In
, the telescreen is a tool used by the Party to detect instances of rebellion. You
will notice in Part One, Chapter One, for instance, howkeeps his back to the telescreen when
writing in his diary. This is to prevent the Party from seeing his diary because he knows that
if they found it, he would face some harsh and violent punishment, like a forced labour camp.
That the telescreen cannot be turned off (except by Inner Party members)
gives us another glimpse into its purpose. The telescreen is designed to monitor every movement
and capture every conversation between Party members, whether they are at home, at work or in
some other public place. As such, the telescreen also functions as a deterrent against breaking
the rules. People are far less likely to commit a crime, for instance, if they know that Big
Brother is indeed watching them and that they have little chance of getting away with
it.
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