Ethical Issues In 1984

George Orwell’s “Nineteen Eighty-Four” novel has been critically well received since it’s release, and holds a particularly strong impact throughout the world today. The dystopian world shown in the plot attracts attention and interest for all the wrong reasons, but the book itself is a glimpse of what the world could become under certain and unfortunate circumstances. This warning was not just relevant in the late 1940’s, but it is today, and will be for as long as free society exists. Oceania’s rule over it’s people is harsh and unfair in many different ways, however some stand out as real ethical issues. Denying basic rights many people enjoy today such as speech and expression, denying life such as intimate relationships, thought, and religion,
In the book, the main character is Winston, a man who lives in Airstrip One, Oceania. Airstrip One is set in the country formerly known as Great Britain, and is just a small part of the land controlled by Oceania. The majority of the other land is in North and South America, and makes up what would be the United States, Canada, and Mexico among others. Today citizens of these countries all enjoy freedom of expression in multiple ways. Obviously in 1984 Oceania this is not the case, as the people live under constant surveillance and oppression from Big Brother. many would argue that freedom of expression is a basic human right that should always be recognized by a government. Big Brother, along with party members and supporters would disagree, and claim that freedom of expression has no place in society. In fact, the party has plans to change and release an entire new language to only promote
In fact any form of personalization to one’s life is greatly discouraged and usually outright prohibited under the reign of Big Brother. That also includes happiness, enjoyment, and love. Any amount of love someone can give in their life is reserved for Big Brother. The party comes before family and friends and as a result the significance of social bonds is greatly reduced. Children are taught at a young age to report parents who show even the slightest disrespect towards the government, and marriage is often loveless and exists only for procreation. In regards to this, it is clear that Big Brother owns relationships and love. However another way the party controls emotion is by channeling hate and focus towards other countries by constantly claiming Oceania is at war. This is one way government has figured out the perfect form of control, which is emotional. The citizens of Oceania cling to Big Brother for protection, against real evil which may or may not actually exist. The act of lying in order to gain control of relationships, and emotion and strip individuals of characteristics that make them unique is unethical in every sense of the word. Since there is also no freedom of religion, Big Brother is successfully playing God, by marrying people for the sole purpose of reproduction, and addition of more party members