Novel Idea

Just as Orwell based his novel on current events and surroundings in his own life, I would base my novel on current events on politics and the division that campaigns bring about during election season. My novel would focus on the separation and ugly tactics that result directly as a result of political preference. For example, I have read recently that a certain McCain supporter refused to give candy to children of Obama supporters. Anyone who has been following recent political news knows exactly how divided this nation has become as a result of this election. Racism and bigotry has become the norm, with misinformation about candidates being thrown around as if it was no big deal. My novel would show how those who are active in politics must respect other people’s opinions, no matter how much they disagree with their opinions. In this regard, my novel would become the antithesis of bigotry, as those who disrespect the opinions of others would be portrayed as antagonists, while those who accept the political opinions of other people (Republican or Democrat) despite their disagreements would be seen as the protagonists. Major plot points would include an event in which something similar to the candy denial would occur, with misfortune coming to that person later in the story. There would most likely be two main characters with major disagreements regarding politics. These two main characters would respect each other’s differences in ideology and would therefore be rewarded for their acceptance. Those characters who discriminate against those with different political opinions would eventually be isolated and cast away by the rest of society.

The film Enemy of the State and 1984 are similar in terms of the power of surveillance shown in both stories. While in Enemy of the State surveillance is used to stop a citizen from releasing a tape showing the murder of an official, in 1984 surveillance is used to keep citizens in a constant state of fear and to prevent rebellion. Despite these differences, the message is clear; the power of surveillance is a dangerous tool against the basic rights and freedoms of citizens.
A similar theme in both stories is the fact that this surveillance leads people to their eventual demise. In Enemy of the State, during the scene in which agents are chasing the character, a fire truck hits him. In 1984, when the Thought Police capture Winston, he is tortured and eventually is an empty shell of his former self.
I feel that this pertains to modern society as the Patriot Act allows the government to tap phones in an effort to “stop enemy combatants” from organizing any future terrorist attacks. This power of surveillance is scary in that the government has the power to infringe upon the rights of citizens in the name of national security, but nobody really knows how that power is truly being used. This aspect of the Patriot violates the Fourth Amendment and I feel is therefore detrimental to our socie

V for Vendetta

V for Vendetta and 1984 bear a striking resemblance in that both societies are the pinnacle of control and hopelessness. Both movies involve citizens being oppressed by a power-hungry totalitarian government, which utilizes surveillance and fear to control the population. The government portrayed in V for Vendetta uses the media to intimidate citizens into supporting them, making up disease and death outside of the “quarentine” zone as a means to keep their citizens from leaving. The methods of surveillance are also different in both societies. While The Party uses telescreens to spy on their own citizens, the government of V for Vendetta uses a PA system to “inform” their citizens of any important news. However, telescreens are used among party members in V for Vendetta as a means of communication. Each party’s slogan is meant as a means for control as well. “Strength Through Unity, Unity Through Faith” and “War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength” are slogans meant to explain why how the population is easily controlled by their governments. Both movies have a central figure of each government, Big Brother in 1984, and Adam Sutler in V for Vendetta.
The protagonists of both V for Vendetta and 1984 are anti-heroes. Winston is a frail, unhealthy man while V is considered a terrorist and uses violence as a means of rebellion. Both protagonists have dreams of destroying the current government in pursuit of freedom.

Minority Report

The Department of Precrime in Minority Report and the Thought Police in 1984 are similar due to a multitude of reasons. First, both Precrime and the Thought Police arrest and detain citizens in their respective societies not because of specific physical actions, but because of what the citizen is planning to do in the future. In 1984, the Thought Police arrest people for “thoughtcrime,” any thoughts which opposes the Party and is therefore considered dangerous by the Party. In Minority Report, the Precrime Division arrests those whose future intentions are to murder others, which is seen by the “Precogs,” humans with an extraordinary ability to foresee future murders. Another similarity between the two movies is the equipment used by both Precrime and the Thought Police. Both groups utilize black equipment and helicopters when on a “mission.” Lastly, the telescreens used in 1984 and the video communication in Minority Report are eerily similar. The video screens in Minority Report are used throughout Washington D.C., just as telescreens are used by the Party as a method of surveillance.

Eye of the Beholder

In the episode “Eye of the Beholder,” Ms. Tyler is being held in a hospital due to her appearance. She is too “ugly” and this makes her stand out in the society she lives in. Ms. Tyler has bandages wrapped around her face, as a result of her surgery in the hospital. The doctors’ faces are not shown, but are assumed to be “pretty” in contrast to Ms. Tyler’s ugliness. Ms. Tyler expresses her wish to be like everyone else and to be accepted by society. When the bandages are removed, it is revealed that Ms. Tyler is actually pretty and that the doctors have pig-like faces.
This episode connects to 1984 in that it deals with conformity with society. Just as Ms. Tyler’s appearance makes her an outcast in this episode of The Twilight Zone, Winston’s beliefs against the Party makes him an outcast in Oceania. Winston’s unwillingness to conform to the Party’s beliefs makes him “ugly” or undesirable in the eyes of the Party, just as Janet Tyler’s “ugliness” makes her undesirable in the eyes of her society. As both characters are considered unwanted by their societies, measures are taken to make both characters “normal.” Ms. Tyler undergoes surgery to make herself similar to everyone else in appearance, while Winston is forced to conform through O’Brien in 1984. In the end, both characters are written off by their governments, with Winston left to waste what little time he has in the Chestnut Tree Café and Ms. Tyler sent to a special institution for people of her “condition.” These events convey the isolation that those who are not welcomed by their respective civilizations face.

1984: Film vs. Novel

Although some scenes were changed in the translation of the novel and film versions of 1984, I feel that as a whole, the film did a great job in capturing the atmosphere and fear presented in the novel. What I especially enjoyed was the exact translation of dialogue between the film and novel. The film version effectively conveys the despair and pure hopelessness of Oceania from the novel version. I believe that the viewer can feel how depressing Winston’s life really is through the movie version of 1984. The torture scenes in the film were very true to the book, successfully portraying the horror and dread which is so prevalent in the novel. I especially enjoyed how Room 101 was done in the film, as it manages to take a fear that not everyone shares (rats) and makes the viewer sense the same terror which Winston suffers.

Unfortunately, I believe that the film version did not present Orwell’s original intent through some variations in events from the book. While Winston is clearly presented as truly loving Big Brother at the conclusion of the novel, it is unclear whether Winston is claiming his love for Julia or Big Brother during the film. The fact that Winston wrote only “2 + 2 =,” not “2 + 2 = 5,” further confuses the viewer as to Winston’s loyalties. In this regard, Orwell’s true meaning is lost. Orwell’s intent was to show audiences that the Party makes sure nobody dies a martyr within Oceania, but through the film version’s refusal to embrace idea is disappointing in that it does not portray Winston as truly loving Big Brother.