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Diction In 1984

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In George Orwell’s novel, 1984, Orwell conveys the theme of conformity though his diction, and through his depiction of the “fixing process” employed by the government. After every governmental message in the novel, Big Brother, the leader of Oceania, states the country’s slogan of “War Is Peace, Freedom Is Slavery, Ignorance Is Strength.” (Orwell, 16). Orwell’s diction in this slogan is used to essentially list the characteristics of a conformed society, showing that they do not have free thought, are ignorant towards governmental flaws, and believe that what they are doing is for a good cause. As O’Brien is “fixing” Winston, he has Winston to believe that when he is holding up four fingers, “there are five fingers there.” (Orwell, 258). Orwell’s depiction of the “fixing process” shows the extent to which Oceania can conform it’s society, showing that the government can make people believe in concepts which hold no reality. Through his diction, and depiction of governmental “fixing processes,” George Orwell conveys the theme of conformity in his dystopian novel, 1984. …show more content…

As Orwell describes Winston’s flat he depicts a “telescreen”(Orwell, 1) with the caption “Big Brother is always watching you.” (Orwell, 2). Orwell places concept of society always being watched by the government as an allusion to the Soviet secret police always watching society for rebellious thoughts. As Winston is writing his book criticizing Big Brother, he notes that writing this book is “a crime punishable by death.” (Orwell, 62). Orwell here places an other allusion to the Russian totalitarian state by instilling the concept that conspiring against the government can result in execution. By alluding to concepts of real totalitarian states in 1984, George Orwell warns of instilling these concepts in current

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The book 1984, by George Orwell is based on the theory “Big brother” and how he is watching you. In the book, the Oceania government controls their citizens what to do and what not to do. The book has many contradictions which are used to help the party control the general population. George Orwell uses slogan in his novel such as freedom is slavery to enslave the population.

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1693 Words | 7 Pages

In the novel “1984” by George Orwell, nonconformity throughout a society is presented through the point of view of its main character, Winston. In Oceania, the society is heavily ran by their government. “Big Brother” is a closed party which always watches the people of Oceania as a way to keep control. They work to keep the people in check and fear them in order for them to be more easily manipulated. Creativity and any form of individuality is practically forbidden due to the government’s fear of being overthrown.

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Ruben Garcia Mrs. Maness English IV (H) 30 April 2023 Julia’s Credence George Orwell’s 1984 explores the theme of conformity through the experiences of Winston Smith. However, Winston is not the only character who struggles with this tension. Winston’s lover, as well as him, conforms outwardly to society while questioning it inwardly.

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In George Orwell’s novel 1984, Winston’s ability to have personal thoughts and feelings allows him to stand out in a world completely controlled by the government and enables him to want to rebel and live like he believes he once did; however, the leading power Big Brother strips the citizens of their personal thoughts and knowledge through torture and manipulation. While Winston

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Orwell intentionally included the thematic concepts of manipulation and authority in 1984 to show the negative effects of a totalitarian government and how it not only tortures people, but also twists and manipulates their

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In life, perception and reality rarely parallel; similarly, this idea is true for Winston in George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984.  Winston 's unyielding beliefs that a rebellion - due to Big Brother’s “ all seeing manifestation” (“1984” 15) -  is crucial is fostered by two men Winston believed to be trustworthy:  O’Brien and Charrington.   However, in the end they betray him as they expose Winston as a traitor to the Party and Big Brother.     From the beginning of the literary work, Winston opposes Big Brother and is in favor of a rebellion.

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George Orwell’s 1984 is a precautionary tale of what happens when the government has too much control in our lives. The protagonist, Winston Smith, is at odds in a world in which he is not allowed to counter the government’s surveillance and control. Perhaps more striking is the noticeable relationship between the novel and modern society. In George Orwell’s novel 1984 the book predicts the surveillance of Big Brother in modern day societies.

