Examples Of Manipulation In 1984 By George Orwell

1984 written by George Orwell is a novel based on a society ruled by a totalitarian government that prohibits independent thought in order to conform all individuals. Emotional manipulation and torture is utilized in the book to control all of Oceania into believing what the government wishes its people to believe. Although propaganda is apparent all throughout Oceania instilling specific ideas, some individuals, like Winston, oppose the Party’s thoughts, questioning the information that is presented to them. After Winston is caught for committing his acts of rebellion and defying the Party, he is continually tortured in hopes that he will be “cured.” In George Orwell’s book 1984, the Party effectively tortures Winston through both physical

Because Winston’s thoughts and actions defied the government, he is punished physically as it is crucial that he is reeducated in order to comprehend the Party’s ways. This prolonged threat of torture eventually influences Winston to confess and obey to the Party’s requests as he feels that nothing is worse than the amount of physical torture he has undergone; “how many times he had been beaten, how long the beatings had continued, he could not remember.” Winston is only capable of handling so much before he has no choice but to break away from his own personal thoughts and believe what he is expected to believe. This method of torture is extremely effective because by physically hurting guilty victims they become vulnerable and are more likely to feed into the government’s ways. The fear of the physical violence is powerful enough to push Winston to conform; “There were times when his nerve so forsook him that he began shouting for mercy even before the beating began, when the mere sight of a fist drawn back for a blow was enough to make him pour forth a confession of real and imaginary crimes.” The method of physically torturing Winston appears effective, inclining him to abide by the Party’s

The Party tortures Winston psychologically by bringing him to Room 101 where he is presented with his deepest fear, rats. He has repressed the image of rats in his head due to disturbing memories and dreams he has had with rats. The Party effectively psychologically tortures Winston because they are playing with Winston’s repressed emotions inclining him to give into what they want; “a sort of premonitory tremor, a fear of he was not certain what, had passed through Winston as soon as he caught his first glimpse of the cage.” (283) By just showing Winston the rats he is instantly psychologically weaker and more likely to give in to the Party’s wishes if it means the rats will go away. This method proves to be effective because Winston is unable to sit through the torture and shouts “do it to Julia!...” (286). The torture Winston endures causes him to betray Julia and give into what the Party