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Manipulation In 1984

824 Words4 Pages

In 1984, by George Orwell, the manipulation of time plays a central role in how Big Brother controls the masses. Winston’s observation that “Who controls the past controls the future” is a statement that underscores the pivotal role of manipulation in the book 1984’s totalitarian regime. The past is a crucial historical stamp that shapes society’s future social construct. Orwell’s depiction of historical manipulation is chilling and eerie, involving changing the state’s past and other states involved with the state. Orwell shows how the manipulation of history changes the people’s perception of the regime. This essay will examine the significance of the past in “1984,” the methods by which Big Brother constructs and enforces ideology, and draw …show more content…

The regime’s slogan “Who controls the past controls the future; who controls the present controls the past” is a testament to the party’s tactics to be in absolute control. This draws parallels to the future and past, in the sense that the present controls them both. Since everyone virtually controls the present, the present controls the past, and the past controls the future, this quote can easily be rewritten as “who controls the present controls the past and future” basically affirming infinite control. The Ministry of Truth constantly changes Big Brother’s words and fabricates history to shape the future narrative. Initially, Oceania was at war with Eurasia and allied with Eastasia. However, at a certain point, the alliances switch, and Oceania is suddenly at war with Eastasia and allied with Eurasia. The Ministry of Truth quickly acts to revise all historical records to reflect this new reality. Winston describes the process: “The past was alterable. The past has never been altered. Oceania was at war with Eastasia. Oceania had always been at war with Eastasia.” This is so important since when Winston explains “the past had never been altered” it had been …show more content…

Imagine this, a rumor is told about you that you dont like, Ideology in 1984 was created through propaganda, language, and the changing of history used to have absolute power over the population. The past is used as a shapeable tool the party uses to change and persuade the people. The party succeeds at controlling society by forging records and ensuring that these forged versions of history are true through doublethink. Using doublethink will, in effect, change the people’s reality and memory of what has happened. This creates a foolproof system in which no one can question the party since their whole reality is based on the party’s fabricated virtue and greatness. “In the end, the Party would announce that two and two made five, and you would have to believe it. It was inevitable that they should make that claim sooner or later: the logic of their position demanded it. Not merely the validity of experience, but the very existence of external reality, was tacitly denied by their philosophy.” This passage highlights how doublethink keeps the user suspended in time. By saying that “two and two make five” shows how no matter what, reality can be changed for the Oceanian

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