Examples Of Contradictions In 1984

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. The meaning of freedom is the power to speak and think without restraints. To be able to act however you want which is not the case in 1984. The term thoughtcrime is an illegal thought that doubts or question the ruling of the party. Winston had written in his diary “thoughtcrime does not entail death: thoughtcrime IS death” (pg. 28). This quote goes on a deeper level of understanding the control the party has over the population. Not only were their action monitored 24/7 but their innermost thoughts could lead them to jail or vaporized. They are “free” but have to obey all orders from the party. Being a slave is when you do what your

For the citizens in 1984 it makes sense because they barely knew what the past and freedom are. For example, if you never ate an apple you don’t know what it tastes like, someone can tell you apple is bitter and you would take their words for it. The citizens on 1984 knows freedom as what the party portrays it as. In page 34 Winston said “and if all others accepted the lie which the party imposed- if all records told the same tale- then the lie passed into history and became truth. ‘who controls the past’ ran the party slogan, ‘controls the future: who controls the present controls the past”. The party has full control over everything that goes on, they even have the authority to change the past over and over again. Just like the saying “the truth will set you free”, well these changes consequently change what is the truth to the point where no one knows the real