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Examples Of Brainwashing In 1984 By George Orwell

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In order to have total power, one must take control of everything and everyone within that society. The concept of brainwashing is prominent in the process of persuading a designated group of individuals to obey commands and have them not only agree, but believe that the power is credible and has greater authority. In 1984, a dystopian novel by George Orwell, the central ideas of rebellion, sacrifice, persuasion, and betrayal are showcased by the manipulation of the truth through the oppression within the totalitarian society, Oceania. The reader is introduced to the protagonist, Winston Smith, as a normal citizen who is forced to conform to the strict totalitarian rules in order to maintain his survival. In order to keep control in this society, …show more content…

Within his diary entry on April 4, 1984, he writes, “Thoughtcrime does not entail death: Thoughtcrime is death,” (Orwell 36). Although Winston fully understands that simply owning this notebook has the potential to get him executed, he continues to disobey The Party because this is his only outlet. The to-go-tactic for maintaining the power of The Party is to shift blame from themselves to other people within the community in order to provide them with the false liberty of choice. The figure,“Big Brother”, is the face of all the propaganda and dictatorship despite his failure to be seen in person.The overlying rule of Big Brother in each propaganda poster provides a feeling of comfort and safety for the citizens, when in reality, through manipulation, The Party takes advantage of the people’s vulnerability and fear in order to force them to conform to any request that they ask of them because “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU!” (Orwell 2).The daily ceremony, “Two Minutes Hate” is a cruel way that allows the citizens to witness the horror and torture that will be inflicted upon them if they choose to disobey in any way. In an article from the popular social media platform, “The Humanist”, is is stated that, “Clearly, Orwell understood the importance of being self-governed and unapologetically human, and his ideas on language and independence endure today,” (Humanist). However, this contradicts the

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