1984 Reading Response Journal #1

Equality and conformity are strictly enforced in 1984's society, Oceania. Party members are forced to wear the same blue overalls as a uniform, causing everybody to look alike. A mindless routine is set into play, and anyone who so much as gives some sort of facial cue that they're opposed to what they're doing is strictly punished, oftentimes 'vaporized', meaning that any record of their existence is wiped out. The Thought Police exist to ensure that individuals don't so much as think any sort of dissenting thought, and if they do commit thoughtcrime, as it's called, they will be put to death. This rigid set of rules forces every person to act exactly alike out of fear of severe punishment, and out of this conformity, equality is emphasized. After all, if everybody is scared of the same thing and under the same set of rules, everyone is equal.

Conflict is nonexistent. Any source of possible conflict, such as different religions and the aforementioned opposing thoughts, has been completely wiped out. Anybody who has desires opposing those of the Party are seen as insane. Winston worries about his mental health while writing in his diary, so intense is the drilling of 'dissension equals insanity'. Relationships can barely even be called that - the only reason people form 'relationships' is to have children, and Winston's account of attempting to do is displayed as being painful and unpleasant. There is no attraction between them, they were simply put together to reproduce. Individual rights are seen as being akin to slavery, as one of the Party's mottoes states that "FREEDOM IS SLAVERY". The freedom to do as you please (and, in this case, go against the Party) is seen as enslavement, emphasizing the populace's lack of individual rights.

Although no one in Oceania is truly happy, they are meant to appear happy. No negative facial expressions are allowed, and if you are caught by another person or by the telescreen giving any sort of look that indicates that you aren't content, you will be punished. Everyone must be happy with the way things are, and if someone isn't, they get vaporized. This emphasizes conformity, for if one person is unhappy, they are going against the grain, and must, therefore, be extinguished.

Oceania is the opposite of a utopia. In a utopia, everyone is genuinely happy, and there truly are no conflicts or suffering. It is a dystopia. Winston is one example of someone who is unhappy, and there are many descriptions of the suffering endured not only by him, but by others as well. Winston thinks he is alone in his unhappiness with his society, but given the conditions described above, nearly everyone must be discontent with their situation, save for those who have been brainwashed and completely absorbed in the Party and its beliefs. Given the horrible conditions under which the populace of Oceania live, it is undeniably a dystopia.