Similarities Between 1984 And The Nether

Technology is an ever-changing aspect of modern society. Since the Industrial Revolution of the 19th century, technological advancements have accelerated at a rapid pace. In Orwell’s 1984 and Haley’s The Nether, the reader/audience is warned of a future of enhanced technology and how it can affect the ways that people think and act. In Oceania, the purpose of technology is to eradicate all aspects of privacy. In The Nether, however, the goal of technology in The Nether is to create a world of absolute privacy. Both stories illustrate two considerably different dystopias, however they both portray how effective technology can be at influencing the minds of people. It is clear that the techniques exhibited in 1984 are more effective than those
The Party expels all privacy and removes any glimmer of hope that freedom is attainable by forcing the citizens to live and think a certain way. Technology plays a significant role in achieving this goal because in Oceania, “technological progress only happens when its products can in some way be used for the diminution of human liberty” (Orwell 201). All technology is created for the purpose of oppressing the citizens’ freedom and forcing them to live in fear, eliminating any possibility of a revolt against the government. The telescreen is a technological advancement made by the Party that contributes considerably to forcing people to act a certain way. Telescreens compel the citizens to live “in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard, and, except in darkness, every movement scrutinized” (Orwell 5). Despite never knowing whether they are being watched, the fear of the Party and the possibility of being watched are sufficient for them to constantly act as if they are. Technology has completely eliminated all privacy from the citizens’ lives and they must act a certain way or will face serious repercussions. In 1984 and the Power of Technology, this concept of privacy is discussed, stating, “if there is no privacy, then the population can be controlled; perfect knowledge allows complete control” (Luegenbiehl 295). Technological advancements have not only allowed
The two different uses of technology can be compared by looking at the Ministry of Love and the Hideaway. Both places are the locations where thoughts are most significantly altered by technology. In the Ministry of Love, O’Brien uses an advanced torture device to interrogate the mind of Winston. This piece of technology was developed to maximize the pain of an individual and is used to force someone to think a certain way. Even if they do not believe it, the pain makes them want to think a certain way to end the pain. Along with the fear from Room 101, this method was successful in altering Winston’s thoughts indefinitely. He gave in to the Ingsoc philosophy of doublethink and “loved Big Brother” (Orwell 311); two concepts he previously despised. O’Brien has never failed at altering the thoughts and actions of those who enter the Ministry of Love because he “[tears] human minds to pieces and [puts] them together again in new shapes of [his] own choosing” (Orwell 279). This proves the effect that force, through the use technology, has on the minds of people in 1984; everyone who leaves this Ministry has their thoughts completely altered. In the Hideaway, however, there is less success at altering the thoughts of the people who enter and exit this virtual world. Morris came into the