Rebellion Begins with a Ripple
How to Rebel Without Losing Your Mind (or Your Netflix Subscription)
This article is inspired by my ongoing podcast series, Echoes of Tyranny: How Fiction Became Our Reality, where I compare George Orwell's 1984 with Aldous Huxley's Brave New World and explore how their visions of the future are coming to life today. To delve deeper into these discussions, I invite you to listen to the latest episodes of the Intellectual Freedom Podcast.
Rebellion Begins with a Ripple
We’ve all felt it—this nagging sense that something’s off. Maybe it hits when you scroll through endless headlines about political scandals, environmental disasters, or social injustices, and then… nothing. It’s like you’re stuck in a dystopian episode of Black Mirror, except there are no end credits. But here’s the kicker: sometimes, resistance doesn’t look like revolution. Sometimes, it starts with a ripple—a small act that spreads far beyond its original impact.
That’s what today’s discussion is all about. If you’ve been following along with our exploration of 1984 and Brave New World, you already know that George Orwell and Aldous Huxley weren’t exactly in the business of happy endings. These guys are all about the slow, inevitable crush of the human spirit. Yet, even in these stories of hopeless worlds, we find something worth talking about. Something worth doing.
Winston, John, and The Pebble in the Pond
Let’s rewind. Imagine a relay race. The first runner sprints like their life depends on it, building momentum for the team. They won’t finish the race themselves, but without that burst of speed, the rest of the team wouldn’t stand a chance. Now, apply that same idea to acts of rebellion. Even when lone individuals don’t “win,” their actions can spark something much bigger. Think of it like dropping a pebble into a pond—the pebble sinks, but the ripples? They keep going.
Winston in 1984 and John the Savage in Brave New World are our pebbles. They resist systems designed to crush individuality—Winston by scribbling “Down with Big Brother” in a journal and John by throwing soma out of windows like Oprah giving away cars ("You get freedom! You get freedom!"). Spoiler: neither of these guys succeeds. Winston ends up a shell of himself, professing love for Big Brother, while John’s final act is so tragic it’ll make your heart twist like a pretzel.
Comfort Zones and Control Rooms
Now, why does any of this matter to us? Because these stories aren’t just about imaginary futures. They’re about the *now*. In 1984, Big Brother is all about control—watching your every move, twisting your thoughts, erasing your will to fight back. But in Brave New World, the World State takes a different approach. Why use fear when you can just distract people into obedience? Who needs torture when you’ve got soma pills, endless pleasure, and no pain in sight?
Sound familiar? Welcome to 2024, where our lives are filled with endless entertainment and instant gratification, and dopamine hits on demand. We might not have soma, but we’ve got TikTok, Netflix, and a thousand other distractions. And while we’re comfortably scrolling, the world keeps burning, and the powers-that-be quietly gain more control. It’s not 1984 exactly, but maybe it’s Huxley’s nightmare come true.
Rebellion Today Isn’t About Storming Castles
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: rebellion doesn’t have to be as dramatic as Winston’s diary or John’s rampage against soma. The truth is, you don’t have to throw yourself into the gears of the machine or start a revolution in the streets. Real resistance, especially today, often starts small. Sometimes, it’s as simple as thinking for yourself in a world that desperately prefers you don’t.
Think about it—Winston’s relationship with Julia wasn’t just an affair; it was a tiny rebellion, a refusal to give in to a system that wanted them to be nothing but cogs in a machine. And their attempt at creating a connection, to feel something real in a world that’s numb? It hits home in our age of digital “connectivity.” Because even though we’ve never been more connected on a technological level, loneliness is skyrocketing. It’s like we’re all swimming in an ocean of followers and likes but drowning in isolation.
Studies are telling us that nearly half of young adults (ages 18-29) feel like they don’t matter to anyone. A third reported feeling lonely on a regular basis. In a time when your phone buzzes every minute, when you’ve got access to everyone you’ve ever met in the palm of your hand, how can we be so alone? Winston and Julia were looking for that real, face-to-face intimacy, a chance to be human. And aren’t we doing the same today, even if our rebellion is a bit quieter?
Dopamine vs. Defiance
Let’s talk about John the Savage’s rebellion. Here’s a guy who’s had enough of the World State’s shallow, instant-pleasure nonsense. They pulled him out of the “savage” lands, but when he sees the endless pleasure parade, the fake emotions, and the chemically-induced happiness, he’s disgusted. He’s like, “Nah, I want real life, not this sugar-coated illusion.” When his mother dies, it all snaps into focus for him. He storms the hospital and starts chucking soma out the window. But here’s the problem: nobody cares. The people are too sedated to want the freedom he’s offering.
Sound familiar again? We live in a world where comfort is the ultimate currency. We’ve got material abundance, endless entertainment, and, yep, Instagram-worthy vacations on tap. But we’re paying a price for it. It’s called *comfort addiction*. We know the world is messed up—our feeds are full of political scandals, environmental crises, and social injustice. But many of us stick to our comfy bubbles instead of taking action. Because comfort is addictive. It’s easier to watch the world burn from your cozy couch than to get up and do something about it.
Small Acts of Rebellion Are Still Acts of Rebellion
Here’s the thing: John and Winston may have failed, but that doesn’t mean their stories don’t matter. In fact, they show us that rebellion—real, meaningful rebellion—often looks like small acts. So, how do we fight back in a world that’s engineered to keep us comfortable, distracted, and powerless?
Support Independent Media: The big media outlets have agendas; we know this. Tune into independent sources like Democracy Now!, The Free Press, ProPublica, or The Intercept. Share what you learn, get involved, and keep your mind sharp. Information is power, and questioning the narrative is step one.
Engage in Civil Disobedience: Protests, petitions, and peaceful acts of resistance are still powerful. You don’t have to take on the entire system alone—find a cause, join a community, and be a part of the change. Your voice matters.
Build Real Connections: Building real relationships is revolutionary in a world that thrives on isolating us. Get offline and build strong, local communities. Support your neighbors, share resources, and grow networks that don’t depend on screens.
Educate Yourself—and Others: Read books that challenge the status quo, watch documentaries that peel back the layers (The Social Dilemma is a good start), and engage in real, meaningful conversations. Knowledge is contagious. The more you know, the more you can spread, and the harder it is for anyone to keep you quiet.
The Confucius Effect: Changing the World by Changing Yourself
And if that feels too big, let’s pull some wisdom from Confucius (yep, the guy knew a thing or two about society). His advice was simple: to fix the world, start by fixing yourself. Clean up your own mess. Set your heart right. You can’t change the world if you can’t even manage your own life.
Look, it might not sound glamorous, but small, everyday actions matter. The more you work on yourself—building good habits, being kind, staying curious—the more you impact those around you. And when enough of us do that, it spreads. Rebellion doesn’t have to be loud to be effective.
Closing Thoughts: The Fight is Real, but So is Hope
In the end, rebellion isn’t just about overthrowing a regime or dismantling the entire system. It’s about living authentically, questioning the narratives around you, and building a life that matters—even if it starts with just a ripple.
So, whether you’re a Winston scribbling in a journal or a John hurling soma out the window, know this: your small acts and tiny rebellions all count. And when we all start making those ripples, it creates waves.
David D. Hopkins is a Humanities Professor, podcaster, and content creator who lives at the intersection of classical literature and modern chaos. With a passion for uncovering timeless truths in old books and applying them to today's absurdities, David blends deep insights with humor to keep the conversation both enlightening and entertaining. Whether behind the mic or the keyboard, he strives to make the profound relatable and thought-provoking…at least, that's the goal.
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