1984 George Orwell Analysis

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Recommended: Commentary On Orwell'S 1984

Innate Evil Destroying a Society Winston, the protagonist of George Orwell’s “1984”, came to the realization that “they (The Party) could get inside you”, and with this undermining power a totalitarian society is subtly formed (Orwell 290). The setting along with Orwell’s use of oxymora and vivid imagery convey the horrors and chaos of dismantling traditional institutions and social organization in a society. These literary elements enhance the conceptual theme that every human will eventually fall into the patterns of dictatorship authority no matter how they try to resist. Oceania, previously London, is the totalitarian state where the novel takes place. Authority is implanted through the never ending fear of the government and torture. …show more content…

The most prominent oxymoron is the setup of The Party’s Ministries: The Ministry of Love (Miniluv), The Ministry of Peace (Minipax), The Ministry of Plenty (Miniplenty), and The Ministry of Truth (Minitrue). The composition of The Ministries blurs and corrupts the true meaning of these words —love, peace, plenty, and truth— for The Party deceives each member of the society from a young age. For example, in Oceania “love” is law and order, along with torture and discipline; love is no longer defined as a deep affection or tenderness. In this society there is a term known as doublethink; “doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them” (Orwell 214). The use of doublethink, in other words Oceania’s form of oxymora, is one of the many ironic tactics the brainwashed members of this society must use to get through, for “doublethink can be considered as a coping mechanism to avoid the discomfort of cognitive dissonance where contradictory beliefs lead to internal tensions” (Morgen). This society has had to adapt to the confusion brought upon them by the government, and this is ironically done through the use of

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