1984 Questions

1. What is the significance of the posters that read: BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU? Who is Big Brother?

- Big Brother would be considered anything to do with the government in this case in chapter one it would be the helicopter patrolling the houses or the T.V. that listens to your every word. The significance is that you have no idea when your "big brother" is actually watching you so your always on your toes.

2. Where do we see evidence of panopticism in the novel?  

- In this novel you see evidence of panopticism with the poster it reveals that "Big Brother" is watching you but you have no idea if "he" really is or is not. It is just the possibility that makes you scared.

3. What is the telescreen, how is it used and what is its purpose?

- The telescreen is a flat dull mirror looking object that is a part of a wall in your house. This object spits out information "Big Brother" has chosen for you to listen to. The telescreen can not be turned off only turned down.It receives and transmits simultaneously so whatever you say above a very soft whisper it will pick up.

4. What is the significance of the Party slogans: WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH!

- The significance of  these slogans are that they are exact opposite. They are saying that war is good, freedom is bad, and that you should be ignorant to whatever we are doing because you have no say in it anyways.

5. Who are the Thought Police and what do they do?

- The Thought Police are undercover police men or women who watch for people who might possibly have intentions that are unfit for their society.

6. What is the Two Minutes Hate and what is its purpose?

- The Two Minutes Hate is a time where Emmanuel Goldstein a supporter of the counterrevolutionary  somehow got onto the telescreen and voiced his opinion on Big Brother and rambled on about his ideas and conspiracies.

7. Why does Winston begin writing in the diary?

- The book says that the reason for Winston picking picking up the diary in the first place was the geography of the room.

8. How would you feel if you lived in this world?

- Personally I would hate to live in this world i would feel confined and not free at all. If this were the world we lived in now I would try my hardest to get out and get as far away as I could, maybe live in the wild.

9. In what ways is our world like this world?

- Some similarities between this world and our current world would be the way in which our police patrol the streets and on some occasions hide around corners to sneak up and catch you doing something wrong. Another similarity would be the fact that our government is trying to censor what websites we are allowed to go to.

10. Do you think it is possible for our world to become like this one in the future? In what ways?

- I think in some ways we are already like this world and in others it would be very hard to become like it because of the amount of citizens that would give their lives to have actual freedom. If our government were to start taking control like they did in this story our public would fight back with full force because of the way we have grown up already in our society full of free minds. But anything is possible.

Bonus: What is Orwell's purpose in writing this novel?

- I believe that Orwell's purpose for writing this novel was to open everyone's eyes to what could possibly become if we the people do not hold our ground and hold onto our freedom.

Bonus II: What is totalitarianism?

- Totalitarianism is when the government or state has complete control of everything that goes on.