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1984 Literary Techniques

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George Orwell uses various literary techniques to give us two different themes. Orwell illustrates the extent to which totalitarian civilizations seek to control not only the physical but also the mental parts of their civilians. Through Winston Smith's experiences, Orwell shows the oppressive methods presented by the Party, such as Big Brother, The Ministry of Truth, Telescreens, The Thought Police, and more throughout the novel, to control the minds of individuals. The Party and Big Brother, contribute to the themes of totalitarianism and manipulation. The Party's grip on Oceania is shown by Big Brother, who serves as a constant reminder of the Party's absolute power over the people. Winston recognizes the Party’s control while being tortured by O’Brien in the Ministry of Love when …show more content…

Evidence of this in the text would be “The instrument (the telescreen, it was called) could be dimmed, but there was no way of shutting it off completely." p.g. 4. Another example of psychological control would be the concept of doublethink, where a person has 2 contradicting ideas at the same time. This removes a civilian's chance for critical thinking and independent judgment. An additional way that the novel attempts to control this civilization is with the Party’s slogans “War is Peace," "Freedom is Slavery," and "Ignorance is Strength.". These slogans show the opposite of the truth, but the citizens do not know this, so they think that all of this is true and will follow what the government says without a second thought. One more example of psychological control would be Winston's internal struggles with his memories and desires. In 1984, the elements of Big Brother, the Ministry of Truth, Telescreens, and the Thought Police all contribute to the main themes of totalitarian and psychological

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O’brien enters the cell. Winston thinks that O’brien has been captured too, but soon learns that O’brien is a member of the party. Winston is tortured in all kinds of ways. He is kicked, beaten, forced to tears, and a man in a white coat connects him to a dial that has levels of pain. Winston is tortured until he is humiliated and his power to argue or reason is destroyed.

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Envision a world where thinking could get you arrested and tortured. That is exactly what happened to Winston Smith, a party member whose thoughts overpowered him and led him into the big brother's bad side. Which brings us to George Orwell’s philosophy about psychological manipulation in 1984. The author uses psychological manipulation in 1984 to brainwash the citizens of Oceania, to keep them simple minded and to stay loyal to the party. In chapter 5, page 52, Orwell is conversating with Syme.

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Many a literary critic claims that the strongest aspect of the book 1984 by George Orwell is its plot. Indeed, there is some merit in this conclusion, as the entire purpose of Orwell’s writing of this book was not to create a literary classic, but to warn the public about the dangers of communism if it got out of hand, and what better way to do this than to write an engaging plot? Others may claim that 1984’s greatest strength is in its character development. This aspect, too, is quite strong in the book, as not only are the minor characters effected in serving the dystopian theme, but the major characters are believable and very human in their failings. Winston’s transformation from an oppressed office worker to revolutionary and finally

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The Push for Power: How Governments Manipulate Minds and Memories The demand for power throughout the government has always caused an uproar in events. There has always been a fight for who has the most authority and respect from the citizens, but if they don’t earn this respect there is always a chance that they might do anything to get it. In every totalitarian government, there is systematic control that the government uses on its people. Whether that control is technological or not, they use this control to manipulate citizens to benefit themselves. The totalitarian governments in George Orwell’s 1984, and Margaret Atwood's The Handmaids Tale, are the “Big Brothers” in these surreal worlds in which they are trying to manipulate the citizens

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In the novel 1984 by George Orwell, the world is controlled by a totalitarian state. Mind control is a technique of manipulation and brainwashing. When a government is powerful enough they have the ability to make the public believe whatever they want them to believe. Mind control is presented by George Orwell not only to show why it is wrong but to enhance the effects that it can have on society and alter reality for the people it effects. Mind control is most characterized as a negative connotation because of the instances it is used in.

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This ultimately binds citizens to fate, where these individuals’ actions and decisions are predetermined, as opposed to being a product of their free will. One of the most significant ways in which totalitarianism prevents free will is through the control of information and history. As the quote from George Orwell's 1984 states, "Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past. "

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An anonymous person once stated,“What consumes your life, controls your mind.” In the novel 1984, Winston, a man whom is consumed with lies notices the realities and horrors that happens to the world he lives in. The author warns of the government mentally controlling the citizens creates a negative society because they no longer have freedom, no independent thought and are not aware of the reality around them. The citizens have been stripped away of freedom thus forced to live accordingly to the government’s policies.

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The concept of mind control is quite evident in the novel, 1984. 1984 follows the life of Winston Smith, an undeceived Outer Party member in Oceania, and his attempts to retaliate against the manipulative

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In the novel 1984, by George Orwell, he uses truth and reality as a theme throughout the novel to demonstrate the acts of betrayal and loyalty through the characters of Winston and Julia. Orwell expresses these themes through the Party, who controls and brainwashes the citizens of Oceania. The party is able to control its citizens through “Big Brother,” a fictional character who is the leader of Oceania. Big Brother is used to brainwash the citizens into whatever he says. Orwell uses truth and reality in this book to reflect on what has happened in the real world such as the Holocaust and slavery.

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There are numerous physical methods of control they employ. Everyone is under complete surveillance as their every move is watched. The thought police also known as the secret police of Oceania, keep surveillance on the inhabitants of Oceania and physiologically manipulate them by placing telescreens in their homes, devices similar to

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Thought Police, Thought Crime, and Face Crime gave great examples of the topic of psychological manipulation that occurred in the novel. The illusion that nowhere remained safe to live a private life and one’s self being watched was given by these topics. This made the citizens of Oceania scared to show what they truly felt about the government or the society itself or even local things that happen. The citizens then did not want to question anything in fear of

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I chose to do research on my great, great, great, grandmother who lived during the eighteen hundreds. She settled in North Fork, Arkansas. I discovered after many hours of searching for a modern and historic map that the population had dropped dramatically. The population for her time was 1,128.79 while the town’s population now is about 550 residents she settled in a rural community.

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884 Words | 4 Pages

Throughout 1984, Winston is forced to confront a society which rejects the central tenets of humanity and independent thought, and which presides over society through the dissemination of propaganda. Orwell’s novel explores the dangers of totalitarian government and absolute control and is a prophetic tale of power and control that must be heeded in modern times. Totalitarianism is employed to grant absolute power to the Party and ensure the deference of the

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815 Words | 4 Pages

George Orwell’s 1984 has resonated with many who have experienced first-hand what life is like under a dictator. The novel describes how everything is controlled and monitored by the government and how even mere thoughts can be detected by ThoughtPolice. Readers get to experience Oceania’s system of ruling through the eyes of an Outer Party member, Winston Smith. At first, Winston is adamant to destroy The Party and its figurative leader Big Brother, but eventually is captured and converted into a lover of Oceania’s system of government. Children, although not playing a significant role in this book, are mentioned as devious little spies.

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