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Big Brother and the Authoritarian
Surveillance State: George Orwell’s 1984
Part 1
● What is it like to live in an authoritarian country that
constantly watches every citizen?
● How close is the U.S. to becoming an authoritarian
country?
What does
“Orwellian” mean?
What "Orwellian" really
means - Noah Tavlin
Introduction: Sometimes an author’s ideas are so unique and powerful that his or her
name becomes synonymous with the ideas. One example is Niccolò Machiavelli, whose
ook The Prince advises a new ruler that the end always justifies the means in acquiring
and maintaining power. Thus, the term “Machiavellian” describes a plan that is clever,
effective, but also deceitful and unethical. Ivan Pavlov, a Russian scientist, rang a bell
every time he fed his dogs and demonstrated that over time the dogs associated the bell
with food and began to salivate when they heard it. Now conditioned responses like this,
such as when high school students respond in certain ways to the bells and buzzers that
designate class periods, are called “Pavlovian.” In his analysis of dreams, Sigmund Freud
found that the imagery of dreams was full of sexual symbols. Now the practice of finding
such symbols in dreams, stories, and everyday objects is called “Freudian.”
The word “Orwellian” is probably almost as commonly used as the terms mentioned
above. However, the meanings and associations of “Orwellian” are as complex as the
world of the novel. It is sometimes difficult to pin down exactly what someone means by
the word. It might refer to a totalitarian government, a government that tries to control all
the actions and beliefs of its citizens. It might refer to the use of surveillance technology,
such as hidden cameras and microphones, as part of that effort to control. It could refer
to the particular ways of speaking and thinking that Big Brother and the ruling party in the
novel prescribe in “Newspeak.” It might even refer to the rewriting of history to fit the
political needs of the present. Of course, it could be a combination of two or more of the
above. As we read 1984, we will return to the question of the meaning of “Orwellian”
several times.
Orwell wrote this novel in 1948. He turned the last two digits around to come up with
1984. The novel is a work of science fiction about an imagined future, but it draws on
what was for Orwell the recent past, the history of World War II, in which the fascist
government of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany fought the communist government of Josef
Stalin’s Soviet Union. Although fascism and communism are considered to be opposite
political systems, both countries had authoritarian governments with powerful dictators,
secret police, and violent suppression of political opponents. In imagining the country of
Oceania and its ruler Big Brother, Orwell gives the government the power to watch and
control every aspect of a citizen’s life through ever-present two-way “telescreens” that
oth display propaganda and observe the viewer.
https:
youtu.be/oe64p-QzhNE
https:
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Activity 1: Getting Ready to Read-
Define “Orwellian”
Quickwrite: Write your own definition of what the word “Orwellian” means to you. Does the word apply to our society today?
Why or why not?
No because i think the society for now is really good
Activity 2: Getting Ready to Read- A Visit from the
FBI
Read the following scenario:
You and many of your friends are big fans of a pop group called “The Sleazy Dirtbags.” The group has catchy
eats and melodies, but the lyrics of the songs are hard to understand. Nobody really cares. They just like the
music and talk about it a lot on Facebook and in text messages. However, a news station hires an audio analyst
to transcribe the lyrics and finds what they say are hidden messages calling for a violent revolution against the
government and the assassination of political figures. The songs become a big political issue and numerous
politicians publicly denounce the group. Some fans of the group try to defend the songs by saying that the lyrics
have been misinterpreted, but other groups em
ace the message and hold anti-government demonstrations.
The lead singer leaves the country and goes into hiding. Other groups hold anti-Dirtbag demonstrations. A
psychologist says on a news program that the songs might have subliminal messages that could inspire young
people to violence. Under pressure from politicians, the FBI announces that it will collect email records, text
messages, and Facebook conversations about the songs from all of the band’s fans to look for a pattern of
conspiracy or possible plans for violence. They promise that every message about the group anywhere on the
Internet will be thoroughly investigated. Suddenly Dirtbag fans are public enemy number 1, and you are one of
them.
Activity 2: Getting Ready to Read- A Visit from the
FBI continued...
Answer the following questions:
Do you think that this could happen in the United States? Why or why not?
I don’t think so because There is no precedent for this in the world
If this happened, what would you do? Would you change your communication habits? Would you be more concerned about privacy?
I will stand on The villain's side, no ,yes because this kind of things are unblieveable
If you got a call from the FBI or if agents knocked on your door, what would you say? What would you do? How would your feel? Would you be scared? Would it
change your life?
I will tell them everything i knew, i will feel scared, it will change my life
Would you call this situation “Orwellian”? Why or why not
Yes , because Explained that I do not know to be a
ested and scolded
Activity 3:
Exploring Key
Concepts
The following political concepts often come up in discussions of 1984:
Authoritarian: The government is the authority. The individual obeys. This
is the opposite of a libertarian philosophy, in which the government leaves
the individual alone as much as possible Totalitarian: In totalitarian rule,
the government tries to control every aspect of the lives of its citizens,
including their thoughts and beliefs, by any means possible.
Oligarchical Collectivism: Aristotle defines three types of government,
each with a good form in which the ruler or rulers have the good of the
state in mind and a bad form in which the rulers govern by self-interest.
Who Rules? (Types of Government)
Aristotle uses these terms a bit differently from how they are used in the
U.S. today. “Collectivism” emphasizes the good of the whole over the
individual. Note that he thinks that “democracy” is bad.
