1984 Big Brother Essay
The Truth is Out There
In the world of the novel, 1984, by George Orwell, Big Brother decides what is real and what is not. His employees at the Ministry of Truth help make this happen, by fabricating fiction into fact. For example, if Big Brother decided that two plus two should no longer equal four, the citizens would have to believe that two plus two equal whatever number Big Brother choose, and forget that four was ever a possible answer. One of the slogans of the Party is “Who controls the past, controls the future.” By altering the words of the past, and making people believe he is right, Big Brother is able to have the trust of the people. In Oceania, it is impossible to disprove anything Big Brother says: “For how could you establish …show more content…
The use of the Thought Police, as well as destroying private loyalties so that there is only the loyalty of Big Brother, coupled with the near-constant state of fear and paranoia amongst the older generations, Big Brother can control his citizens. To make sure there are no thoughts of heresy in the older generation, Big Brother uses the Thought Police. Winston explains: “People simply disappeared, always during the night. Your name was removed from the registers, every record of everything you had ever done was wiped out, and your one-time existence was denied and then forgotten. You were abolished, annihilated: vaporized was the usual word (Orwell 19)” People who cared more about their own safety than those of others, could easily turn in somebody to the Thought Police, without evidence of that person’s claims. With the exception of Winston and Julia, Big Brother’s exploits for the most part, have been successful. Even the parents live in fear of their children, because the children have been influenced heavily by the constant stream of the Party’s propaganda. Take for example, the Parsons’ children. Winston says: “Who denounced you?’ said Winston. “It was my little daughter,” said Parsons with a sort of gleeful pride. “She listened at the keyhole. Heard what I was saying, and nipped off to the patrols the very next day. Pretty smart for a nipper of seven, eh? I don’t bear her any
In the world of the novel, 1984, by George Orwell, Big Brother decides what is real and what is not. His employees at the Ministry of Truth help make this happen, by fabricating fiction into fact. For example, if Big Brother decided that two plus two should no longer equal four, the citizens would have to believe that two plus two equal whatever number Big Brother choose, and forget that four was ever a possible answer. One of the slogans of the Party is “Who controls the past, controls the future.” By altering the words of the past, and making people believe he is right, Big Brother is able to have the trust of the people. In Oceania, it is impossible to disprove anything Big Brother says: “For how could you establish …show more content…
The use of the Thought Police, as well as destroying private loyalties so that there is only the loyalty of Big Brother, coupled with the near-constant state of fear and paranoia amongst the older generations, Big Brother can control his citizens. To make sure there are no thoughts of heresy in the older generation, Big Brother uses the Thought Police. Winston explains: “People simply disappeared, always during the night. Your name was removed from the registers, every record of everything you had ever done was wiped out, and your one-time existence was denied and then forgotten. You were abolished, annihilated: vaporized was the usual word (Orwell 19)” People who cared more about their own safety than those of others, could easily turn in somebody to the Thought Police, without evidence of that person’s claims. With the exception of Winston and Julia, Big Brother’s exploits for the most part, have been successful. Even the parents live in fear of their children, because the children have been influenced heavily by the constant stream of the Party’s propaganda. Take for example, the Parsons’ children. Winston says: “Who denounced you?’ said Winston. “It was my little daughter,” said Parsons with a sort of gleeful pride. “She listened at the keyhole. Heard what I was saying, and nipped off to the patrols the very next day. Pretty smart for a nipper of seven, eh? I don’t bear her any