Similarities Between 1984 And Syme

In George Orwell’s 1984, Big Brother controls everything in Oceania from what individuals think to what individuals see. Big Brother along with the Party make a mutual effort to cut down the language the people of Oceania speak. This only results in greater control over the civilians in Oceania. Winston, a rebellion against Big Brother and the Party, comes across Syme who happens to love the cutting of words. In the discussion between Syme and Winston, Syme implements thought-invoking diction along with passionate tone while attempting to hinder Winston’s opinions on Oldspeak. Syme craves the movement for the destruction of words. While Syme converses with Winston, he reasons “If you have a word like ‘good’, what need is there for a word like ‘bad’? ‘Ungood’ will do just as well -- better…” (Orwell 1). Winston continues to think and speak in the manner of Oldspeak. Therefore Syme wishes to force Winston to contemplate on his language usage. Syme attempts to reason with Winston on why no need for more words should exist. Syme sees no solid reason for the words “good” and “bad”. With Syme’s perspective, simply turning the word into its opposite helps with word reduction and support to the Party.

Syme uncovers a few of his own opinions on word reduction when he claims to Winston “In your heart you’d prefer to stick to Oldspeak, with all its vagueness and its useless shades of meaning” (1). Syme’s interest in word reduction grows great enough that he goes into a personal route with Winston. Winston, since his birth, speaks Oldspeak and only Oldspeak. Syme calls out Winston’s routine from childhood with the words “vagueness” and “useless”. Syme’s love for word reduction leads to mockery which after all, tends to anger some individuals and cause them to lash out. Nevertheless, Winston remains calm and still does not share a mutual thought on the Party’s word