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The Importance Of Language In George Orwell's 1984

954 Words4 Pages
What if the destruction of language and the past can be used as tools to manipulate the minds of people? In the novel 1984, by George Orwell, this is exactly what is happening. Winston, who works in the ministry of truth in Oceania erases the past by rewriting it. It is a vile world in Oceania when even a movement on your face is enough to be vaporized. Winston must control his thoughts in order to stay alive. When one is not paying close enough attention, they can become slaves to their environment. Through all of the media sources and various propaganda techniques, it is not hard to get sucked into a new mindset that is completely out of your control. In George Orwell 's novel, 1984, and several other sources, the power that the destruction of language and the past has on the minds of people is shown very clearly. One of the most common, but not always the most obvious ways that the minds of people are manipulated is through propaganda techniques. Despite the fact that some may think they know all the facts regarding propaganda, the majority of what people see is only the tip of the iceberg. In an essay written by Donna Woolfolk Cross, propaganda is defined as a means of persuasion. According to Cross’s essay, “propaganda pervades our daily lives, helping to shape our attitudes on a thousand subjects” (“Propaganda: How Not to Be Bamboozled” 209). Often time propaganda is in almost every aspect of our lives. There are several types of propaganda that Donna Cross
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