1984: Journal 3: Topic C

George Orwell focuses his novel on a dystopia set in his future. Because this was his vision of 1984 and it is now 2011, the book has little validity with respect to time, but still holds some of the strongest concepts in any dystopia which could break at any point in our modern society. Orwell focuses on governmental paranoia, which exists in our society today but in such a minor light that it is rarely noticed. Those in power always try to remain in power; that is a timeless concept human civilization has exhibited since its founding. Orwell amplifies this in his novel to the point where those in power destroy what gives them their power, people. Orwell demonstrates that leaders live under the same conditions as their people regardless of how high they try and push themselves. If the people live in paranoia, then the leader himself must also live in paranoia because he would not shroud his people in fear if he was not afraid of them. If people have rights and are satisfied with their role in society, then typically the leader shares that joy.
Orwell's vision is a terribly realistic one, which is what makes is dystopia timeless. Orwell recognizes that if societal trends continue, we as a race will inevitably hit a breaking point in which fear and chaos are used as manipulation tools. As a result, men like Hitler rise to power in the desperation of the people, creating an even worse society.

Journal 2: 1984: Topic A

"But how far away that future may be, there is no knowing. It might be a thousand years. At present nothing is possible except to extend the area of sanity by a little. We cannot act collectively. We can only spread our knowledge outwards from individual to individual, generation to generation. In the face of the thought police, there is no other way" (Orwell, 176).
This passage provides insight to the true nature of the society depicted in 1984. It is ultimately the spread of knowledge that makes every dystopia unique. Almost all dystopias are monitored by a higher power who suppresses, but it is the method in which the members of that society react to revolt that makes each unique. This passage reveals the only feasible method of rebellion in Orwell's society. Only when an individual communicates with another individual can knowledge spread. This can be contrasted with other dystpoias (i.e. that in The Matrix) where the method of rebellion took place in a small group who understood the society. The individual communication that takes place in 1984 is typically an attribute of dystopias loaded with propaganda. Propaganda indicates a heavy government influence (and thus concentrated power) which leads to fear among the majority (in this case 85%). Because of the nature of Orwell's party (government) individual communication is revealed in the passage as the only possible method of rebellion.
In addition to the method of rebellion, one other key characteristic of the dystopia revealed in the above passage is the setting. It is indicated that any rebellion would take up to a thousand years to commence successfully, which is unique among this dystopia. In a sense this also provides foreshadowing to the character Winston's torture; his communication and ideas of rebellion could not have succeeded during his time, and thus he had to be caught.

Journal 1: 1984: Topic B

The character I chose to respond to in 1984 was Winston Smith. I chose Winston because naturally as the protagonist of the novel he is the one with the widest range of relevant conflicts with his society, in this case a dystopia. George Orwell reveals many of his elements of his dystopia such as when he reveals Winston's ignorance on the death of his parents "He must, he thought, have been ten or eleven years old when his mother had disappeared" (29). Orwell isolates Winston as the protagonist beyond all doubt because he exclusively reveals the negative aspect of his dystopian world; the fact that the character Winston does not know when his parents died and has to assume a cause indicated that in his society individuality and dissent are bad.
Another prime example of Winston revealing the nature of his society is when the character Winston writes in his journal "If there is hope [wrote Winston] it lies in the proles" (69). Winston simultaneously questions the political systems and feels that there is something terrible wrong with his society. He also surfaces another critical element of dystopias: power density. 85% of the population lies in the proles, yet they have no power whatsoever. Citizens are under constant surveillance and worship big brother; under this system, power is focused to less than 2% of the population. In this sense, Orwell provides the reader with insight on truly how corrupt his society is. Winston and the society believe that free thought is punishable by death and as a result live under a reign of fear/love comparable to a God, which allows The Party to maintain control over a force significantly larger than them.