In the classic novel 1984, author George Orwell writes of a future country called Oceania in which there is nothing that the government doesn't control. By limiting the country's historical knowledge, manipulating their minds, and conditioning their bodies, Big Brother is able to undermine citizens and use them as puppets. Though American government isn't as austere as the fictitious one in 1984, there are definite parallels between Orwell's writings and today's society. In 1984, The Party is in …showed first 75 words of 929 total…

…showed last 75 words of 929 total…and therefore treason in Oceania. To utter the wrong word, to form the wrong facial expression, to simply breathe the wrong way is illegal and therefore cause for punishment, nothing short of death of course. Though our government is not as harsh as this fictional one, and our society is not as dreadful, many instances lead the reader to believe that this very believable tale of totalitarianism could one day become a very horrific reality.