1984 by George Orwell: Foreshadowing the Possibilities of A Future Society

1984: Foreshadowing the Possibilities of A Future Society
1984 is a very interesting novel that has successfully provided a notion of a dystopia where citizens are limited in freedom, in rights and in openness to knowledge. The writer has given the readers a warning that can be analyzed when we look closer at the details. He speaks of an entity that would have “eyes” and “ears” everywhere, where nothing is private and nothing cannot be known by the state. The notion of big brother reflects the reality of our own period such that in a large part of our world, the government, or a select few who have power over the citizens, are able to control and censor the written and spoken word and which news and products should be trending. There is a deliberate effort to limit man’s ability to think freely.
The key symbolism used in the novel were elements that represent the conflict and problems of society. The main symbol used was Big Brother- an all seeing, and all hearing entity, in this case, the state or government, that dictated which ideas, which routine, and which acts are “allowed” and “beneficial” for society. Through propaganda, this entity has been normalized in the kind of dystopia that the story of 1984 is set in. In a way, Big Brother is a symbol of a protector, hence, the name. But he is also an open threat as nothing can escape from its gaze and its absolute control. The old picture of St. Forebearing's Church in the room that Winston leases above Mr. Charrington's shop is another portrayal of the lost past. Winston partners a tune with the photo that closures with the words "Here comes the chopper to slash off your head!" This is an essential anticipate, as it is the telescreen taken ...