Power And Class Struggle In The Outer Party

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The 1984 novel by George Orwell is based in the made-up country of Oceania where the main character, Winston Smith, is struggling in The Outer Party. The Outer Party is similar to our modern-day middle class. The country of Oceania is war-torn and focused on production numbers, following the ideas of “Ingsoc,” which is a tool used by the government to keep the Inner Party in absolute power. Chapter Nine starts with Winston coming off an extremely stressful work week, where he finds some time to lay down his apartment and read the book he received from an Inner Party member. Marxist Literary Criticism highlights the ideas of power and class struggle and the ideologies that are present in their society. From a Marxist Literary Criticism perspective, …show more content…

Oceania was at war with Eastasia. Eurasia was an ally” (228). This quote represents the changing history that the Inner Party utilizes to stay in control. The changing of the enemies during Hate Week (a week to express their hatred for the enemy of Oceania) is considered an alteration of Oceania’s history. However, this did not occur; there was no change; its only purpose was to erase history and change the past. The constant change in history will maintain power dominance due to the fact that the lower class will not know any other way of life. If the lower class were to attempt a revolution against the Party, therefore it is solely dependent on the understanding of their history. This example represents the effect of changing history on people and how this confusion is a crucial part of Ingsoc. Note that Winston’s job in 1984 was to rewrite history. Dialing in on how essential it is for Ingsoc ideology to change history, consequently maintaining the power dominance that The Inner Party has over the lower classes. Secondly, the tool within the “Ingsoc” ideology known as “DOUBLETHINK”, weakens the mind and sustains power dominance through the social