1. What are your initial impressions of Winston Smith, our dystopian protagonist?
2. What do you think about the London of the novel? How about the province of Airstrip One the country of Oceania? What elements of the setting reinforce the dystopian themes.
3. The three slogans of the Party are:
WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
What do they mean? How do they help the Party keep control?
4. What is the effect of all the posters that say "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU"?
5. The Ministries are:
- The Ministry of Truth, or Minitrue, which is concerned with news, entertainment, education, and the fine arts.
- The Ministry of Peace, or Minipax, is concerned with war.
- The Ministry of Love, or Miniluv, maintains law and order.
- The Ministry of Plenty, or Miniplenty is responsible for economic affairs.
6. What are Winston's initial thoughts on:
- the pretty girl who works in the Fiction Department?
- O’Brien, an important member of the Inner Party?
7. What's the importance of Emmanuel Goldstein?
8. What's the importance of Big Brother? How does he look different from Goldstein?
10. What crime does Winston commit? How does he do this? What is the punishment if he is caught?
11. What is the telescreen and how is it used?
12. Describe thoughtcrime and talk about examples.
4. The main effect of the sign saying "Big Brother is watching" is to incite fear into the people. They government wants to control the people and in order to do this threaten the people in saying they are being watched every second...which they are!
ReplyDeleteI find this interesting that we still kinda have this "Big Brother" in our modern world. A few years ago, a big topic that was going around was how the NSA was watching everybody and that freaked a lot of people out.
DeleteI agree that the posters are used to incite fear into the people, and that the message is used to ensure that the people are doing their best to aid the Party and Big Brother at all times.
DeleteI agree with Tavish, in our modern world we have a "Big Brother" present. The Patriot Act opened doors for the NSA and modern surveillance. Unlike 1984, the NSA isn't as public with its surveillance and works in the shadows. Big brother is used as propaganda, while the NSA is used as security.
DeleteI strongly disagree with Henry. I believe that the purpose of the signs are to make people feel protected. Therefore rather than inciting fear they make people have a sort of "artificial" love for Big Brother.
Delete3. The three slogans of the Party are:
ReplyDeleteWAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
What do they mean? How do they help the Party keep control?
There is a strategical use of juxtaposition in these slogans since antonyms are placed together to distort their meanings to the convenience of the party. For instance, we would normally associate freedom as a positive quality, but they are portraying it as if it could be compared to the state or feeling of slavery. It suggests that freedom by no means gives any sort of privilege, or advantage or anything good. On the opposite, the people from Oceania are to be conviced through the slogan not seek for freedom, for a free person becomes "slave" of their thoughts.
Janane Tan
ReplyDelete6. Winston had disliked the pretty girl from the moment he saw her, he also sensed she was also more dangerous than others, with a piercing stare that made Winston fill with terror.
Towards O’Brien, Winston felt deeply drawn to him, and not because he was intrigued by the contrast between O’Brien’s urbane manner and his prize-fighter’s physique. More because of a secretly held belief that O’Brien’s political orthodoxy was not perfect.
4. In the society of Oceania, there are many posters that are surrounding the walls with the caption "Big Brother Is Watching You". By posting them around, the people are reminded that they are being watched and that any negative action could lead to death. The government wants to have full power, so they posted these propaganda posters to ensure that the people fear the government so that they could control and manipulate them however they want.
ReplyDeleteWhat crime does Winston commit? How does he do this? What is the punishment if he is caught?
ReplyDeleteWinston Smith commits thought-crime in the novel. This is a type of crime in which the offender's thoughts conflict with or defy the current laws or beliefs of the society. The "thought"-police identify this crime through the actions of the offender either through the sophisticated and widespread surveillance of the society or through another individual turning that person in.
The posters that say “big brothers is watching you” are a constant reminder that people are under monitors. The posters warn people to behave and think according to the party. They give people the fear that whenever they do wrong things, the party would see it and punish the people accordingly. The posters symbolize the power and total control the party has over the people. They also increase the hate that Winston has towards the party.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I feel like the posters just build on the citizens' ever-present anxiety and fear. They serve as a constant reminder that they cannot think, act, and speak freely. It certainly helps people with feelings of dissent manifest negative feelings towards the party.
