P.O.W. - 1984

The video included is by Alicia Keys, performing her poem, P.O.W (prisoner of words). I believe that the protagonist of George Orwell's novel 1984 is a prisoner of not war, but words. In the dystopian society he lived in, the government had a psychological control over any and everything. Everywhere, the Party watches the people through telescreens. The Party controls everything in Oceania, even the people’s history and language. The government also prohibits free thought, sex, and any type of individuality. Winston dislikes the party bought a diary to write his ideas, dreams, and thoughts. It was also a symbol of truth because he's talking about things that really are happening, not just as the Party portrays them. The diary is his communication with the past, present, and future. It's Winston's act of rebellion too. He has also become deeply fascinated in a powerful Party member named O’Brien, who Winston believes is a secret member of the Brotherhood, which is the mysterious, group that works to overthrow the Party. Along the way, at his job, Winston met a dark-haired girl that he’s very attracted to. Down the road of their “friendship”, Winston receives a note from her that reads “I love you.” She tells him her name, Julia, and they begin a covert affair, always on the lookout for signs of Party monitoring them.  Just like Winston and Julia, the rest of society of P.O.Ws. Their urge to express themselves has to be held back because of the Party. Their setting revolved around control and power.