Brainwashing In 1984

1592 Words7 Pages

The book 1984 is a dystopian classic that explores the concept of brainwashing and its implications for society. The book is told through Winston Smith, who lives in a totalitarian state where citizens are constantly monitored and controlled by the government. Brainwashing is used as a tool to keep citizens in line and to ensure that they remain loyal to the Party. Through psychological manipulation, the Party is able to control the thoughts and actions of its citizens, making them compliant to big brother. The Party uses propaganda, surveillance, and physical torture to break down individuals and enforce an unquestioning loyalty to Big Brother. In addition, the Party also uses doublethink, which is a form of mental gymnastics that allows people …show more content…

Telescreens are television-like devices that broadcast messages and also monitor citizens for any signs of disloyalty. Two Minutes Hate is a daily ritual in which citizens gather in front of telescreens to watch images of enemies of the state and express their hatred for them. The purpose of all this is to keep citizens in line with the Party’s agenda. It instills fear in them by reminding them that Big Brother is always watching them and will punish anyone who steps out of line. It also reinforces loyalty to the Party by emphasizing its slogans and ideals. It creates an atmosphere where dissent or criticism of the government is not tolerated, ensuring that no one will challenge them. Both propaganda and brainwashing have been apart of the human way of life since the beginning of time. They are both ways of manipulation to get what you desire. Matthew Wills states in his article that “Melley calls brainwashing a “powerful and long-lived cultural fantasy,” born of the anxieties and paranoia aroused by the Cold War. Such conspiratorial thinking eventually disassociated from communism and entered mainstream American …show more content…

Anything that does not conform to the Party’s ideology is destroyed or rewritten to fit their narrative. This prevents citizens from learning about different ideas or having access to alternative sources of information. It also ensures that all citizens are exposed only to the Party’s version of events and history. This helps reinforce the idea of complete control they have over the population. The Party also uses censorship to restrict freedom of expression. Citizens are not allowed to express any opinion that does not conform with the Party’s ideology. Any form of dissent is quickly silenced by the Thought Police who monitor all forms of communication for any sign of rebellion or disobedience. This prevents citizens from forming their own opinions or challenging the government in a way that might shine a bad light on the party. Censorship also helps keep control by preventing people from forming relationships outside of the Party’s control. If you cant’t form new friends and relationships the chances of you finding someone to rebel with are highly unlikely. This helps groups and even small “cults” being formed to rebel against the