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Abuse Of Power In 1984 By George Orwell

720 Words3 Pages

Step into the dystopian world of George Orwell's 1984 and witness the chilling consequences of a government's absolute power over its citizens. The government is named the Inner Party, ruling over Oceania, known as present-day England. The Inner Party rules through a figurehead named Big Brother. The main character Winston Smith belongs to the Outer Party and is the only person who sees past the Party's lies. The Inner Party legitimized its control of the Outer Party through surveillance which instilled fear and paranoia among the people in the Outer Party. Another way they validated their power was by limiting speech and thoughts to make the people conform to them. One of the many tactics that the Party uses is surveillance. Telescreens and …show more content…

The Party has erased all recollection of history. They can change the past to control the future. Syme, who was a coworker of Winston, talks about how "the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought[.] In the end, [the Outer Party] shall make thoughtcrime impossible because there will be no words in which to express it" (Orwell, 67). The Party's intentions shine through this quote. They intend to limit the range of thought and expression through Newspeak by eliminating words and concepts that could be used to express independent thought.The Party can validate their power and control of the Outer Party through censorship and limiting speech and thoughts. O'Brien, a person who holds an administrative position in the Ministry of Truth, informs Winston that "the Party seeks power entirely for its own sake. We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power. Not wealth or luxury or long life or happiness: only power, pure power" (Orwell 332). The Party's ultimate goal of gaining and maintaining power requires limiting speech and thought. By limiting speech and thought, the Party can create a culture of conformity in which people are discouraged. By eliminating such words, the Party hoped to make it impossible for people to think rebellious thoughts, ensuring their control over the Outer

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