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Pathos In 1984 By George Orwell

Decent Essays

Lastly, the third rhetorical persuasive appeal of pathos will be explored. Pathos appeals to the audience's emotions and how might they positively agree with the speaker's arguments. In order to understand Winston’s nature the party watched him for many years. They even went as far as to allow him to commit thoughtcrimes- an Orwellian term for holding beliefs that contradict or doubt the party. Examples of this being Winston’s visits to the antique shop, writing in his diary, and any other act of rebellion against Big Brother. To summarize, if logos and ethos are to deal with the mind- then pathos could be said to be more a matter of the heart. Winston realizes this, months after his torture and imprisonment: “He obeyed the Party, but he still hated the Party. In the old days he had hidden a heretical mind beneath an appearance of conformity. Now he had retreated a step further: in the mind he had surrendered, but he had hoped to keep the inner heart inviolate.” (Orwell 280) Despite that externally he obeyed the party-Winston did not resign his inner spirit and rebellion. Which, is not enough, for O’Brien or the party. For this reason, pathos becomes the last step to complete Winston's brainwashing. Henceforth, O’Brien targets the prior relationships he cultivated before his imprisonment. The party’s main aim is to foster hate and mistrust among individuals, especially families- so the only figure or thing they can turn to for love or comfort is Big Brother. Such notions in

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