DeleteI agree with both of you. The idea behind the posters is to let the citizens know they are always being watched. The main effect of the posters is to instill terror and fright for many of the citizens. By reminding the people that they are being monitored it makes them think twice before doing anything against the rules
DeleteI agree also that when the book talks about "big brothers is watching you " it really shows and effects the story . It shows that the society is controlled and many citizens are frightened because of everything used to control them like posters .
DeleteI agree also that when the book talks about "big brothers is watching you " it really shows and effects the story . It shows that the society is controlled and many citizens are frightened because of everything used to control them like posters . " this post was mine it just came as unkown at the time .
DeleteI agree. The posters definitely incite a significant amount of fear into the citizens, knowing that they are being watched at all times. In our current world similar things are going on in the USA with the recently passed patriot act. The patriot act allows the NSA to listen in on our phone calls and look at our internet history to ensure that our motives are safe/non-violent. There is a line where surveillance is used to protect people, and this line should not be crossed as to where it is used to control people and have them live in constant fear because their whole lives are captured on camera.
DeleteWhat is the effect of all the posters that say "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU"?
ReplyDeleteSince all of the posters are all around London, on the streets and in apartment buildings, it creates a sense of fear in some of the citizens, while for others, it makes them feel safe. For the members of the party who do not have the popular opinion of liking Big Brother, it instills fear in their minds because they could be caught for doing things that they should not be doing. However, for some, the signs are inspiring and give hope because they feel safe under Big Brothers protection and that no one will be able to hurt Oceania.
I agree with you that it provides a sense of security for followers and fear for opposers of the party, but I feel like the main purpose is to make everyone in the society feel like they are watched. This makes it so that everyone feels the need to follow the leader and treat him like a father figure who is always watching, and ensures that no-one thinks twice to do what they are told. This is one of the main aspects of a dystopia.
DeleteWinston Smith initially seemed like a very cynical character who was afraid of his surroundings. However, he did not resemble an ignorant and antisocial character, more of an innovative one of new ideas. He would question the ways of society and hate the way people were treated. If anything, he was the only character who was not very ignorant. His initial impressions on characters also showed his judgmental but tentative personality. He is very careful during any move he makes, including showing expressions while turning away form the screens, and only associating with certain people in certain ways. His impressions on O'Brien and Julia turned out to be the opposite of his initial impressions, showing how his initial beliefs of society were correct, and that anyone can betray you. The society is meant to break him, and he is the only hope left, as the proles could not do anything due to lack of significance and belief.
ReplyDelete6. Winston Smith believed that O'brien is another member of a cult that is forming to take down "Big Brother." Winston thought that he "saw the same look on his [O'brien's] face" of hatred towards Big Brother that Winston himself has.
ReplyDeleteWhen Winston first saw Julia, he believed that she was someone who is out to get him and turn him into the party. He believes that she is a loyal party member who would not betray Big Brother, and would do anything to catch Winston in the act of "thoughtcrime."
I am Vishal Patel by the way
DeleteI find it funny how Winston believes that O'Brien is against the party and how Julia is a member of the thought police, and how he finds his assumptions to be flipped later on
Delete1)In the beginning Winston seen as the only one in the society of Oceania that knew that they were being deceived and controlled. This is called his memory and his job which is to alter information everywhere to what is currently believed.
ReplyDeleteJulia is first perceived through Winston as a evil and possibly part of the though police, watching him at all times.
What is the effect of all the posters that say "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU"?
ReplyDeleteTo sprout fear and awareness into the citizens minds so that everything they do is controlled by Big Brother in order to create, what they call it, a perfect society. The locations of the posters being everywhere also symbolizes that Big brother is everywhere watching you and there is no place to escape that.
I agree! The posters are plastered on places we would think unordinary, but that does symbolize how Big Brother is always watching what they do. With the posters on every corner of the town, citizens are forced to always abide by the law and not do anything that would get them caught by the thought police or be vaporized.
DeleteEmmanuel Goldstein is an important character to the story because he is the equivalent of Big Brother to a group of people called "the Brotherhood" who are advocating freedom from the oppressive government of Oceania. Winston doesn't know if either actually exist or if they are just fictional leaders of their governments. The reason Big Brother and Goldstein play such salient roles is because Orwell intended for them both to be the face of two opposite evils; representing different totalitarian power structures and their drawbacks.
