What are some important new ideas raised by your classmates that helped you better
understand significant ideas from the novel? How did writing blog postings help
or not in this process?
My classmates helped me to agree with my own beliefs, while others caused me to rethink them. Although I was able to understand and accept the opinions and input of others, I can't say that anyone caused me to change my own opinions and thoughts.
Classmates and outsiders that caused me to rethink my beliefs questioned my views on our government connecting to 1984. This rethinking occured specifically while discussing phone tapping and the US. The ideas of others helped not only to back up my own beliefs, but also to understand how our world today could possibly connect to Oceania.
Writing blog postings helped me in this process because, while reading the responses of others, I felt more energized and flowing with ideas for my next posting.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Part 2: Threats to Freedom
What have you learned about the threats to individual freedoms we face today?
Can you see parallels to our world and government today?
I've had to address the threats to individual freedoms we face today several times throughout this unit.
I've learned that some US citizens see our government's methods of protecting us as invasion of individual freedoms. As I have mentioned in other posts, I do not agree that actions such as phone tapping pose as threats to our individual freedoms, although I understand how other US citizens could construe this action as such. Our government taps into various conversations between its citizens and other nations. This action is taken in order to apprehend terrorists and gain information about future attacks. This action can be connected to "telescreens"; much like "telescreens", phone tapping allows the government to hear your conversations.
Orwell's warnings may be very valid, in a government that has no concern for its citizens and no restrictions that prevent the country from turning into an Oceania. I, unlike others, do not see any strong threats to my individual freedoms today, therefore, I find it virtually impossible to connect 1984 to our world today.
Can you see parallels to our world and government today?
I've had to address the threats to individual freedoms we face today several times throughout this unit.
I've learned that some US citizens see our government's methods of protecting us as invasion of individual freedoms. As I have mentioned in other posts, I do not agree that actions such as phone tapping pose as threats to our individual freedoms, although I understand how other US citizens could construe this action as such. Our government taps into various conversations between its citizens and other nations. This action is taken in order to apprehend terrorists and gain information about future attacks. This action can be connected to "telescreens"; much like "telescreens", phone tapping allows the government to hear your conversations.
Orwell's warnings may be very valid, in a government that has no concern for its citizens and no restrictions that prevent the country from turning into an Oceania. I, unlike others, do not see any strong threats to my individual freedoms today, therefore, I find it virtually impossible to connect 1984 to our world today.
Part 1: Warnings
What warnings is the author trying to make? Where in the novel do these warnings come through?
Throughout 1984, George Orwell tries to get across many warnings about how governments can suppress individual freedoms.
One warning presented is the way government can prevent you from forming your own opinions. In 1984, the Party brainwashed "comrades" into believing things like "War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength." (Book 1, pg. 16) These phrases were considered "doublethink" which demonstrates that the Party could convince you of things that couldn't possibly be true. Also, "Two Minutes Hate" contributed to the brainwashing of citizens into believing that rebels were enemies. Furthermore, "Thought Police" scared people into thinking what they were told to think, for fear of punishment. Finally, citizens who attempted to keep an ounce of actual truth left in Oceania were put in cells and tortured, but if released, were brainwashed into trying to willingly believe the Party's teachings; this too constricted them from having their own opinions.
Orwell presents the idea of government invading personal space or violating personal rights. Having "telescreens" forced government control into the homes of Oceania's citizens. The "telescreens" decided the exact time workers for the Party had to wake up, yelled at them to do their excercises, and had the ability to hear and see citizens' every move. This idea has been connected to phone tapping that occurs in our country today. According to the opionion of some, this phone tapping is exactly the sort of thing Orwell was trying to warn us about.
Although harder to notice, another warning peresented by Orwell was the idea of citizens being slowly brainwashed into believing whatever their government told them. I came across this idea during other postings. I found, and still find it, hard to believe that people could be so oblivious to such changes occurring. The gradual changes that the Party made to history and the small bits of power gained accumulated to the dystopia that Winston had to live in. In this way, the author tried to warn readers that such a situation could develop in our world, without us even notice it happening.
Throughout 1984, George Orwell tries to get across many warnings about how governments can suppress individual freedoms.
One warning presented is the way government can prevent you from forming your own opinions. In 1984, the Party brainwashed "comrades" into believing things like "War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength." (Book 1, pg. 16) These phrases were considered "doublethink" which demonstrates that the Party could convince you of things that couldn't possibly be true. Also, "Two Minutes Hate" contributed to the brainwashing of citizens into believing that rebels were enemies. Furthermore, "Thought Police" scared people into thinking what they were told to think, for fear of punishment. Finally, citizens who attempted to keep an ounce of actual truth left in Oceania were put in cells and tortured, but if released, were brainwashed into trying to willingly believe the Party's teachings; this too constricted them from having their own opinions.
Orwell presents the idea of government invading personal space or violating personal rights. Having "telescreens" forced government control into the homes of Oceania's citizens. The "telescreens" decided the exact time workers for the Party had to wake up, yelled at them to do their excercises, and had the ability to hear and see citizens' every move. This idea has been connected to phone tapping that occurs in our country today. According to the opionion of some, this phone tapping is exactly the sort of thing Orwell was trying to warn us about.
Although harder to notice, another warning peresented by Orwell was the idea of citizens being slowly brainwashed into believing whatever their government told them. I came across this idea during other postings. I found, and still find it, hard to believe that people could be so oblivious to such changes occurring. The gradual changes that the Party made to history and the small bits of power gained accumulated to the dystopia that Winston had to live in. In this way, the author tried to warn readers that such a situation could develop in our world, without us even notice it happening.
?
Upon completing 1984, my first thought was, "?".
I didn't think, "what?"; I didn't think,"weird..."; I didn't think,"George Orwell's a freak."...I just thought, "?"...if it's possible to think in terms of punctuation.
Why did I think that? Well, after reading pages and pages that lead me to think in terms of rebellion and good overpowering evil, I never imagined an ending like that.
Most of Book 3 seemed to paint a picture of torture, betrayl, and failure (if you ask me), but Books 1 and 2 made it seem like Winston was going to be able to start something more that would contribute to the downfall of the dystopian society. After holding out for awhile, Winston still betrays Julia, and furthermore, ends up trying to accept the beliefs of the party. Doesn't that kind of make all of his previous efforts and opinions useless?
Blame Disney movies, and all of those childhood stories read to me that always had happy endings because this ending seemed uncalled for.
I didn't think, "what?"; I didn't think,"weird..."; I didn't think,"George Orwell's a freak."...I just thought, "?"...if it's possible to think in terms of punctuation.
Why did I think that? Well, after reading pages and pages that lead me to think in terms of rebellion and good overpowering evil, I never imagined an ending like that.
Most of Book 3 seemed to paint a picture of torture, betrayl, and failure (if you ask me), but Books 1 and 2 made it seem like Winston was going to be able to start something more that would contribute to the downfall of the dystopian society. After holding out for awhile, Winston still betrays Julia, and furthermore, ends up trying to accept the beliefs of the party. Doesn't that kind of make all of his previous efforts and opinions useless?
Blame Disney movies, and all of those childhood stories read to me that always had happy endings because this ending seemed uncalled for.
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