1984+Essay

Dear Boethius,

I am writing to you from the future. I am warning you of a future of oppression and misery of such magnitude that you may not be able to comprehend it. Welcome to Oceania.

I am currently living in a society where there is only on political party, can INGSOC (which is short for English Socialism), no laws, and one pair of eyes following your every move….the eyes of Big Brother. Big Brother is neither a person nor a fictional character as much as an idea that you are constantly being watched and documented by a horrible invention called a “telescreen.” The Party has control over everything. Every person you interact with, every place you go, they control. They have two horrific slogans. One reads, “War is Peace, Freedom is slavery, Ignorance is strength.” (pg 30). The other reads, “Who controls the past, controls the future, who controls the future, controls the present.” (pg 271). Both of these are examples of the party’s treachery.

Another part of this society is thought crime. As I had previously stated, there are no laws. However, there are incorrect thoughts. The force that enforces this is the Thought Police. The can erase people from the past, present, and future. Their numbers are unknown, but you can almost always be certain that you are in the presence of the Thought Police. “Thought crime doesn’t entail death, Thought crime IS death.” (pg 32). This shows the overwhelming force that is the Thought Police.

If you are caught by the Thought Police, regardless if you had committed a crime or not, they take you to the “Ministry of Love,” also called Miniluv. What happens inside there is nothing of affection. It is sheer pain and misery. There I one room in particular that is the single worst suffering of all. This room is Room 101. The Thought Police gather what your greatest fear and weakness is, and transforms Room 101 into a living Hell. “You know what is in Room 101.” (pg 285). This shows that Room 101 is actually your worst nightmare. Boehtius, I leave you with a warning. The human body and mind are penetrable.

Sincerely, Charlie Berry