Rough COPY: Should the government be allowed to spy on its citizens?
In the dystopian world of 1984, the Inner Party is a distinctive entity that operates in the
country of Oceania. The Inner Party controls and handles every affair in the country. However,
since the dawn of its reign, the Inner Party has taken drastic measures to have absolute authority
over its citizens by violating rights, preventing change and the ethics of the model. As seen, mass
surveillance has done more harm than good for the well-being of the people.
In today’s society, many people can advocate for any cause. This could be for
anti-racism, climate change, politics, etc. The majority of governments in the world have laws
that state that people have the right to advocate for any group depending on what their beliefs
are. However, in 1984, advocating for a coup to overthrow the Inner Party is a dream many wish
they can live in. That is because to prevent such an event from happening there is an enforcement
group called the “Thought Police”. The group is in charged of prosecuting those who commit
thoughtcrime which is essentially not following the beliefs of the inner party. Winston, who had
raised suspicion of the authority of the government, sought to purchase a diary to record his own
thoughts that go against those of the party. It is truly a violation of freedom of assembly and
advocacy. What would happen if an event occurs where it could suppress a group, no one would
be able to combat it.
Innovation has been one of mankind’s achievements for more than a millennia. From the
invention of the wheel to the cure for diabetes, there have been a plethora of innovative ideas that
are to benefit mankind. Unfortunately in Oceania, the only “advanced technology” there appears
to be are telescreens. They are television boxes set up in homes, public areas that monitor every
movement of its citizens to make sure they are not breaking the rules. While these add benefits to
the government prevent lawbreakers, these add no benefit to the people. Oceania is a
war-stricken place with vast amount of poverty, the party has done close to nothing to solve the
ongoing problem. Many are relying on rations to feed their families, similar to Winston’s
childhood in the past. Technology could be used to create better living facilities, make tasks
easier and help solve famine. Science is needed to develop such contraptions, however it is not
an official word claimed by the Inner party and is forbidden to say. This is because it coils be
used to overthrow against them. The government wants to sacrifice the well being of its citizens
in order to remain in power.
False preconceptions have plagued the mindset of the party. With the aggressive approach
of surveilling citizens, none of them have the right to defend themselves. When Winston was
thrown in jail with other prisoners, a man named Ampleforth was also held in custody. While
working on poems, he used the word “God” to rhyme a word rod. He was charged with a
thoughtcrime to an unknowingly crime. Since the party heavily watches what people are doing,
they start to profile them and record each and every action. And without a proper legal system
implaced, people can just be indicted without having any say for themselves.
In conclusion, in a world where the government that is allowed to spy on its citizens
would not be the ideal society to live in. There would be a lack of freedom, innovation and no
chance of defending yourself from the law. Understanding the time period of which this novel
was written gives a new perspective of the fear of totalitarianism.