Imagine a world where no one is ever alone. Everyone is equal and shares the same beliefs. Always knowing that something is watching over you, keeping you safe. There should be no fear, no hate, no crime. A perfect Ethiopia. This is the same set-up George Orwell used in his novel, 1984. Yet this way of life lacks something vital to existence, individualism. In 1984, George Orwell uses metaphors to express the theme that a totalitarian government strips people of the very thing that makes us humans, the right to be one.
"Big Brother is watching you," the phrase under a man known as "Big Brother" that is posted throughout London. Big Brother is meant to make the people feel safe; no harm shall ever come their way because they are constantly being watched. Yet, Big Brother causes more fearful than safe feelings. People are constantly being overly cautious so as not to be caught doing something unorthodox-like. Big Brother represents the Inner Party, the government. In reality, no one can live a functional life knowing that someone is examining their every more. Big Brother is simply a way of controlling people, giving them a false sense of safety while at the same time keeping them under the conduct of the Party.
The telescreens are another form if control. They are meant to be for "entertainment" purposes, but also double as a way to brainwash with propaganda and monitor the people. This shows how the government can abuse technology and use it for their own advantages. "Freedom is slavery." The party uses the telescreens as a way to further limit freedom as nothing can be done without being seen. In turn, no one will do anything "independently" or something out of the ordinary, which could be conceived as an act of freedom, against the Party. To the Party, telescreens are just another way to keep their "sheep" in the fence.
When walking through the proles" part of town, Winston finds a paperweight.