Mind Control Methods in 1984

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Mind Control Methods of 1984 and Today. Everyone wants more money. That's why people go to college to make more money. That's why people rob banks to get more money. That's why people do unethical business moves, to receive more money. We are living in a money-hungry society. People want more money because they know that money is power. This power allows us to change, shape and mold society into exactly what we want. This forming and shaping can make a society more productive which means more profitable. Yet, it is impossible to sit back and hope that a society will conform to what will make you rich. Every society, whether real or fiction, uses mind control methods, to get what they want. In the book 1984, mind control is everywhere. In the country Oceania, conforming is important and being submissive is seen as good Winston, the main character of the story, is surrounded by different methods of mind control. Winston is a middle aged man and member of the outer party. He has no say in rules and must abide and conform to all rules made by the Inner Party or face "being vaporized." Winston lives his life with mind control methods all around him. He knows that these aren't right. He has no privacy or life of his own. Being constantly surrounded by telescreens, which are flat screens mounted on every wall of every room in Oceania, Winston learns that he can't show any kind of individuality or speak his own views. He must follow what everyone else does. He wakes up at the same time everyday. He pays ridiculous amounts of money to the government for the mandatory items. He dresses in the same clothes everyday. He eats the same rationed and terrible food everyday. These mind control methods are forcing the society in... ... middle of paper ... ... All power and money comes from conformity. If there wasn't such a stress placed on conformity, then we can buy anything and the rich wouldn't be as rich and perhaps a wider middle class would be formed. Every society uses mind control methods to achieve a certain goal. The societies mentioned used different severities of mind control to get the same thing, power. This power is produced from the conformity or uniformity that is being forced on people. When people conform, they need to spend money. In 1984, they had to give their money right back to the government by buying necessary items. In today's society, people pay money to get material possessions to fit in. This conformity makes money which is given to the rich. The rich get richer and the lower classes still strive to stay alive or stay hip. This is the cycle that is almost near impossible to change.

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