ReplyDelete^ Question 7
DeleteI agree that Orwell intended for Goldstein and Big Brother to play two opposite evils as they both represent the extremes in society. I find it interesting that there is no middle ground in this dystopian novel; the societal structure remains one of totalitarianism regardless of the leader. It seems as if democracy or any type of government form with citizen representation is not in existence.
Delete4. What is the effect of all the posters that say "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU?"
ReplyDeleteTh posters are everywhere throughout the city, making the message inescapable. I believe the effect that this poster has on the people is everything but positive. This poster puts fear into the people of Oceania by letting them know that they are being watched at all times, even in their own homes. This causes paranoia and fear because they know that one wrong word or action can cause them death or to be put in prison.
4. What is the effect of all the posters that say "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU"?
ReplyDeleteThe posters "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU" is a fearful and sparking feeling. As the citizens walk around, at every corner or anywhere they go, they see these posters as a reminder that no matter what you do, or what you say, BIG BROTHER will always be watching your steps. The posters are help up to show that Big Brother has power. He corrupts the minds of the people and keeps them in line with these posters.
Juan Pablo Rodriguez
Delete1. What are your initial impressions of Winston Smith, our dystopian protagonist?
ReplyDeleteMy initial impression of Winston is that he is a curious man. He is not a person that is made for this world, for he is too hungry to be able to actually express himself. I feel like there's likely many people like this but they are all paralyzed in fear of persecution by the thought police. I believe Winston is actually like one of many people, he just doesn't realize what many people are secretly thinking.
I agree, and I also think that he seemed to want to know more and questioned his existence. Initially he struck me as someone who might rebel or not conform.
DeleteNick Choi
ReplyDelete11. The telescreens are a piece of technology that is being used by the government in 1984 to monitor the citizens as they "receive and transmit simultaneously." This is used to keep an eye on every single person on what their actions are as well as what they say. This contributes to the overarching occurrence of the invasion of privacy established, which can also be seen from the Police Patrol looking into the windows of everyone. Thinking about the telescreens from a past point of view, the telescreens would have freaked a lot of people out when reading this as there was not technology back then that could have a camera and recording device and transmit it to another person as much as this could. However reading this past the year 1984, we do not feel as insecure about it as we live in a world where everyone is watching us all the time when we post videos and pictures on social media. The telescreens also show the goal of the government trying to be omniscient and omnipresent as they want to know everything that goes on, especially things that they believe will put there power at risk in controlling the citizens.
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ReplyDeleteThe Telescreen is a device that is used to constantly recite government propaganda and monitor the people of Oceania. It is used to make sure that the people stay in line and do not hold discontent for the Party or Big Brother.
ReplyDelete4. The effect of the posters that say "big brother is watching you" is to incite fear among the citizens because the government wants to be in control. They are telling citizens that there every move is being watched and if they act out they will be punished.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTelescreens are devices used by the government. There main purpose is to serve as a monitoring device as well as it shows propaganda. This is just another way for the party to its control they have over the people.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the effect of all the posters that say "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU"?
ReplyDeleteThese posters are plastered around the city to incite fear into the citizens. Everyone in the society is under constant surveillance, even in their homes, work, and in their thoughts. No matter where you go, BIG BROTHER will always be there. The amount of these posters reveal how much power BIG BROTHER has in the society an that the surveillance is inescapable. This strikes fear into the citizens, making them unlikely to be resistant or rebel against the governing force.
4. What is the effect of all the posters that say "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU"?
ReplyDeleteThe posters that mention big brother is capital, large letters, are there as a reminder for the people. The citizens are under consistent control and surveillance from the government, and the posters are there so that citizens don't forget. Partly so that the citizens are kept in constant reminder that they are not alone in their actions, but mostly so that they don't do something illegal thinking they'll get away with it. This helps the government keep as many of the citizens in check as they can, and the posters are actually quite effective at what they are meant to do.
12. Describe thoughtcrime and talk about examples.
ReplyDeleteThoughtcrime is committed when an individual thinks of anything that the Thought Police or Party believes goes against them. An example of this is when Winston keeps looking around for others who have similar beliefs are him during the Two Minute Hate, rather than participating. Another example of Thoughtcrime is when Julia passes the note to Winston, which means she has been thinking about having a relationship the Party doesn't approve of, which is illegal.
