1984?

SECRETS ARE LIES, SHARING IS CARING, PRIVACY IS THEFT. As these Circle mantras were first introduced and repeated throughout, I found it hard to deter my mind from the Orwellian propositon of WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH. While different mantras and utalized in different circumstances and envirements, the two novels posess and undertone of rampant totalitarianism and unchecked survallience through technology. The phrases which serve as a reference point throughout introduce a scary reality for Circle societal members and even our own society.

As Mae is now fully, and perhaps strikingly, submursed in the transparency and technology-obsessed company, these mantras take on a meaning which provide insight on the mentality the circle attempts to produce. The circle is a institution of a lifestyle rather than just a job. While only working for a certain number of hours a day, the constant idea of being plugged in and connected is an indefinite expirence. She becomes so engulfed in the constant social media institutions tracking her, and also updating them voluntarily. In this fashion, she even begins to gage her own sucess and accomplishments on her persona online and the sucess of that. The circle brings forth a sense of never-ending tracking, monitoring, and pursuance craddle to grave. The mantras highlight this essense. Because "secrets are lies", Mae finds herself under constant scruitiny of cameras and information survalance. While I do not find these mantras cohesive or humanistic, they are the glue which keeps the circle in order. As the society works to "complete the circle", these mantras give a thesis-like stance on such.

As for traction in the real world, these mantras hold a recognizable and relatable place but not to the extent that they do in the Circle. The specific phrase, sharing is caring, is something repeted in our culture as a postive way to encourage sharing, peacful relationships, and helping others. Taken out of that context and into the context of the circle, the phrase is warped and intruding. In the same fashion, secrets are lies and privacy is theft reiterates the idea that all that happens must be known. These mantras leave no room for questioning, or the human expirence in general, because it takes a devious and anilating spin on proverse concepts. If these mantras began to have a hold in the real world, thier meanings would take up a more synical connotation like in the Circle. They are modes of instilling transparency, which is not a democratic goal in the slightest.