Symbolism

In Nineteen Eighty-Four Orwell draws a picture of a totalitarian future. Although the action deals in the future, there are a couple of elements and symbols, taken from the present and past. So for example Emanuel Goldstein, the main enemy of Oceania, is, as one can see in the name, a Jew. Orwell draws a link to other totalitarian systems of our century, like the Nazis and the Communists, who had anti-Semitic ideas, and who used Jews as so-called scapegoats, who were responsible for all bad and evil things in the country. This fact also shows that totalitarian systems want to arbitrate their perfection. Emanuel Goldstein also somehow stands for Trotsky, a leader of the Revolution, that was later declared as an enemy.

Another symbol that can be found in Nineteen Eighty-Four is the fact that Orwell divided the fictional superstates in the book according to the division that can be found in the Cold War. So Oceania stands for the United states of America, Eurasia for Russia and Eastasia for China. Also the fact that the two socialistic countries Eastasia and Eurasia ( in our case Russia and China ) are at war with each other.

Also other, non-historical symbols can be found. One of these symbols is the paperweight that Winston buys in the old junk-shop. It stands for the fragile little world that Winston and Julia have made for each other. They are the coral inside it. As Orwell wrote: "It is a little chunk of history, that they have forgotten to alter". The "Golden Country" is another symbol. It stands for the old European pastoral landscape. The place where Winston and Julia meet for the first time to make love to each other, is exactly like the "Golden Country" of Winstons dreams.

The basic theme of this novel is that if we don't watch out 1984 will find us. We need to realize when we are being intruded upon by the government just a little too much. If the government proposes a new chip to be placed into all telecommunications devices so that it can tap into them. We have to stop it. The author's predictions of the future are really advice, "Don't let the government control every aspect of your private lives." If we allow this we will be turned into robots of the system. Perhaps it is also a look at what is already. In many ways we are controlled, we are robots. In kindergarten we are taught how to be that way. "Stand in a line, don't talk, hands out of pockets, fire drill, bells ringing." We are truly controlled by words and bells.

Nine-teen-eighty-four has come and gone, however that doesn't mean we are safe. The author's view of the future is no longer even close to accurate. It will NEVER happenned that way. No, today we have far BETTER ways of this happening. With computers containing almost all data, which can be quickly erased in large numbers at the touch of a button, information is much easier to "rectify." With new technology we could hide microphones in the fabric of clothing. Video cameras are smaller today. They could be worn about people. Maybe in the future be implanted in them.

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