Having just read Orwell's 1984 I was fascinated by period, characters and idea characterized by him. Though the plot was realized in novel in1984...n since nothing of that dimension occurred people derided the novel stating it to be baseless and its idea unrealistic. But I think that maybe time is not correct we cannot escape the dangers mentioned in the Orwellian World. Author was not guessing the time of such catastrophe but was focusing on the dangers of such world. If we look around we can clearly see Orwellian Characteristics emerging in the society. Now think of the main idea of party-
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS KNOWLEDGE
The Book forwards the idea of another book by the same author-"Animal Farm",. World mentioned is divided into three almost equal powers in which there is complete dictatorship of a party. All movements and workings of citizens are continuously monitored and press and media are wholly controlled by the government which bends the news and facts in its favour. Prevalent language is "Newspeak" in which all worlds conveying the ideas opposed to party are eliminated. Any person with different opinion than party is "evaporated" or eliminated in party terms. All this is seen through the eyes of our main character "Winston Smith" who battles against all this. But essence of the story is how world of ours can develop into such a authoritative society which defeats the basic ideas of democracy, freedom etc.
How true these ideas appear today. America declares war on Iraq- Afghanistan that stretches for 5 years...kills millions..and still is claimed by the coalition forces to be the war fought for freedom, peace blah blah...
Governments hide information from people stating it is in there interests, people work under the directives of government, or similar organizations and still happy to be free...world becoming a board game where all policies are decided by few in control and the rest follows. Doesn't these suggest the coming of Orwellian World...
Think and imagine the world around you and don't you feel someone is watching you or you are bound by someones orders suggested in the novel by famous line -
BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU
No one is free to do what one thinks is correct but is considered wrong by the system. If you go against the system they either crush you, try to defame you similar to something happening in novel where the chief character realizes the idea mentioned in top line of this blog..
What I want to say is that though all these characteristics may not be present simultaneously but are nevertheless present in some form or the other...and it is our responsibility to remove these from our society and prevent the world from entering the Orwellian Phase...
