Is 1984 Permanent?

I think one of the defining traits of any dystopian society is that it is permanent. Society cannot progress out of it, even if they wanted to, making a dystopia the end of history. That creates the question: Is 1984's society permanent? There are many reasons why it should be. The government has extreme control over people's lives, and is trying to control people's thoughts. Newspeak is being used to literally prevent people from understanding the concept of freedom. Despite that, I don't think the system is permanent yet, because I don't think Winston is the only person who sees through the doublethink. I think there are many people who know they are being lied to, and know they are suffering, but who don't realize that anyone else thinks the same way. The fact that even one person, Winston, doesn't behave as the government wants him to, is enough to say that the society Orwell depicts is not permanent.

Comments

  1. That is an interesting way to look at it. I think you're right: there is definitely an inflexibility about dystopian societies that suggests those who create them believe they will go on forever this way. But a system or a species that can't change and adapt is doomed. Is this society doomed? (One can only hope...)

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