To me, Big Brother is a ruthless dictator in Oceania. He controls not only the actions of the citizens, but also the thoughts, facial expressions, and every aspect of their existence. He completely removes their uniqueness and individuality. There is no sense of self left in the lives of those citizens. They didn't get to be who they wanted to be. They didn't get to do what they wanted to do. And they didn't even get to think what they wanted to think. He controlled them and forced them to forge a false history. Their entire lives were created by lies and dedicated to continuing those lies.
Some have made a connection between Big Brother and Hitler. I think that it makes a lot of sense to make that connection. The world portrayed in the novel is similar to what the world would likely be like had Hitler taken over and succeeded.
The novel is very saddening to read and negative but it does really make me think. It brings up points about history that I had never considered before. It makes me wonder about what is good and bad about our own government. There are obviously laws in our government that control our actions too but we can still express our feelings and differentiate ourselves. We can still be who we want to be. We do still have privacy. We can think what we want and for the most part still do what we want without having somebody tracking or "watching" us at all times. We are still free to enjoy sex and make the decision to conceive or not to.
I have to agree that the book is making us think. It is making us think about how our world could be or is it actually already this. I feel that what we want to be is also dictated by the people in our lives. We want to live up to the expectations that are put on us.
ReplyDeleteI agree this is a sad book and makes you think. I’m glad I don’t live in a dictatorship and live in the United States. I’m glad I was able to marry and have children when and how I wanted. I think that this book is kinda referencing Hitler’s era. I think though it is trying to make us think about things in our world like technology and social media. A perfect example is the children like watching hanging they turn their own father in for a thought crime. Our children are in away affected by the environment as those in the novel? Kids have sex sooner now a day’s then when I was growing up reality TV, internet, scoail media, and all the other things in front of them that we get jolted by dose effect them to a extreme. So I think that it’s the cross over’s of the novels more than anything and I’m seeing them.. Do you see them??
ReplyDeleteCan we ALWAYS do what we want? Here's something to think about that is relevant to you: PSSA testing. This is a government issued standardized test...Do you want to take them? Do I want to have to teach with the idea that my future students need to take them? Nope. But I have to. The emphasis on standardized tests is relatively new. So, this is a new aspect that our government has "taken over." If they're able to take over our education, can they take over other things as well? Do they have the power to take over whatever they want?
ReplyDeleteYou pointed out how bad Big Brother is very nicely in your first paragragh. I also feel like there is a big connection between Big Brother and Hitler. Wouldn't surprise me if the things that are happening in this book happened in real life if he succeeded in what he was doing. I agree this book is sad and negative and I don't like how we went from Feed to this, the reading is too opposite and it makes it hard to understand this book. I have to reread things 3 times just to understand.
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