Utopia: A perfect, happy society in which all of humanity's problems
have been solved.
Anti-Utopia or Dystopia: A nightmare society in which life is as difficult
and unhappy as it could be; often the result of trying to create a utopia.
https:
youtu.be/pvPCYqKZP3Y
Activity 3: Exploring Key Concepts continued...
Quickwrite: How do these political concepts apply to various countries in the world today? How do they apply to the U.S.?
Because are more serious about personal privacy
Activity 5: Making Predictions and Asking
Questions- Reading the First Page
In the absence of section and chapter titles, the best way to preview the book is to read the first two paragraphs of the novel. What
details do you notice that seem odd? What predictions can you make about the world of the novel from these details? Write your
predictions and the reasons for them below.
All speak of things that are invisible to us in our ordinary lives， all about society
Activity 6:
Exploring Key
Concepts- Flipping
Through the Book
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
Flipping through the pages of a book can reveal some
important elements about the contents. Flip through the
ook looking for text or illustrations or other features that
stand out. What do these elements mean? How do you think
they fit into the story? Write down some of the details you
notice. What do you think they mean?
I figure out that alll about society about before
Activity 7: Making Predictions and Asking
Questions- Once Again
Quickwrite: Based on your interpretation of the details on the first page and those you noticed from flipping through the book, write a
paragraph describing the world of the book, the viewpoint character, Winston Smith, and your thoughts about what you think will
happen to him.
I think that “Big Brother” is like the term-of-office for the leade
dictator that is leading this country. Everyone is supposed to be happy and fit in
perfectly in society except for a seemingly small group of individuals. Winston believes he is alone (just like all dystopian protagonists) and finds
himself not fitting in society and eventually begins thinking unthinkable thoughts – time to over-throw the government . And – I have a bad habit of
eading the last paragraph of a book before I read it – I think he succeeds and comes to terms with Big Brother.
Activity 8:
Understanding Key
Vocabulary- Fun
with Doublethink
What is DOUBLETHINK? What does
DOUBLETHINK mean? DOUBLETHINK
meaning, definition & explanation
Big Brother, the government of Oceania, attempts to control
the ideas of the population by introducing an invented
language, “Newspeak.” Newspeak is a simplified version of
“Oldspeak” or English. The grammar and rules of Newspeak
are described in an appendix to the novel, but a few words
are introduced early in the book.
● Ingsoc: “English Socialism,” the national ideology of
Oceania.
● Doublethink: The ability to believe two contradictory
ideas at once. “War is peace” and “Freedom is slavery”
are two examples. Doublethink is necessary for life in
Oceania.
● Thoughtcrime: Thinking thoughts that are against the
party or that question party policies or actions. Thinking
“Down with Big Brother” is an example. The Thought
Police monitor everyone to detect possible
thoughtcrime.
https:
youtu.be/W8FIn9CWFaQ
https:
youtu.be/W8FIn9CWFaQ
https:
youtu.be/W8FIn9CWFaQ
Activity 8: Understanding Key Vocabulary- Fun with
Doublethink continued...
Do you ever find yourself believing two contradictory notions at the same time? In 1984, this is called “Doublethink.” It could be
something as common as “He/she loves me; he/she loves me not.” Is it possible to believe both of those statements at once? Or if
your grandmother or other loved one is very sick, is it possible to believe both that she will get well, but also that she will not? Is it
possible to believe strongly in a principle such as “Honesty is the best policy” and then do the opposite for other reasons? Below,
ainstorm examples of doublethink in our daily lives.
There are often things in life, such as plans failing to catch up with changes
Activity 9: Understanding Key Vocabulary- Fun with
Thoughtcrime
Do you ever find yourself thinking thoughts that are against the organization or activity you are participating in? In 1984, thinking
thoughts against Big Brother is called “thoughtcrime.” Think of an organization you belong to or are familiar with. (It could even be your
school.) Every organization has rules, beliefs, principles, and standards. If your thoughts at times go against the basic beliefs of the
organization, even while you are outwardly participating normally, in 1984 terms that could be considered “thoughtcrime.” Of course,
this happens to all of us at times. What organization do you have in mind? What would be examples of thoughtcrime for that
organization? Write down some examples below.
Activity 11: Reading for
Understanding
First, read the questions in the following slides just to get an idea of some of the items you will be looking for. Then read section one,
keeping these questions in mind along with the predictions you made in Activities 5, 6 and 7. As you are reading, make check marks
in the margins when you find a passage that may be relevant to these questions or your predictions. (Use sticky notes if you’re using
the book.) Don’t wo
y if you don’t find something for every question. You will be able to go back later.
1984 by George Orwell (Full Audiobook)
https:
youtu.be/gwqmT1D-MbU
Chapter 1
Answer the following questions:
What is a “telescreen”? How is it different from the televisions we know? Is it possible to make a television that could see and hear everything in the room? Could such a device be
used for discovering criminals and te
orists? Could it be used for political control? Would it be a good idea to install such a device in every household?
What are the four government ministries that control the world of Big Brother? In our own society, we have departments in the federal government, such as the Department of
Defense and the Department of Education. Are these the same as the ministries in Oceania? How are they different?
Why does Winston want to keep a diary? Why, even though it is not illegal because there are no laws, could he be punished by death or 25 years in a labor camp for possessing it?
What is the “Two-minutes Hate”? What effect does it have on the people? Who is Emanuel Goldstein? Why