to overcome their struggle for equal rights under legal segregation.…

    • 567 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Government Surveillance

    • 1146 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Surveillance is presenting numerous challenges to our right to privacy. The National Security Agency or NSA is amassing private information about Americans. (Heuvel par. 3) Emails, phone calls and other forms of communication are being monitored. Unless we the American voters demand of our elected officials that they curtail the unwarranted surveillance by our government on American citizens, the current state of affairs is nothing but a prelude to our Government usurping our liberty of privacy we are likely to descend into a total surveillance state.…

    • 1146 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    1984 Essay

    • 828 Words
    • 4 Pages

    “George Orwell once offered this definition of heroism: ordinary people doing whatever they can to change social systems that do not respect human decency, even with the knowledge that they can’t possibly succeed.” In George Orwell’s novel, 1984, the protagonist, Winston Smith is described in words of being the ordinary, everyday man to the dystopian society that Orwell envisions to us through Winston’s eyes. the life of a Oceanian citizen. However, in the closing of the novel he admits his admiration for Big Brother. My definition of a hero falls basically along those words but slightly more of a cliche thought to it in the way of the hero is willing to risk their life to abide by true morals in conquering the foundation of the inhumane treatment brought upon the blameless for the justice of everyone. The hero is suppose to be of selfless act and thought. With thorough analysis of Winston and his thoughts and actions throughout the novel, by Orwell’s definition, along with my own i do not consider Winston Smith to be hero.…

    • 828 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    1984 Analytical Essay

    • 861 Words
    • 4 Pages

    What makes us human? What makes us human is our curiosity and constant evolution. What makes us human is the ability to create social categories and to form opinions. Abstract emotions including love, thought and creativity are what make us human. In 1984, George Orwell uses his dystopia to show that if we were to abolish these abstract emotions we would cease to be human and become the simple primates we once were; surviving for the sake of survival.…

    • 861 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays