The doctrine O’Brien proclaims to Winston in this passage plays a very important role in maintaining the system of oligarchical collectivism upon which INGSOC is based on and in Winston’s ultimate fate at the close of the novel. The doctrine explains that humankind can only work well if they work together and the only way that they can do that is if they have the same beliefs. The Party believes that humans cannot have the same beliefs unless they have a basic "doctrine." They takes advantage of this idea and compose the doctrine so that all their beliefs benefit the Party. Furthermore, O'Brien uses this doctrine to show why Winston's fate at the end is the only way he would be restored to "sane."
The Party believes that "the individual mind" can make mistakes therefore they want the citizens to unite and have the same beliefs. It's ironic that they're using something good like unity and twisting it to fit their doctrine and Party platform. The Party stresses the idea of humility and being humble. They want their citizens to believe that humility shows strength in being able to cooperate and work with one another. It seems as if the Party believes that if people had individual minds and their own beliefs, it wouldn't be possible to have a collected community but everything would fall and crumble. The Party's desperate need for power is clearly shows in this doctrine. They want their citizens to do as they say and even believe what they want them to believe. Even today, we will be put in positions where we have to follow a leader and follow directions whether we like them or not, but never are our beliefs affected by this. Today we have the freedom to believe in what we want to believe in, and as far as it doesn't cause anyone any harm, we can make these beliefs known.
"Not in the individual mind, which can make mistakes, and in any case soon perishes; only in the mind of the Party, which is collective and immortal." This sentence clearly shows why Winston was put to death and how this will help the Party maintain their "sane" citizens under their "sane" doctrine. They believe that people soon die and their beliefs die with them, but if their beliefs are shared with everyone else under the same doctrine then these beliefs live forever. They push Winston so far by torturing him with his worst fear that he begins to believe what the Party wants him to believe. In this doctrine, O'Brien tells Winston that he has to "relearn" everything he used to know before.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
Propaganda & Ignorance
One of the main themes in 1984 is propaganda. The government controls everything from what people are
exposed to as far as newspapers and books, to the memories and the what is appropriate for people to think. The Ministry of Truth is where these people re-write all history facts or exaggerate them to make them fit their platform and beliefs. The people have no choice but to believe what they're being fed from the ministry. Ironically, Winston works here. At the same time, he might be the only one left who realizes what the Party is doing to the citizens.
Propaganda is present in today's world and we are the victims. The media is constantly choosing how to portray other countries in the world and inform us of international tragedies or events. It's up to us to find different perspectives and take our own stand on it. There are many examples of propaganda here in our country which are affecting our intelligence and making us more and more ignorant as we're being fed ideas and interpretations that do not necessarily portray all the sides of the story.
This aspect of propaganda is affecting our society today. The Iraq War and the portrayal of Iraqi citizens or even Muslim people in general has taken a whole new shape. Most of these people are seen as "terrorists" and as danger to our society. The Iraqi society is being portrayed as chaotic and wrong in every aspect. Little do we know that this portrayal might be only one side of the story. Many Iraqi people like the way they live their lives and in their eyes that is the right way. Who is to decide who's right or wrong? I guess the media has taken that job o their shoulders.
exposed to as far as newspapers and books, to the memories and the what is appropriate for people to think. The Ministry of Truth is where these people re-write all history facts or exaggerate them to make them fit their platform and beliefs. The people have no choice but to believe what they're being fed from the ministry. Ironically, Winston works here. At the same time, he might be the only one left who realizes what the Party is doing to the citizens.
Propaganda is present in today's world and we are the victims. The media is constantly choosing how to portray other countries in the world and inform us of international tragedies or events. It's up to us to find different perspectives and take our own stand on it. There are many examples of propaganda here in our country which are affecting our intelligence and making us more and more ignorant as we're being fed ideas and interpretations that do not necessarily portray all the sides of the story.
This aspect of propaganda is affecting our society today. The Iraq War and the portrayal of Iraqi citizens or even Muslim people in general has taken a whole new shape. Most of these people are seen as "terrorists" and as danger to our society. The Iraqi society is being portrayed as chaotic and wrong in every aspect. Little do we know that this portrayal might be only one side of the story. Many Iraqi people like the way they live their lives and in their eyes that is the right way. Who is to decide who's right or wrong? I guess the media has taken that job o their shoulders.
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