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Examples Of Conformity In 1984

Decent Essays

In the novel 1984, George Orwell relates the tension between outward conformity and inward questioning by allowing the reader to see inside of the mind of Winston Smith. Orwell uses Winston’s rebellious thoughts to counteract his actions in order to show the reader how a dystopian society can control the citizens. Although Winston is in an obvious state of disbelief in the society, his actions still oppose his thoughts because of his fear of the government. Winston’s outward conformity and inward questioning relate to the meaning of the novel by showing Winston’s fight to truth being ended by the dystopian society’s government. In the novel there are many instances where it is evident that Winston shows he does not believe in Big Brother and the party. One instance is when Winston explains he works in the Ministry of Truth, and says how he changes the history to agree with Big Brother. This shows how he knows the government is manipulating the other citizens minds because he is the one changing the history. Another instance is when Winston is writing down with big brother into his journal. During this time, Winston is starting to feel a rebellious …show more content…

Throughout the novel, Winston wanted to rebel against the government, but the fear of the thought police made him conform. The party used telescreens and other things to monitor the citizens to make sure they were not thinking for themselves. This is why Winston had to be careful in what he does because if he got caught he would have been killed. When Winston finally found people that he trusted and thought were on his side, he started to begin to do things outside of conformity. This is when the party stepped in and began to punish him with his worst fear of rats to make him conform again. Winston knew that Big Brother was not real, but he was forced to conform by being brainwashed by his

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