Both the book 1984 and the event of 9/11 show a similar attitude toward the big idea of

violence. In the book 1984 the idea of violence is shown on page 38 when it says, “Since about
that time, war had been literally continuous, though strictly speaking it had not always been the
same war” (pg 38). In the book, Oceania is heard to be continuously at war. Although Oceania
claims that they have always been at war with the same enemy, Winston remembers a time
where the enemy and ally have switched. Oceania tends to change history in order to make the
public have hatred towards the enemy. Goldstien also later explains how Oceania uses the war
as a way of controlling its people. The public views the war as one war after the other and tends
to jumble them all together due to them being so constant. Oceania is seen at a state of
continuous violence that has no end. This aspect of never-ending violence is also seen in
America, as the event of 9/11 portrays the series of violent acts. Violence broke out on 9/11
when terrorist acts led to about 3,000 people being killed but it did not stop there. As Matthew
Green states, “Less than a month after 9/11, U.S. troops invaded Afghanistan in an attempt to
dismantle al-Qaeda -- the terrorist group that claimed responsibility for the attacks -- and
remove the Taliban government harboring it. Two years later, in March 2003, the United States
invaded Iraq and deposed President Saddam Hussein. Although not directly linked to the
terrorist attacks, Hussein was suspected of producing weapons of mass destruction (none were
ever found)” (Green). As the quote shows one act of violence led to several more acts of
violence in attempts to somewhat ‘get even’. After an attack, a country is seen to fire back and
citizens are left to hear about it through the news channels. Many people today see war as an
act that is never going to stop because we can not seem to have world peace.
Towards the end of the book, we see violence portrayed in another way as Winston gets
beaten. “the guards continued to beat him but that he could not force himself into losing
consciousness. There were times when his nerve so forsook him that he began shouting for
mercy even before the beating began, when the mere sight of a fist drawn back for a blow was
enough” (pg 264). In this quote, we see the act of violence being used to enforce fear in
someone. As it says that “he began shouting for mercy even before the beating began” we see
that due to fear of violence, he tries to prevent it before it even happens. The threats of violence
in a way leads to paranoia. One might not even know that this paranoia is starting to influence
their actions. We see this sort of prevention after the violence of 9/11. “The agency has
overseen a massive increase in deportations; they have nearly doubled since 9/11... In the
wake of the terrorist attacks, airport security underwent a series of major overhauls. And a
service that was once largely provided by private companies is now primarily overseen by the
massive Transportation Security Administration” (Green). After 9/11, prevention of terrorist
attacks began underway. This included people seen as threats being deported and even the
process of immigration becoming lengthier. Not only has the immigration process been made
more secure, but the airport systems as well. Many have to go to the airport early before their
flight to go through all of the security checks. The change in the security was made to stop
those who pose risks to society. This is due to the fear and paranoia in people that had been
provoked by violence.
As these show, violence is used as a form of power. Although violence seems to get things
done, this is not always the case and can eventually lead to a worse outcome.

Green : https://www.kqed.org/lowdown/14066/13-years-later-four-major-lasting-impacts-of-911