The Power Of Manipulation In 1984 By George Orwell

What does it mean to manipulate? The question is unfortunately becoming increasingly relevant in our society today, especially in the political spectrum. Manipulation, according to its definition, does not necessarily mean to lie to one’s face, but instead it is to control or influence someone unfairly. Throughout the existence of human history, people have been subjugated, unaware of their own oppression due to discrete, manipulative tactics. It’s not hard to find real world examples of manipulation: China manipulates the views of over a billion people through censorship of the internet. In George Orwell’s dystopian novel, 1984, an oppressive regime simply called “The Party” controls the lives of its citizens through lies and perpetual manipulation, whether it be altering historical documents or castigating outsiders to rally nationalistic “proles.” Currently, in the United States, there is an intense, controversial, and divisive debate on whether the current administration in the White House is employing these types of tactics. However, when the President is constantly being vehemently denounced by the same group of people over and over again, it’s wise to investigate the motives behind those crying foul. Journalism in the United States has run amuck with yellow journalism, criticizing the President, claiming that he is a racist, fascist, bigot, etc. When the national news media, which is managed and delivered overwhelmingly by men and women who have sharply contrasting

George Orwell uses his novel 1984 to convey that human beings, as a species, are extremely susceptible to dehumanization and oppression in society. Orwell demonstrates how a government’s manipulation of technology, language, media, and history can oppress and degrade its citizens.

In “1984”, lies, myths and false information controls the thinking of the citizens. The Party uses propaganda as the deadliest weapon of control. Propaganda increases the citizens’ morale and makes them think that what the party tells them to do is always right.

Moreover, Orwell uses the technique of loaded words to develop his theme of thoughts being controlled. “With a tremulous murmur that sounded like “My Savior!” She extended her arms toward the screen. Then she buried her face in her hands. It was apparent that she was uttering a prayer” (Orwell 16). Citizens are brainwashed and controlled to have deep feelings about Big Brother and that it is everything. Other citizens are also brainwashed the same way because they see others doing this and follow the people around them, “The horrible thing about 2 Minutes Hate was not that one was obliged to act a part, but that it was impossible to avoid joining in” (Orwell 11). Peer pressure makes people think it is right to do many things. “Controlling minds and truth is ultimate power. Truth is subordinated to the Party” (Davis 250). Fake history is also created. Citizens will believe anything the Party puts in books. Their minds are too controlled to rebel against the party. Fake enemies are also created. It relieves the citizens’ anger when they are allowed to say anything against them. It is shown that Orwell uses the technique of loaded words to expand his theme of controlling thoughts.

Similarly to Napoleon’s training of the puppies, the Party trains children to follow their rules and report thoughtcriminals. Children fill parents with the dread that they shall be determined a thoughtcriminal and taken away to the Ministry of Love. Inner and Outer Party members therefore aim to obediently conform to Big Brother’s laws. Fright of rebellious acts’ punishment cause members to discard opposing thoughts, permitting tyrannical authority to continue controlling citizens. The Party slogans are another insightful factor to examine. “Ignorance is Strength,” “War is Peace,” and “Slavery is Freedom” all induce fear and control the populace of Oceania. Power is gained and sustained by citizen’s ignorance to government manipulation. Lack of knowledge is retained by enslaving the citizens to obey laws without questioning. Citizens’ ignorance causes them to accept the atmosphere of apprehension that war creates. Together, the regulations control citizen’s education and stimulate fear, both of which promote totalitarian government’s power. Each of George Orwell’s novels, Animal Farm and 1984, simulate societies in which the government uses the next generation and laws to

In George Orwell’s 1984 Power is gained most effectively through control, fear and violence. Compared to a government like that of America’s, 1984 creates a more threatening structure of government where the public is limited from freedom and happiness. 1984 shows a world of a society where only the upper class has power and freedom from the harsh treatment that the general population receives. The idea of Big Bother makes the population of Oceania believe they are being watched over by a powerful force and oppresses them so they feel powerless and unable to do anything against a “great” force like Big Brother. The well-being of others depends on their willingness to agree with Big Brother and abide by their laws, if you think otherwise then you will be an accuser of thought-crime will be vaporized and removed from society or harshly punished through rigorous treatment and torture methods as was Winston and Julia. Power creates problems for others in which they do not deserve.

In 1984, controlling the information and history of the society is revealed to be an effective method of controlling and oppressing a population. Since the Party has ultimate control over Oceania, they exert their power in every way possible. This includes their manipulation of history and information to paint themselves in a better light, and ensure absolute control over their populace. The Party manipulates history to turn it into truth to control. They constantly change and rewrite history to better fit how their society should be. While doing the mandatory Physical Jerks, Winston ponders how the Party controls people with their control over society:

In the novel 1984 by George Orwell, the Party develops multiple strategies and tactics that allow them to gain complete control over the people of Oceania. As a result, the Party has the ability to manipulate people. Through the use of this power, the Party eradicates any and all individuality including the freedom to intervene in governmental development. Instead of using surveillance methods to help the people, they use them to gain control. The Party instills fear in the citizens of Oceania through the abuse of power, and thought control as well as the promotion of big brother.

Typically everyone acts in a way that will politically benefit themselves whether with power or wealth. The book 1984 George Orwell clearly demonstrates a dictating dystopia that wants nothing less than pure power and will do anything to obtain it. To control someone’s mental state of mind by regulating their emotions and feelings it will allow for more room to concentrate on what they want to fill their minds with. Also if one has control of the past they control the future because you can either make yourself look superior or inferior.

shows that children learn to think a certain way, as they are educated. For instance, Parsons, a man who strongly supports Big Brother, is turned into the Thought Police when his own daughter convicts him of saying “Down with Big Brother” in his sleep (Orwell 233). This demonstrates that the education children receive manipulates their minds into thinking the way the government wants. Parsons’ daughter learned to turn in people who did not support Big Brother even if it was a family member. The Party also uses the Ministry of Truth to manipulate its population with skewed history. Winston’s job is to change records of history so people only know the history that the government wants them to know. Through these lies, the government is able to control people’s thoughts and how they think. Orwell shows that people have lost their thoughts without even noticing since they have been taught to always think like so. He uses this to demonstrate that “if man [does] not become aware of the assaults on his personal freedom,” he will lose his right of thought (Bossche). Therefore, Orwell establishes that the government can be too powerful when they manipulate people without anyone noticing.

Power comes in two forms; one is achieved through kind and gentle measures while the other is obtained through manipulation and the fear of prosecution. The abuse of power is seen throughout history where those with power have always ruled over the powerless. The novel 1984 by George Orwell reflects a land in which oppression and manipulation are key tools to keeping peace. The increase of the government’s power and the

The Communist Party is considered as a bad government. The Party which Big Brother, a head figure, leader is even worse than Communism. One of the huge differences between the two parties is the idea of torturing the people. A kind of brutal torture, not physical torture, but psychological torture and causing people live in crisis. Through psychological manipulation, the Party is able to make everything it lies become the truth that it desires. When psychological is instability, thinking about a regime overthrown is almost not possible. In 1984 by George Orwell, the Inner Party manipulates the population through torture since birth. The lives of the people are being deprived of freedoms, became a docile slave, serving an anonymous inhuman

In the novel 1984 by George Orwell a man named Winston lives within a dis-utopian society. People within this society keep their emotions non-noticeable because if they go against what the inner circle is teaching than that person would work manually labor for the rest of their life. In the story a party known as the inner circle uses a few slogans and sayings to control everything. The inner circle uses all that they say to brainwash people into believing what they are saying is true. The inner party 's slogans are “War is peace, Freedom is Slavery, and Ignorance is strength” By using these phrases one can see that the inner circle can manipulate everyone into believing in what the inner circle tells

In Orwell’s 1984, he displays psychological manipulation through Oceania’s government which it uses to control its citizens. This includes the use of propaganda, control of content, and ethnocentrism. The Party’s methods of control relates to real life events repeated in history such as the Nazi Regime from 1933 to 1945 headed by Adolf Hitler and common patterns in cultural history.

The governments in today’s society have brainwashed their citizens into believing everything their leader says and thinks is correct and everything else is wrong. This can sometimes be known as a totalitarian government. George Orwell’s novel 1984 revolves around totalitarianism. The members of the party in Oceania are taught and required to worship their leader Big Brother whether they believe in him or not. In the novel 1984, George Orwell shows the problems and the hatred with a totalitarian government through his use of symbolism, situational irony, and indirect characterization.