A Dangerous Oppression Power is often regarded in either a positive manner or a negative manner. In 1984, George Orwell created a government that mimicked the Soviet government in power during the time of the novel’s publication, 1949; a scarce amount of supporters of this particular government and its power existed during the time. Orwell’s fictional nation of Oceania utilizes scare tactics on its citizens, and similarly, he applies the same tactic upon his readers in the central purpose of the novel. Some critics argue that Orwell’s purpose in 1984 was to display the effectiveness of propaganda. However, through the Party’s immense control and influence over its citizens in the novel, Orwell reveals that his major purpose was to warn the
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His thoroughly indoctrinated daughter demonstrates loyalty to Party rather than to parents, and sees the betrayal of her father as an early opportunity to establish her political credentials and advance toward a position of power.”
The idea of power, seeking it, and maintaining are recurring trends throughout the novel. The self-interested child is disposed to gaining power; however, the Party maintains a similar self-interest by ensuring that their own power is not threatened through the use of child spies. Such self-interest for power corrupts the citizens of Oceania; the government does not care if their practices corrupt its citizens because as long as they maintain their power all is good. The Party not only controls the actions of its people but also the thoughts and …show more content…
In 1984, Winston Smith, the main character, works at the Ministry of Truth which deals with news, entertainment, education, and fine arts (Orwell 6). As can be inferred, the media is controlled by the government which creates restraints for what the people can actually know. In essence, the government is free to hide information from its citizens. For example, Winston works in the Records Department which primarily deals with creating, destroying, and editing history (Orwell 12). Lawrence Phillips argues that the obliteration of historical records by the Party is vital to retaining power; the stifling of historical debate and contestation over meanings of the past make this form of thought control so effective and provocative. With the power to control history, the Party can lie to its people but claim otherwise through supposed evidence that was modified by the Party itself. The Party has immense manipulation power. To supplement the manipulation, there exists Doublethink and Newspeak. Doublethink is a complex thought control method and Newspeak is a simplified language used in Oceania (Orwell 15). Normally, a language is derived from a culture not necessarily implemented straight by a government like in Oceania. In the novel, Winston has a dream that reveals his true past about how the Inner Party tore apart his family instead of the distorted past created by Doublethink (Place 2). Family and unity
His thoroughly indoctrinated daughter demonstrates loyalty to Party rather than to parents, and sees the betrayal of her father as an early opportunity to establish her political credentials and advance toward a position of power.”
The idea of power, seeking it, and maintaining are recurring trends throughout the novel. The self-interested child is disposed to gaining power; however, the Party maintains a similar self-interest by ensuring that their own power is not threatened through the use of child spies. Such self-interest for power corrupts the citizens of Oceania; the government does not care if their practices corrupt its citizens because as long as they maintain their power all is good. The Party not only controls the actions of its people but also the thoughts and …show more content…
In 1984, Winston Smith, the main character, works at the Ministry of Truth which deals with news, entertainment, education, and fine arts (Orwell 6). As can be inferred, the media is controlled by the government which creates restraints for what the people can actually know. In essence, the government is free to hide information from its citizens. For example, Winston works in the Records Department which primarily deals with creating, destroying, and editing history (Orwell 12). Lawrence Phillips argues that the obliteration of historical records by the Party is vital to retaining power; the stifling of historical debate and contestation over meanings of the past make this form of thought control so effective and provocative. With the power to control history, the Party can lie to its people but claim otherwise through supposed evidence that was modified by the Party itself. The Party has immense manipulation power. To supplement the manipulation, there exists Doublethink and Newspeak. Doublethink is a complex thought control method and Newspeak is a simplified language used in Oceania (Orwell 15). Normally, a language is derived from a culture not necessarily implemented straight by a government like in Oceania. In the novel, Winston has a dream that reveals his true past about how the Inner Party tore apart his family instead of the distorted past created by Doublethink (Place 2). Family and unity