Control In 1984

The control the party has over its citizens is a core theme in this novel. Their ability to manipulate and influence people is immense and mirrors the reality of real totalitarian societies. The propaganda posters that are ever present, the telescreens always blasting out twisted messages, the crushing authority of the thought police, Junior police programs to get children to betray their parents, constant monitoring of all conversations. These are a few of the methods used to control their citizens, and it works spectacularly. The fear felt by everyone keeps them in line and prevents any kind of freedom for the people. They use the people against themselves by forcing doubt upon them, making all citizens feel the need to rat out any behaviour

“The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.” (1984, pg 103). This quote illustrates the idea of control the party has over its people. People are told to ignore anything they see or hear and listen. Their minds are enslaved and they simply accept anything the party says or tells them to do. The party has set up such a system where the people don't even realize they are being oppressed. Without any ideas of a better life and limited access to knowledge, it keeps all of the citizens in a trance. Another large factor in this control is the use of fear. Thoughtcrime does not entail death: thoughtcrime is death." (1984, pg. 36). The idea of a thought crime shows the level of control the party has. One must keep their own thoughts a secret from themselves. People are afraid to even think of anything that contradicts the parties ideas. Free will is completely dissipated and is replaced by fear and conformity. History is used to reinforce the parties control over the people. The party fabricated all of history and allowed that to become the accepted

Without the people following Big Brother the party would be nothing. Their support is invaluable and thus must be kept obedient and loyal to the party. "Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past. "(1984, pg 313). These quotes illustrate how the control of history allows the party to maintain control and shape the future of their civilization. Without history on their side, doubts about the party would fester and eventually an uprising would topple big brother. This false history has become real for the people of the party. "The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became the truth. "(1984, pg 95). Anyone who knew the real history of the world had been silenced by the party. Even if some remember small chunks of history or see discrepancies in the false history, they will not speak out. Everything said by the party is stated as fact and everyone is so indoctrinated that even with proof that history is fake they still believe it. China under Mao’s rule was very similar to 1984’s Britain. The level of control Mao Zedong had over his people was unmatched. He formed neighborhood committees used to spy on the other neighbors in the