How Is Manipulation Shown In 1984

1564 Words4 Pages

Psychological manipulation is a frightening concept that is difficult to defeat. Totalitarian governments will go to great lengths to completely brainwash their citizens to the point where they are no longer considered human beings with emotions and are instead mindless robots that wholeheartedly believe false propaganda proposed by the government. In the well-known novel, 1984, George Orwell explores how the Party uses various tactics like propaganda, surveillance, and psychological manipulation to control and shape the minds of its citizens. These control tactics highlight the dangers of a society governed by manipulation and oppression. The Party controls not only the physical actions of its citizens, but also their thoughts and beliefs. …show more content…

This psychological manipulation creates a sense of powerlessness among the citizens, as they feel constantly monitored and controlled. O’Brien verifies that there is no hope, which eventually leads to Winston completely losing that hope that he once had. The Party has access to analyze every individual to eliminate any disagreement with their propaganda. This type of control can apply to real-world situations. Rothke asserts, “Some people object to this, claiming that corporate America is turning into Big Brother, thanks to control of access, Web filtering and Web analysis software” (55). This draws a parallel between the increasing surveillance and control exerted by corporations and the Party’s desire for power. Just as the Party seeks to monitor and manipulate every aspect of its citizens’ lives, corporations today collect vast amounts of personal data to exert influence and control over individuals. In both cases, there is a focus on monitoring and manipulating individuals, whether through technology or totalitarian tactics. These parallels highlight the potential dangers of unchecked power and the erosion of privacy and

Open Document