1984 - Control Through Misery

Misery is a most effective method of control; for when people are miserable they lack the resolve to rebel, since they will be weakened both mentally and physically. The Party is able to maintain control of the people by keeping them at a perpetual state of misery through an unfulfilling lifestyle, lack of psychological stimuli, and loss of individuality.
The people of Oceania live in a cold, dark world full of dread and constraints. In such conditions, life can be but unfulfilling at best. The people of Oceania have no other goals in life than to serve The Party. They have no dream since that is not acceptable behaviour in the eyes of The Party; they spend their entire lives doing what the The Party tells them to, no more, no less. Relationships are strictly regulated in Oceania. Couples are chosen by government according to their compatibility, and intimacy is not allowed even during sexual intercourse. “The Party was trying to kill the sex instinct, or, if it could not be killed, then to distort it and dirty it,” (1.6.9) so that the act of having sex will no longer evoke feelings of euphoria in the people, and make it seem dull and mundane, ensuring the people’s disinterest at the task. The lack of luxury, entertainment and variety makes life boring and predictable, which in turn will attribute to misery.
In order to be truly happy, the brain requires exercise just like the body. However, in Oceania any form of psychological stimulation is scarce. The language “newspeak” has been designed so that will keep simplifying over time. Since the language we speak influences our thoughts, if the language is simplified so will our thoughts. “…the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought” (1.5.23). From a young age citizens are taught to love The Party, never disobey orders, and to never question The Party. This means that there is no need for a citizen to think for themselves; "Nearly all children nowadays were horrible. What was worst of all was that by