Audrey Lunn

Geist Block 1
HELA
9 May 2016
1984 Synthesis Timed Write
Thought-crime was not a thing that could be concealed forever They were bound to
get you (Orwell 19). In the novel 1984, author George Orwell is warning against what the future
could look like, by illustrating what the world would look like without change. Orwell uses 1984
to warn against oppression by strong political leaders, totalitarian governments, and how
violence is bad for society. Orwell also gives is insight into how to prevent this future from
becoming a reality.
The main thing George Orwell is trying to warn against in the 1984 is totalitarianism.
Orwell wants to depict what it would be like for the country to turn onto an absolutely uniform
government, with control over every aspect of daily life. In Source E, the writer of the lyrics
states Ive see the future baby; its murder. This is a good source to warn against totalitarianism
because it describes the things the government can take control of and inflicts fear in the reader,
preventing willingness for a change to totalitarianism in government.
Another thing Orwell is trying to warn against is oppression. People can become
oppressed by a powerful political leader who takes away freedoms and gains control. Source A
also does a good job summarizing oppression of ideas and thoughts, for example it states Where
once you have the freedom to object, to think and speak as you see fit you now have sensors and
systems of surveillance coercing your conformity(Source A) This compares directly to their
surveillance by thought police in 1984. Orwell is trying to lead readers away from this idea as

well as lead them away from the idea of giving a leader the power to force us into oppression.
Source C states the political leaders are like dummies trying to force their way onto the people
this is not the best source for this because Orwells trying to show why big brother is bad.
The final way Orwells warning readers is by explaining what could be done in the
situation. He shows there really is not a lot to be done when in a society like this. Source E
shows why the United States today is not like that however it does not help Orwells point in
avoiding this. This is not the best source but it does help to show how the United States,
prevented a totalitarian government in our country. It shows the similarity and differences
between the world in 1984 and the world today.
Orwell uses his novel to teach a lesson, how to prevent totalitarianism, oppression by
political leaders and how to prevent it.