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How Does Orwell Use Power In 1984

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Orwell manipulates the basic theme of truth and manipulation to convey the power of the Party. In 1984 by George Orwell, the Party of the dystopian world uses power to gain power. The Parties power and control is maintained by the idea of Big Brother. Big Brother is the face of the Party, many think of him as a trustworthy figure, but to criminals, Big Brother acts as an enemy. Big Brother uses the telescreens of the Party as a way to watch over everyone 24 hours a day. “Big Brother is watching you” page 2, is the message written all over the walls of the city to show people that if they try to commit thoughtcrime, it will not go unnoticed. The Party hides the truth from the members of 1984, the truth about history, the truth about love …show more content…

The slogan of the Party is: “War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength” page 3. The slogan is a derived representation of the Party’s hopeful outcome. The Party wants people to think that while the country is always at war, there is still peace and the public is still on the side of the Party. Ignorance is Strength is the generalized version for ‘if people remain ignorant, they will not question the Party.’ Freedom is Slavery represents the Party’s wishes for the public to stay unified. If everyone starts doing what they want and expressing their own feelings about things the Party disapproves of then everyone is weak. They will become slaves to their own ideas. Winston hypothesized the idea that the things the Party has been telling him have been lies. “The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command. His heart sank as he thought of the enormous power arrayed against him, the ease with which any Party intellectual would overthrow him in debate, the subtle arguments which he would not be able to understand, much less answer. And yet he was in the right! They were wrong and he was right.” page 71. Even though Winston believes what the Party is telling him are lies, he can't help but wonder if some of the things the Party is telling him are true. The Party is manipulating Winston into thinking they are right.

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