1984 Future Technology

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George Orwell’s Conception of Future Technology Today’s technology is far more advanced than ever before. People have the ability to alter DNA in certain animals and print three-dimensional images. In the dystopian novel 1984 by George Orwell, the protagonist Winston Smith lives in a society in which people are monitored through telescreens 24/7. No one can avoid being seen by a telescreen, which is monitored by the Party, the government in omnipotence in this dystopian society. The Party also speaks in a shortened language entitled Newspeak, which essentially limits thoughts. 1984 was written by George Orwell in 1948, the post-era of World War II. He wrote the novel with his conception of future technology in mind. George Orwell emphasized…show more content…
Winston Smith reveals in the novel that “the picture had fallen to the floor, uncovering the telescreen behind it.”(Orwell, 222) This quotation displays the telescreen’s power. The telescreen is able to record and view every conversation that Julia and Winston have, leading to their capture and representing the control the Party has over the people. In today’s world, the smartphone can also capture an individual’s every moment through its camera with or without consent, highlighting the power of the technology over an individual. The telescreen and the smartphone both display characteristics of a security camera. In addition, the telescreen also informs the people with news of Oceania. Winston states, “It was the bulletin…” (Orwell, 296) The telescreen’s ability to give news is similar to how the smartphone also provides information with its numerous applications. A smartphone consists of news applications that contain popular and generally news that lauds the nation, like the telescreen, which only reports news that places the Party in a good light. This shows the control technology gives people, allowing them to determine what information is presented to the people and what is not. George Orwell demonstrates his idea of the control of a technology-influenced future with
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