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What Is Doublethink In 1984

Decent Essays

In George Orwell’s novel 1984, the party who rules the society uses different methods to control their citizens and strengthen their own power. By comparing with the modern American society, we can see similarities. This essay will contrast the two societies within the subjects of doublethink, surveillance and the governing of the people. Doublethink is a method and an act that is being used by the party and the American government to make the citizens simultaneously accept two contradictory beliefs as correct at the same time. Surveillance is used as the eye over the population. In 1984 it is Big Brother who sees and hears every step you take, while in America it is the National Security Agency (NSA). By controlling the people with lies and …show more content…

It focuses the hatred and rage of the people away from Big Brother and towards the “enemy” as well as providing excuses for the second rate life of the citizens. Oceania is and has always been at war with Eurasia but during Hate Week, the enemy changes to Eastasia. The party immediately disregard all of the evidence showing that Oceania has been at war with Eurasia. Doublethink causes the people to hold and then accept the false idea that they had always been at war with Eastasia, even though material proof contradicts this idea. This is very significant because if the inhabitants were allowed to notice the change in war, they may have began to question it. The party uses doublethink to focus the people’s anger outwards instead of inwards against their leadership. A modern act of doublethink in America, which could be compared to Oceania’s, is when Barack Obama in 2009 accepted the Nobel Peace Prize as he was simultaneously involved in two wars. One in Afghanistan and one undeclared in Pakistan. As in 1984 you could say that the anger was focused on the “enemy” instead of his and the governments leadership. America, the world’s savior, has a habit of as they please “keeping the peace” in foreign lands. They send their armed troops into these lands, threatening to kill anyone who goes against the interests of democracy. (Landler,

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