Examples Of Manipulation In 1984 By George Orwell

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The book 1984 by George Orwell is a phenomenal representation of how life would be living under the control of a totalitarian government. The theme of psychological manipulation is used in the novel 1984 by forcing citizens of Oceania to obey the set rules in the words of Big Brother, most of the citizens obey because they are living in fear of being vaporized or worse “Room 101”. The book 1984 by George Orwell gives society today a peek inside of a world we have not experienced, but are heading in the direction of today. Government officials use psychological manipulation today and if it continues at the rate it is, we could 1984 ways in the near future.
The first piece of evidence related to the theme of psychological manipulation from …show more content…

I told you that you knew the answer already. Everyone knows it. The thing that is in Room 101 is the worst thing in the world.” (Orwell 233). In this section of the book O’Brien is explaining to Winston what Room 101 contains. Winston wanted to know the answer to this question because they had sent Julia there and other people he had shared a cell with prior to where he was now. Winston was so curious about this room because when people were sent there they would plead and beg to not be sent there. They would rather die than go to Room 101. This quote connects to my theme of psychological manipulation because of the way Room 101 affects people differently. It is different for everyone depending on what their biggest fear is. The party does this to the “criminals” to get them to confess to things they have done and eventually “cure” them and make them sane. This is psychological manipulation because the party is torturing them with their biggest fears when in reality their fears are not there with them, it’s all in their …show more content…

You saw five fingers. Do you remember that?” Yes.”” (Orwell 213). In this section of the text O’brien is in the process of curing Winston and making him sane. In this process O’Brien asks Winston that if the party said 2 + 2 = 5 would he go along with them or correct them and say the answer is four. I chose this quote because it relates to the theme of psychological manipulation by punishing the criminal for telling the truth. Winston is constantly punished by O’Brien for giving him the logical answer to his question. Winston is punished because he is simply not giving the answer the party wants to hear and continues to be punished after he gives the right answer because he is only saying the answer is five to refrain from punishment. O’Brien explains that even though Winston is telling him the answer the party wants to hear, Winston has to believe that the party’s answer is right and the answer to 2 + 2 is not four but five. In this particular study Winston is manipulated into believing the party is right even though it is not