The thought police is very interesting to me. When you commit a thoughtcrime, it just shows that you can't act in any way that you please. The party has total control and if the thought police catch you, you will be punished. This just shows that there is no freedom within the society.
Delete3.
ReplyDeleteWAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
What do they mean? How do they help the Party keep control?
These party slogans are to keep boundaries on the people while preventing a rebellion as well as thought crime. The nation of Oceania is constantly in some war or another which is a reason that they promote war as peace, so that the people will support the omnipresent war. The second piece of the slogan is to enable the slavery and tedious labor put forth on the citizens. This keeps them stuck in the societal structure of the nation and prevents any type of individual thinking which is also what the third part of the slogan means. The leaders of the government want to contain the people and their thoughts. This is accomplished through the slogan above.
I agree, I thought that the most powerful slogan the Party used was "Ignorance is Strength" to make the people believe that they should believe whatever they are told, even if it sounds like nonsense.
Delete4. What is the effect of all the posters that say "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU"?
ReplyDeleteThe effect of all the Big Brother posters is for manipulation through fear. The citizens know they are under constant surveillance by the party, and these posters are mere reminders for them. Through the thought police, the government keeps a tight grip on all of the citizens. These posters remind citizens of that, upholding the oppression and keeping the thought of rebelling away.
This is Philip Frank btw
Delete1. My initial impression of Winston felt like he was kinda trapped and couldn't express how he was feeling. He knew that he was living a life he didn't want to and doesn't like the society. He can't go to anyone because he knows that he'll get vaporized so he's kind of stuck.
ReplyDeleteThe effect of "Big Brother is Watching you" posters is propaganda to scare the citizens into doing what society is telling them to do, watch, and even see. If someone tries to rebel in anyway then Big Brother, which is the head of society, will take care of that person.
ReplyDelete3. These statements show the power that Doublespeak that the party has over the population's minds. These phrases are all contradictory, yet this failure in logic is ignored by everyone, even though it doesn't make sense. By brainwashing the populace into being fully invested in Doublespeak, the party is basically granted complete power over the control of what the population thinks.
ReplyDelete7. What's the importance of Emmanuel Goldstein?
ReplyDeleteEmmanuel Goldstein serves as the counter revolutionary to the party and the symbol of hate and dissension. The party utilizes Goldstein's image as a symbol of furry everyday at 11 during the "Two minutes of hate" which serve to unify party members against a common enemy and show the attitude towards ideas not supported by the party. Goldstein serves as the literary figure place for real life revolutionaries such as Leon Trotsky and Che Guevara, both of which were Marxist revolutionaries fighting against an oppressive state.
I agree with Gunnar because Emmanuel Goldstein is the face of hatred in the novel as well as an instrument of crime. Anyone who speaks of him positively or supports him in any way is sure to be arrested for thoughtcrime.
Delete11. What is the telescreen and how is it used?
ReplyDeletethe telescreen is a large screen embedded in every home of the city it plays short clips or also plays music but it is used to keep the public under not only surveillance but also to play government oriented programs and songs to keep there mind aligned with the government. They serve as a medium of communication from the government to the people.
3. The three slogans of the Party are:
ReplyDeleteWAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
What do they mean? How do they help the Party keep control?
these phrases are a form of brainwashing for the people they keep the people thinking in a uniform matter and by doing this, they can manipulate the minds of the public and force them to be on their side as seen with the meaning of each saying. The first one war is peace, is saying that by having a common enemy or by uniting against someone it will bring peace upon everyone when in reality, the government is fabricating this to create an enemy that is common for everyone directing their attention away from the actions of the government and instead on the apparent bad actions of the enemy. The second saying, freedom is slavery, is ironic in that it juxtaposes two very opposite things together and even calls them synonyms. This saying means that by being enslaved you are being set free which we as readers know isn't true which makes it ironic. The final one, ignorance is power is a clear control by the government saying that by neglecting the government, the people will remain powerful which in reality the government has strict power over everyone which is why they enforce it through these sayings.
