How Does Orwell Use Propaganda In 1984

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In dystopian literature human rights are stripped away from the common population to ensure the maintenance of power from the government without the threat of rebellion. The lack of basic human rights in these societies prevent forming close relationships and force citizens to become extremely loyal to the government. Also by preventing the freedom of speech, these governments can easily promote their own propaganda without the threat of opposition. In the dystopian novels written by George Orwell and Margaret Atwood the survival of the structure of these societies are supported by the suppression of human rights. Self expression by definition is communicating your own inidividuality through clothing, hairstyle (etc.). Self expression is …show more content…

With no one to oppose what the government is saying in the media, their word will become trustworthy and believable to the citizens. After Winston was brainwashed again by O’Brien he repeats this phrase back to him, “ Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past” (240). This is alluding to the Ministry of Truth where Winston worked. At his job the workers would alter the news to conform it to what Big Brother had said, making Big Brother look very reliable and portray him in a powerful, strong light. By changing what Big Brother said and rewriting history it makes the citizens more submissive as it will be simple for them to obey someone that it always right. Also another examples of the preventitive measures that were taken against freedom of speech is the progression of Newspeak. Syme was talking to Winston about the wonders of the development of Newspeak, “In the end we shall make thought crime literally impossible because there will be no words to express it”(40). Syme was desribing to Winston the benefits of restricting the words that a person can talk is preventing what a person can actually say. This will let the Party effectivley stop communication between regular people, therefore all of their words will go towards praising Big Brother only, erasing the threat of rebellion. In Atwood’s work Gilead makes reading and writing for handmiads illegal, striking down a way for them to incite rebellion. For example in Offred’s closet when she found that engraving in the wall of the latin saying, "nolite te bastardes carborundorum'' which translates too. “Don’t let the bastards grind you down.” Naturally this hopeful saying can easily add fuel to a fire of rebellion which is why the punishment for for being found reading is harsh for handmaids,