Omaira Melgoza English 103, Professor Stephanie Keefer 24 January 2023, Freedom to Choose, The manipulation and indoctrination of people to control their minds and hearts for the purpose of maintaining power and corruption is the main theme throughout George Orwell's novel 1984. The government in the novel uses tactics such as propaganda, surveillance, and censorship to control the thoughts and actions of its citizens and ensure compliance and obedience. This theme is not limited to the world of fiction, as it can also be observed in historical events such as the Cold War and current events like the COVID-19 pandemic. This essay will examine the use of manipulation and indoctrination as a means of maintaining power and corruption in 1984, the Cold War, and the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the ongoing relevance of these themes in our society today. The novel 1984 was published in 1949, during a period of great political tension between the Western powers and the Soviet Union. The novel is set in a dystopian society that is ruled by an …show more content…
In many countries, governments have been criticized for spreading misinformation about the virus, censoring information, and restricting citizens' freedom of movement. For example, in China, where the virus originated, the government was criticized for covering up the outbreak and suppressing information about it, and in some countries, citizens were restricted from going out of their homes, and also some censorship of information about the virus have been reported in some countries. Now, the force of vaccinations to prevent the spread, the tactic that is now used to force people into getting vaccinated is threatening by loosing their job, not being able to attend public venues like restaurants, movie theaters or theme parks. Also, the force of vaccines in order to attend