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There is a famous phrase in the novel “Big Brother is watching,” which symbolizes that; the ruler of the party is watching people’s movements. Big Brother was the face of the party, and the people were made to believe that, he is watching them in every step they make. In this government, the people are only to follow the rules and laws that the Big Brother gives, or else they are imprisoned. George Orwell is trying to present a future government whereby, the people will be constantly watched by the Big brother. The entire book is full of symbolism which the author uses to show how the government was totalitarian, and the people had no say.

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1984 by George Orwell is a classic novel that shows the dangers of an overbearing, totalitarian government in the lives of everyday people. The story shows the development of a character named Winston Smith as he struggles with the power complex of The Party and it’s strict rules that it has imposed upon him. Orwell’s background and meaning behind the title, the 1940’s literary period in Europe, the setting of fictitious Oceania where modern-day London is, the characters of Winston Smith, Julia, and O’Brien, the structure of the three parts and multiple chapters, the use of formal and informal diction, the use of symbolism, allusions, and irony, and the theme of how dangerous totalitarian regimes can be are what make this novel worthy of being

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One character in 1984, known as Syme, a worker in Oceania reveals to Winston that he is intrigued by Newspeak and complies with the system which allows the reader to see how citizens are indoctrinated. “It’s a beautiful thing, the destruction of words... You haven’t a real appreciation for newspeak, Winston … don’t you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible because there will be no words in which to express” the juxtaposition of ‘’beautiful’’ and ’’destruction” demonstrate how Big Brother and the Ministry of Truth use their power to destroy the conventional way of life, but they believe it is essential for society to have complete order and be artificially constructed to create

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1984, George Orwell’s dystopian novel provides subsantial evidence in order to infer the theme of pyschological manipulation. Orwell develops this theme in the book through the Party grasping the minds of the people of Oceania. He does so in various ways that demean them, and break them down to something less than human entirely. The Party and Big Brother manipulate the people of Oceania by changing the past, controlling people’s thoughts, and changing people’s motives; especially Winston’s. Big Brother and the Party were very manipulative, and controlling the past and deleting records was a main element of this.

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1984 illustrates a world strictly regulated by an omnipotent government, that is even has the capability of manipulating the manner of communication used by citizens. The control of language, and therefore communication, proves to be an extremely influential power to bear, as the government is able to use it to their distinct advantage. Orwell writes of a totalitarian government in his novel, 1984, with complete authority over language, influencing the thoughts and actions of its citizens. Orwell depicts this level of domination to convey to the readers the significance of thinking independently and questioning authority.

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973 Words | 4 Pages

Living through the first half of the twentieth century, George Orwell watched the rise of totalitarian regimes in Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Soviet Union. Fighting in Spain, he witnessed the brutalities of the fascists and Stalinists first hand. His experiences awakened him to the evils of a totalitarian government. In his novel 1984, Orwell paints a dark and pessimistic vision of the future where society is completely controlled by a totalitarian government. He uses symbolism and the character’s developments to show the nature of total power in a government and the extremes it will go through to retain that power by repressing individual freedom and the truth.

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163 Words | 1 Pages

Like Weapons Training, 1984 has similarly explored the power of speech with a paradox and oxymoron in a slogan, ‘WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS SLAVER. IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH’, that has been capitalised and appears as a motif consistently throughout the text. The government uses this as their principles because their knowledge knows that it will successfully maintaining peace within their country, especially avoiding rebellious acts like Winston. Orwell exemplifies another essential motif in the text that creates a menace atmosphere, ‘BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU’ once again, has been capitalised written on the poster’s monitors, a repetition that forms psychological manipulation on its people.

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324 Words | 2 Pages

In composing 1984, Orwell 's principle objective was to caution of the threat totalitarianism has on a society. He puts everything on the line to show the unnerving level of energy and control a totalitarian administration can obtain and keep up. In such administrations, ideas of individual rights and flexibilities and individual idea are pounded under the mighty hand of the legislature. Orwell was a Socialist and accepted undoubtedly in the potential for resistance to move society, once more and again he saw such uprisings transform out severely and shape into totalitarian run the show. In particular, Orwell saw such improvements amid his opportunity in Spain and in Russia, where he saw the ascent of socialism and the going with demolition

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