1984 Group

Question:

jojo8
jojo8
Student
High School - 10th Grade

In regards to 1984, how is the current government different than any previous government? What invention enables it to be like this?

Chapters 9-10

Book:  1984 by George Orwell

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Posted by jojo8 on Friday November 6, 2009 at 4:43 PM and tagged with 1984, chapters 9-10, current government, george orwell, invention.

Answers:


  1. pohnpei397 Teacher
    Community / Jr. College

    eNotes Editor

    Best answer as selected by question asker.

    I see two possible answers:

    All governments have "tried to impose a false view of the world upon their followers."  So they've always wanted to be able to control what people think.

    But this was never possible because you had to have some amount of truth (like in science).  Otherwise, you'd lose wars.  But now they've made war continuous and unloseable so there's no need for truth.  So this government is different because it can lie all the time.

    The second possibility:

    Every government has always wanted "hierarchy and regimentation" -- to control everything in their society.

    This was never completely possible until the invention of the TV and, more importantly, the ability to transmit and receive on the same TV set.  That allowed the government to keep an eye on everyone and thereby control everyone.

    I think the second one is probably what you're looking for because it involves a specific invention.

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    Posted by pohnpei397 on Friday November 6, 2009 at 5:28 PM