Surveillance in George Orwells 1984 Essay Example

Surveillance in George Orwells 1984 Essay Example Surveillance in George Orwells 1984 Essay Surveillance in George Orwells 1984 Essay Essay Topic: 1984 George orwell One of the main reoccurring themes in Orwell’s vision of a dystopian world is the idea of constant surveillance. This can be categorised into four groups. Firstly there are obvious threats which Winston endures on an everyday basis. These include patrols and helicopters that ‘hover like bluebottles stooping into people’s windows.’ Orwell uses this simile to draw an analogy between life today and life in his dystopian world and uses relatable problems such as flies in order to make the reader more understanding and therefore sympathetic towards Winston. Secondly Orwell uses the concept of underlying and inescapable threats, for example telescreens and hidden microphones. This technology is what appears to affect the lives of the characters most as they are unaware of when they are being observed. The effect of this is uneasiness between characters, making social interaction awkward. This is evident when Winston and Julia’s relationship is blossoming b ut yet they must search for different locations every time they meet up. However, the characters still remain uneasy after finding seemingly suitable locations, thus highlighting their fear of Big Brother who could be observing them at any time. The personality of Big Brother himself is a confusing concept, which even Winston fails to fully understand. On one hand he appears benevolent and protective, much like his name suggests, while alternatively he is ruthless and invasive. The phrase ‘Big Brother is watching you’ can therefore be interpreted in two ways, suggesting Orwell believed that it is possible that all people are both good and bad, however opinions can alter between individuals. The Thought Police are another key concept of 1984, who pose a very eerie threat to the public, and thus causing citizens to self-regulate. The Thought Police supposedly pick up expressions, which suggest an individual is not fully committed to governmental plans. For example, looking disa