3. The three slogans of the Party are:
ReplyDeleteWAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH
What do they mean? How do they help the Party keep control?
Each of the slogans are very contradictory, but keep the members of Oceania in line with the Party's morals. In 1984, there is always some version of war waging in Europe. Without war, claims the Party, there will be no peace post-war, so the war must go on. Freedom is slavery is used to tell the people that the freedom that people once had made the country go to ruins. This is how the party controls the members into believing that human emotion is the demise to a society so they must rid of it. The last slogan, ignorance is strength, is very powerful and kind of relates to our society today. All party members, besides those in the government, have no knowledge of the actual world. The Party always manipulates news to make them seem like the hero, not telling the people of the actual news of what is or has been going on. These slogans indeed control all citizens in how they think and live their life, all which have the purpose to solely serve and love the party.
4. The effect of the posters saying "Big brother is watching you" is that it scares the citizens and encourages people to abide by the laws of the government and manipulate citizens into doing what the government wants. These posters serve as a constant reminder to citizens to act according to the government and make it easier for the people to be controlled through propaganda.
ReplyDelete4. The 'Big Brother is watching you" posters are very significant in Oceania. They remind the people that the party is always watching and that they need to follow the rules. They know that if they disobey, they will be punished. The posters help keep the citizens in the same mindset, which helps the party make sure that they will not rebel against them.
ReplyDelete7. He is the evil figure that the party uses to represent all evil. He is utilized daily during the two minute hate speeches for the common man to direct hate towards. He distracts the citizens of the real oppressors, because he is exemplified as the source of all their misery.
ReplyDelete12. THOT (thought) crime is the crime of individual or rebellious thinking. Although it can't be proved, it can be suspected and punished. This creates paranoi and worry, such as parents being accused by kids of committed such unprovable crimes.
Who are you, Unknown?
Delete10. Winston commits thoughtcrime. Thoughtcrime can be described as any "thought" that defies or differs from society. Police can identify offenders using widespread surveillance and if anyone is caught, thoughtcrime is punishable by death.
ReplyDelete3. The three slogans of the Party are:
ReplyDeleteWar is Peace – Although there is constant war going on in Oceania, people go on about their lives as though the constant war means peace. People accept that this constant state of war brings about peace.
Freedom is Slavery – The people have been brainwashed to believe that freedom is actually slavery and anyone seeking to become free become slaves instead.
Ignorance is Strength - This is probably the most powerful slogan that the Party uses to make the people believe that they should believe whatever they are told, even if it doesn’t make sense and sounds like nonsense.
The Party kept control of the society by using the three slogans that were two contradictory beliefs as correct. Although the slogans were nonsense and contradictory they were used by the party to brainwash and intimidate the people.
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Delete1. My first impression of Winston was that he is very cynical and hateful. His personality is rebellious, it's certainly cause for suspicion in Oceania. It was made clear at the beginning of the novel that his goal would eventually be to destroy the society he lives in.
ReplyDelete4. What is the effect of all the posters that say "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU"?
ReplyDeleteUltimately the effect of the posters stating "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU" induce a sense of fear towards the people of the society. With the reminder that the "government" is constantly watching every word, every move, every step, and every day of their life's. There is NO FREEDOM OR PEACE! Everyone lives a life of surveillance. Giving the citizens no chance to rebel against their own government, because with the blink of an eye they are gone forever without anyone ever knowing where they went.
3. The three slogans of the Party What do they mean? How do they help the Party keep control?
ReplyDeleteIn order to maintain their government under control and for citizens to not rebel. The motto's they repeated everyday where WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, and IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH. They brainwashed the minds of people in their society to be under the governments wing forever. First "WAR IS PEACE" we know that is not true, but Oceania is at constant war with other nations, and they make citizens believe in order to gain peace they need to go to war with other nations. Secondly, "FREEDOM IS SLAVERY"... totally ironic towards society. Freedom to the government was to be in constant surveillance with every singe little smallest details one could hide. They had their ruling above any other. Ultimately a contradiction leading to a juxtaposition of the text. Which takes me to the slogan "Ignorance is Strength." It closed the mind of citizens thinking way beyond the government, they became ignorant by neglecting the overpower the government had over the society. They brushed off everything that seemed wrong to save their life's from death.