1984 Truth And Power Essay

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In 1949, Joseph Campbell introduced the world to concept of truth and power. As a renowned writer and mythologist, Campbell utilised his knowledge of literature and culture to identify ideas, attitudes and values through text. The book follows Winston Smith, a dull, uninteresting man that lives a repetitive, tedious and melancholy life under the totalitarian rule of a socialist government. As one of the most famous character of all time, Winston represents the lead man that lacks conventional heroic qualities. He fulfils his role as the anti-hero whilst being the vehicle the audience utilises in order to explore and question the core thematic concepts on the novel truth and power. There is a rich combination of dramatic theme, unique characterisation and engaging use of literary devices allows Winston’s character to develop through out the book. …show more content…

His daily life consists of going to his job as an alternator of history in the Ministry of Truth, participating in ‘two-minutes of hate’ rallies and completing government mandated activities. Harbouring vague memories of what society was like before the establishment of Big Brother’s dictatorship, Winston finds himself withholding rebellious thoughts that cannot be acted upon without consequence. Winston illustrates a moral struggle between what is he believes to be right and what the government enforces. This is clearly reflective of the novel’s main themes of truth and power, Big Brother’s inescapable regime influencing Winston’s perception of what is true. His participation in the alteration of history also revels truth as a motif, this modification of facts physicalising the theme. This is evident when he rebels against the powers that survey his every

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