Government Surveillance & 1984

In George Orwell’s 1984, the world is ruled by only a few countries, one of which is Oceania, a country ruled by a government called Big Brother. Oceania’s overpowering government shows how extreme government surveillance can lead to a destructive and unfair society. From the very beginning of the novel, Big Brother spied on its citizens through the use of telescreens, thought police, and ministries. This society proved to be barren of innovation and creativity, making every day routinely bleak. While reading the novel, the similarities between Oceania and the United States became clear. Although America is a free country where original thought is not only allowed, but encouraged, its citizens are beginning to fall victim to a brutal system of control by its government. The National Security Agency (NSA) has been caught spying on innocent citizens through their phones, collecting and storing personal and private information. While this is not as severe as Oceania’s “thought police”, this could easily lead to more advanced surveillance and control techniques, stripping America of its freedom.

In the novel, citizens are constantly monitored and original thought is outlawed. They had no possessions or feelings, as “nothing was [their] own except the few cubic centimeters inside [their] skull” (Orwell 27). How did this happen? How is it possible that the government is able to control society in such a harsh manner? Obviously, the change had to be gradual, as it is near impossible to take over an entire population of people overnight. Unfortunately, the exact cause is unknown due to the government forging historical records, but it is clear that it did not happen quickly, and that it started small. Surveillance was probably the start of the control, as making sure the citizens lived in fear was the most important way to gain power over them. From there, the slogans of the Party, "War is Peace... Freedom is Slavery... Ignorance is Strength" (Orwell 16), were instilled in the people, their minds beginning to be controlled. At first, the citizens probably ignored the surveillance, but by giving the government consent to spy on them, they gave them their indirect permission to do much more.

Through George Orwell’s novel, we can see why government surveillance is unconstitutional and should be limited in our society. Today, it is important for the citizens of America to unite against this unlawful spying, and remain true to themselves and their rights, for if the people of this nation do not act quickly, the end result will be much worse than anybody, with the exception of George Orwell, could imagine.