Examples Of Doublethink In 1984 By George Orwell

The novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, published in 1949, takes place in Oceania’s mainland called Air Strip One. We presently reference this location as London, England. Cliffnotes (2016) describes the state of Oceania as, “a terrifying society reminiscent of Hitler's Germany and Stalin's Soviet Union — complete repression of the human spirit, absolute governmental control of daily life, constant hunger, and the systematic vaporization of individuals who do not, or will not, comply with the government's values”. (paragraph 7) The term “doublethink” was first introduced to the English language by George Orwell in the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four to illustrate how this dystopic society developed. This paper will explore the term doublethink in

The Inner Party is personified in the novel by the character of O’Brien. Through O’Brien’s and Winston’s interactions, the doublethink contradiction is again displayed very clearly. Doublethink was communicated between the two, when O’Brien stated “Big Brother does not exist.” (Orwell, page 271) O’Brien acutely demonstrates doublethink in his accepted beliefs that Big Brother does not exist, but also does exist, as it is impossible. To not exist insinuates that he is not a living organism, and purely fictional. However, the intangible version is depicted when O’Brien consecutively states, “Big Brother does exist as the embodiment of the Party, but he can never die” (Orwell, page 272). To exist as an embodiment is the attribution of human characteristics to an abstraction only. O’Brien confirms the abstraction when Winston says “They got you too” (Orwell, page 250) by replying, “They got me a long time ago” (Orwell, page 250). O’Brien then tortures Winston in an attempt to make him comprehend the necessity of doublethink in Oceania, as it will be his sole salvation.

In contrast, we can also parallel Orwell’s doublethink term and application from Big Brother to the American Government. The first doublethink introduced by Donald

Trump has referred to several media groups as “fake news,” and the “the enemy.” This is eerily consistent with the Inner Party’s doublethink war on their own people. Again, war always ends in devastation. Manalo (2017) concludes the article very similar to Winston Smith’s thoughts in the novel Nineteen Eighty- Four before he is tortured by O’Brien by stating, “It is up the people to voice out what is wrong, and change it as soon as they can.” (Manalo, Paragraph 10) This is the most important message in both pieces of literature regarding any leader’s attempt to implement doublethink in their