Surveillance and Technology as Tools of Control in Dystopian Worlds: 1984 and the Circle

Abstract

                The main focus of this paper is to discuss how society is controlled through surveillance and how technological devices act as key tools of oppression in dystopian literature, with particular emphasis on George Orwell's ‘1984’ and Dave Eggers' ‘The Circle’. In the dystopian worlds depicted in these novels, technological devices are used to monitor, regulate, and influence people's behavior, which leads to significant ethical and societal concerns. The paper explores how the authors view the impact of surveillance on aspects such as privacy, autonomy, and individuality. It also raises the important question of how such dystopian scenarios could develop in contemporary society. Dystopian literature provides a strong warning to modern society about the risks of giving too much power to the state or to unchecked technological development. By exaggerating existing trends and behaviors, these works illuminate the possible consequences of current actions. For example, ‘The Handmaid's Tale’ by Margaret Atwood critiques patriarchal attitudes and religious fundamentalism by envisioning a future where misogyny is institutionalized, and women are reduced to breeding tools. Through this, Atwood underscores the importance of gender equality and secularism. Another key theme in dystopian literature is the loss of individuality and independent thought. The protagonists in these novels often face the overwhelming pressure of conformity, either through the loss of personal identity or through the dominance of a uniform, consumer-driven culture. Characters who question or resist this often face persecution or are labeled as subversive. This theme is evident in Lois Lowry's ‘The Giver’, where memories of the past are deliberately erased, and in Kazuo Ishiguro's ‘Never Let Me Go’, where clone children are raised to become organ donors and accept their fate. Both novels highlight the dangers of historical erasure and the undervaluing of certain lives in the name of progress. Literature that explores the darker aspects of society, such as many dystopian novels, can serve as a mirror reflecting current societal issues while also warning about potential future developments.

                Two such novels, George Orwell's ‘1984’ and Dave Eggers' ‘The Circle’, set in different times and cultural contexts, offer similar warnings about the dual-edged impact of surveillance and technology. This paper analyzes the role of surveillance in these novels as a means of altering individual behavior, suppressing resistance, and consolidating power. It compares the overt, intrusive, and violent surveillance techniques used in ‘1984’ with the voluntarily widespread, yet pervasive, methods used in ‘The Circle’. In ‘1984’, citizens are constantly watched through telescreens that monitor their actions and speech, while the Thought Police keep an eye on their thoughts for any sign of rebellion. The novel’s iconic slogan, "Big Brother is Watching You," captures the feeling of constant surveillance and control. In ‘The Circle’, published 69 years later in 2013, a modern surveillance state is portrayed where people willingly share their personal experiences using small cameras called SeeChange—devices about the size of an Oreo that can stream real-time video. These cameras promote total transparency of all activities, further eroding privacy and autonomy.