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Ignorance In 1984

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Advancements in technology have revolutionized the way we communicate, as information can now be distributed more efficiently as a result of innovations such as the internet and social media. Dystopian works often warn of futures in which the means of communication are regulated by government bodies, effectively allowing them to control the exchange of information and create any narrative they please. In George Orwell’s novel 1984, a totalitarian state is able to take control of all the means of communication through the Ministry of Truth and its control over the past. Similarly, in the Truman Show, the world Truman lives in is controlled by a few individuals who work to keep Truman from learning about the world around him by controlling what …show more content…

In 1984, the restriction of information makes the population ignorant and easy to manipulate, allowing the government to stay in control by making society conform to whatever they desire. Winston states that if there is any hope that the Party would get overthrown, “it lies in the proles” (Orwell 208). However, Proles are unable to revolt against their government because they are too ignorant to question the Party’s authority. The Party uses “prolefeed” (Orwell 201) to control the population with a constant supply of entertainment and spurious news, which fills their mental horizon. Along with a lack of knowledge that keeps them from organizing themselves or questioning the powers that oppress them, the Proles are unable to rise up and overthrow the authoritarian regime, demonstrating the party slogan, “Ignorance is Strength” (Orwell 3). Similarly, in the Truman Show, ignorance is used as a tool to keep Truman controlled. By accepting “the reality of the world with which [he’s] presented” (Weir), he makes himself an easily moldable character for the director to play with. His emotions, specifically his fear of “sailing off into [a] storm” (Weir), are strengthened by his ignorance and inability to question the world around him, keeping him from discovering nothing exists past the island he is on. This creates a vicious cycle in which staying on the island keeps him ignorant, further strengthening the fears which keep him from travelling off the island. In all, many dystopian works often contain authoritarian figures that are able to preserve and strengthen their power by keeping the population

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In the world of George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984, the totalitarian regime of one of the three superstates, Oceania, was known as “The Party” . In order for “The Party” to constantly maintain complete control of the minds of the party members, they instituted principles such as “doublethink” (as described in this quotation). The principle of “doublethink” is instilled in the minds of party members since birth. In essence “doublethink” allows for two opposing thoughts to reside in one’s mind while both are taken as the absolute truth. By instituting this principle “The Party” is able to control the minds of the masses simply by stating a fact because party members are taught that every word spoken by “The Party” is truth.

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“War is peace, freedom is slavery, and ignorance is strength.” (4) Language can be viewed as a creator of power because of the Party’s manipulative slogans, Winston’s journaling, as well as the Party changing history. These ideas and manifestations have brought manipulation, as well as drive for furthering one’s hidden intentions. The Party’s assertion of distraction and manipulation gives a false sense of security to the proles, because it ensures that the proles remain content with their lives and do not challenge the status quo. The Party’s manipulation of depicting the “people and animals a[s] free” (72) serves as a distraction, diverting attention away from the oppressive regime of the Party.

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In a fictional world named Oceania exists a manipulative government, Big Brother, that seeks to control the mindset of every civilian. In the novel 1984 by George Orwell, the government uses various tactics to have better control of each individual, but the most effective one is Doublethink. Doublethink is the ability to maintaining two views that oppose each other. This government tactic is used to detect those who are unloyal to the Party, Big Brother. With the use of Media Censorship: Freedom Versus Responsibility by Irum Saeed Abbasi and Laila Al-Sharqi, the reader can unveil the constant similarities with this fictional world to the real world.

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The world of George Orwell’s Oceania is an authoritarian society where the cultural hierarchy includes the inner party, the outer party, and the proles. By definition, an authoritarian society has no governing body to protect the rights of citizens. The outer party members of Oceania have no rights except the right to love and obey Big Brother; the inner party members are compelled, on pain of death, to love Big Brother. The only “citizens” that have any rights are the proles, the lowest of the low in Oceania. They are considered to be free like weeds growing in a meadow.

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