Examples Of Doublethink In 1984
In the book 1984 by George Orwell, the main character, Winston, along with all the people that live in the country of Oceania, are controlled by the government in many different ways. The country’s figurehead, Big Brother, is said to be in charge of everything, and uses methods to keep that control with the Party. He keeps the power by means of telescreens so they are constantly being watched, by propaganda so they either feel scared or patriotic, and he even goes as far as to corrupt the minds of children. But the most effective method of control for Big Brother is doublethink. Doublethink is the Newspeak word for being able to hold two completely contradictory thoughts in one’s head and accept both of them as the truth. Doublethink works because it manipulates people’s minds and helps them avoid becoming angry with the party. It makes everything sound okay because it
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helps make the Party seem like they’re always correct no matter what. Doublethink can also completely alter the past and brainwash the citizens so they cannot register contradictions. And most importantly, it helps with making the people almost unconscious in a sense. They cannot become angry and rebel if nothing is seemingly wrong. Doublethink is the main reason Big Brother has so much control over the people. Even in other aspects like propaganda, doublethink is a part of what makes it work properly. It is the most effective method that Big Brother has to control everyone around him. In 1984, the main character, Winston, realizes and remembers that not all of the things and ideas that the Party is saying is truthful. For example, in the early chapters of the book, Winston hears that the chocolate rations have been reduced, so the people aren’t allowed to get as much chocolate as they did before. At the time, everyone in the room with Winston is visibly angry and wants what they originally had. So a couple of days later, Winston hears that the chocolate rations have been brought back up, but in reality the government says it has been brought up to the same amount that it had been brought down to. So the people do not get any more chocolate than what they had before, but they believe they do due to Doublethink. The Party uses this because it makes the people happier and not nearly as mad at the government as they would be. Now they are instilled in a sense of patriotism since the Party was kind enough to give them more chocolate. They do this to control the people’s emotions. When they change it up like that, they know there can only be one outcome, and that is that the people are happy, making them perfect citizens. Another way Big Brother uses Doublethink to control the people is by literally changing the past.
In 1984, Winston’s main job is to go back into historical records and either delete or alter the past. He does this everyday, so records are constantly getting changed. This means that the people of Oceania are constantly getting brainwashed and having to use Doublethink to understand the past. The Party wants no mistakes or errors in the past, especially ones that make them look bad. When they look bad, the people start to question authority and the truthfulness of their government, which is something Big Brother does not want. For example, in the scene where Julia, who is much younger than Winston, is talking about how she learned that the Party had invented airplanes, and Winston believes that but also remembers back when he was kid and learning something entirely different. There is no way anyone can look back into the historical records for something to hate the Party about because the only records available are good ones that shine light on Big Brother, who is using Doublethink to make this
work. One of the most important ways that Big brother uses Doublethink to control Oceania is how he makes people almost unconscious of what is happening around them. For example, in the book when Winston finally realizes what is going on around him, he says, “Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious.” The people of Oceania know that something isn’t fully right with their government, yet at the same time they feel obligated and patriotic to the Party. This is Doublethink. In the end of the book, O’Brien mentions this briefly and vaguely almost. He says that people of the Party should go through their whole lives unconscious, not knowing what is going on around them and therefore letting their brains be corrupted by the government. The more unaware you are and the less present you are, the easier it is for you to fall into unconsciousness and become swallowed by the government. You must hold into the fact that you are conscious when really you are unconscious. Winston realized this, so he made it his goal to become as conscious as he could. But in the end, he was no match for Doublethink and Big Brother. The book 1984 exists to strike fear and consciousness in their government, and to show what could happen in the near future. The Party controls people with so many effective methods, it is almost inescapable. But the most effective way of control is Doublethink. Big Brother uses it to bend the people’s emotions so that they can be seen by everyone. He makes Doublethink alter the past, which again controls what people see and hear about the Party. And lastly, he makes everyone unconscious all the time. If no one is conscious, then no one can rebel. Doublethink is in charge of the people’s emotions, their past, and even their minds. Doublethink is the most effective method because it controls people.
helps make the Party seem like they’re always correct no matter what. Doublethink can also completely alter the past and brainwash the citizens so they cannot register contradictions. And most importantly, it helps with making the people almost unconscious in a sense. They cannot become angry and rebel if nothing is seemingly wrong. Doublethink is the main reason Big Brother has so much control over the people. Even in other aspects like propaganda, doublethink is a part of what makes it work properly. It is the most effective method that Big Brother has to control everyone around him. In 1984, the main character, Winston, realizes and remembers that not all of the things and ideas that the Party is saying is truthful. For example, in the early chapters of the book, Winston hears that the chocolate rations have been reduced, so the people aren’t allowed to get as much chocolate as they did before. At the time, everyone in the room with Winston is visibly angry and wants what they originally had. So a couple of days later, Winston hears that the chocolate rations have been brought back up, but in reality the government says it has been brought up to the same amount that it had been brought down to. So the people do not get any more chocolate than what they had before, but they believe they do due to Doublethink. The Party uses this because it makes the people happier and not nearly as mad at the government as they would be. Now they are instilled in a sense of patriotism since the Party was kind enough to give them more chocolate. They do this to control the people’s emotions. When they change it up like that, they know there can only be one outcome, and that is that the people are happy, making them perfect citizens. Another way Big Brother uses Doublethink to control the people is by literally changing the past.
In 1984, Winston’s main job is to go back into historical records and either delete or alter the past. He does this everyday, so records are constantly getting changed. This means that the people of Oceania are constantly getting brainwashed and having to use Doublethink to understand the past. The Party wants no mistakes or errors in the past, especially ones that make them look bad. When they look bad, the people start to question authority and the truthfulness of their government, which is something Big Brother does not want. For example, in the scene where Julia, who is much younger than Winston, is talking about how she learned that the Party had invented airplanes, and Winston believes that but also remembers back when he was kid and learning something entirely different. There is no way anyone can look back into the historical records for something to hate the Party about because the only records available are good ones that shine light on Big Brother, who is using Doublethink to make this
work. One of the most important ways that Big brother uses Doublethink to control Oceania is how he makes people almost unconscious of what is happening around them. For example, in the book when Winston finally realizes what is going on around him, he says, “Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious.” The people of Oceania know that something isn’t fully right with their government, yet at the same time they feel obligated and patriotic to the Party. This is Doublethink. In the end of the book, O’Brien mentions this briefly and vaguely almost. He says that people of the Party should go through their whole lives unconscious, not knowing what is going on around them and therefore letting their brains be corrupted by the government. The more unaware you are and the less present you are, the easier it is for you to fall into unconsciousness and become swallowed by the government. You must hold into the fact that you are conscious when really you are unconscious. Winston realized this, so he made it his goal to become as conscious as he could. But in the end, he was no match for Doublethink and Big Brother. The book 1984 exists to strike fear and consciousness in their government, and to show what could happen in the near future. The Party controls people with so many effective methods, it is almost inescapable. But the most effective way of control is Doublethink. Big Brother uses it to bend the people’s emotions so that they can be seen by everyone. He makes Doublethink alter the past, which again controls what people see and hear about the Party. And lastly, he makes everyone unconscious all the time. If no one is conscious, then no one can rebel. Doublethink is in charge of the people’s emotions, their past, and even their minds. Doublethink is the most effective method because it controls people.