Nineteen Eighty Four Essay, Research Paper

In Canada, we have the freedom to do almost anything. In the novel Nineteen

Eighty Four, there is no freedom. Although there are no laws in Oceania, there

are consequences to doing thoughtcrime. The consequences are used not for

punishment but for the limitation of people who may perform a crime in the

future. There are many differences in our society today and the society that of

Nineteen Eighty Four. In our society today, we encourage thinking. Even in

schools, children are taught to express themselves in any way possible. Story

writing, acting, or even art, there are a variety of ways to achieve that while

in Oceania, children are taught to spy on their parents to see if they are

having thoughtcrimes. Thoughtcrime is a word in Newspeak that controls any

individual thought. One cannot think on his or her own. He or she can only think

what the government tells or allows him or her to think. If they are ever caught

with thoughtcrime, he or she would be vapourized. Freedom of speech is limited

due to the fact that thought can lead to the destruction of the government.

Speech is also restricted due the Newspeak. Newspeak limits the words one can

use to eliminate thoughtcrime. Without words, one cannot fully express

themselves. The people of Oceania do not have the freedom of expression like we

do. Without thought, there is no expressions of any kind, which makes him or her

a goodthinker. A goodthinker is one that knows naturally, without thought, how

to behave or act according to the government. In society today, there is freedom

of expression everywhere. In magazines, on televisions, on people themselves and

even communication. People express themselves through their clothing, while in

the book, everyone wears the same thing. There is no freedom of expression

whatsoever. In both magazines and television, people express their opinion all

the time with no fear of being vapourized or the fear of the consequences the

community of Oceania has to face. Today, people will protest against the

government for what they believe in. For example, teachers protested Bill 160 in

the streets against the government. There would never be public protests against

the government in Oceania. History is important for one to know of what has

happened in the past and learn from it. We are able to learn history through

books, videos and even from people. History for the community of Oceania is

constantly changing. The workers of the Ministry of Truth, rewrites history

without complaint. Records are changed to better suit the present. People are so

naive that they would believe anything the government says. For example, one day

they can be at war with Eurasia, and the next minute they are at war with

Eastasia. The people of Oceania, are not living with any human rights. Without

freedom, they are no better then a caged animal. There are just puppets that the

government controls. Everyone should be entitled to freedom in order to live a

happy and full life.