1984+Essay



A long time ago, no one would even think about controlling each and every human being with an effective ans successful plan. However in the land of big Brother in 1984, they are able to control the minds and bodies of the people in Oceana. Here in this letter are some of the ways Big Brother is able to do this effectivaley and afficiently.

"Reality Control" they called it in Newspeak, "double think." (39) In the world of Big Brother "doublethink" was considered the correct way to think. The party believes that the use of "doublethink" decreases the amount of use of your mind. When the citizens of Oceana become dumbed down by the use of 'doublethink' they start to beleive everything the party tells them. For example two plus two make four, byut the party wants you to think that two plus two make five. If you say otherwise, youyou are a thought criminal. Winston states on page 90 of the book, "Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two make four." However, in the end, Big Brother is able to make him think that two plus two is five and have love for Big Brother.

Another way Big Brother remains in control are through telescreens and hidden microphones. A telescreen is a screen that watches your every move and actions. This device, also a spy could never be turned off. "The Instrument, (the telescreen it was called) could be dimmed, but there was no way of shutting it off completely." (4) This quote reveals that telescreens were there and there was no way of vanishing them. Telescreens were located at homes. place of business, The Chestnut Cafe, and in the Ministry Of Love cells. Not only did telescreens have the powerto know what you are doing, but microphones hidden in parks were intact to find out what you were saying and when you said it. This is just another way Big Brother can find out who the thought criminals are and 'cure' them.

Three steps are used in order to 'cure' the thought criminal. Learning, understanding, and acceptance. First you are humiliated through physical beatings, and become brainwashed, Next you are put into room 101. No one is aware of what happens here until you are taken in. Room 101, your biggest fear is located there, and in Winstons case, it was rats. A cage of rats were put on his head until Winston became so weak, he betrayed the one he loved the most, Julia. These following string of words from the son, "I sold you and you sold me,' (85) portrays how you betray the one you love in order to save yourself, and for the love of Big Brother. In the end, all the torture takes affect and there words spilled from winstons mouth, "I love Big Brother."

As you can see, Big Brother and the party are capable of controlling the mind and body of many through doublethink, telescreens, and torture. We are not animals, we are human and we cannot be controlled like this, but in the world of Big Brother, we can be.