Neil Young once affirmed, “Having no knowledge is sometimes exactly what is needed to find a solution, so I qualified” (Young). Neil Young proclaims that being ignorant proves to be useful. The concept of ignorance resides when the fictional Big Brother existing in George Orwell’s novel “1984” frequently exclaims, “Ignorance is strength” (Orwell 26) in his controlled world. The slogan is the most central and crucial paradox due to the citizens of Oceana’s willingness to surrender their fear to live a comfortable, safe, and blissful life among the corruption of their dystopian society. Pursuing this further, George Orwell portrays this oxymoron through the character, Syme. Syme illustrates his orthodox beliefs through his depiction of Newspeak, …show more content…
The blind obedience to the party’s lies one detects through Julia when Winston affirms, “Once when he happened in some connection to mention the war against Eurasia, she startled him by saying casually that in her opinion the war was not happening” (153). Julia is numb and decides to stray away from anything that she concludes could ruin her reputation or could be susceptible. To be conscious to the news and media means to perpetually commit thoughtcrime and risk oneself to the party. Winston notes how Julia is safer when he ponders, “In some ways she was far more acute than Winston, and far less susceptible to Party propaganda” (153). Julia wields ignorance as a strength not a weakness and uses it to her advantage to stay alive. She represents that to be ignorant and to stick to an orthodox reputation increases the chances of living a normal and intact life throughout the chaos of their dystopian …show more content…
Winston expresses the pessimistic aspects of their society when he retorts, "The terrible thing that the Party had done was to persuade you that mere impulses, mere feelings, were of no account, while at the same time robbing you of all power over the material world. When once you were in the grip of the Party, what you felt or did not feel, what you did or refrained from doing, made literally no difference” (136). Winston analyzes that even though asylum may come from ignorance, ignorant citizens give away the rights of freedom of speech and even freedom of thinking unconsciously. Some may inquire themselves is the destruction of freedom genuinely worth prosperity or safety and that revolting will devise a solution quicker than
Julia instructs Winston how to return to London. The two arranged meetings where and when they would meet again. Julia reveals that she is not interested in the revolt. Although, she is a personal rebel. Winston reveals information to Julia about his wife Katherine which he decided weather to not killer her or not. Winston returned to Mr. Charrington’s offer: he had rented the room above his shop in order to spend some private time with Julia. Winston reveals his fear of rats.
Thinking back into history, many important events have occurred in history since the publication of 1984 by George Orwell in 1949. In no specific order there would be the Holocaust, The creation of the United Nations, NATO (North Atlantic treaty Organization), and even The Iron Curtain being established. After 1984 was published huge events also occurred in history. There was the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Korean war, the Vietnam War, the creation of the Berlin Wall, and the destruction of the Berlin wall, Joseph Stalin dies, and Khrushchev gains power....etc, etc. No matter when a book is published the events in history will always surround it, such as this book.
“The way of paradoxes is the way of truth.” Oscar Wilde, Irish novelist and poet, was a man of many paradoxes, a statement that may initially imply contradiction, yet can bear immense meaning and purposes when pondered. He, along with many others, believes that through their use much truth can be told. For example, George Orwell, the author of 1984, creates an intricate, well developed society living in alignment with an all-important slogan consisting purely of paradox. The novel, set in a 1980s dystopian society, focuses on Winston Smith, a member of the Outer Party who consistently disobeys the totalitarian government known as INGSOC ruled by Big Brother.
Orwell utilizes Julia’s character in order to capture the attitude of the oppressed as well. Winston wonders, “Any kind of organized revolt against the Party, which was bound to be a failure, struck her as stupid. The clever thing was to break the rules and stay alive all the same” (Orwell 131). Julia has no interest in overtly fighting the Party because she believes that the rebellion would never work out in her favor. Winston goes on to think:
George Orwell has created two main characters that have conflicting traits: believe in the idea of love in a world where it is forbidden. Although both are secret rebels of the Party and share the same hatred for the Party’s totalitarian power, Julia and Winston display a remarkable number of differences between each other. The differences between them include their morality, their motivation towards the rebellion, and their personalities. Julia represents elements of humanity that Winston does not: survival, instincts, pure sexuality and cunning (1984 By George Orwell Character Analysis Julia). Her actions show the lack of an emotional connection to anyone, even Winston.
In the novel 1984, George Orwell describes a dystopian society called Oceania. It is one of the three super states in the world and is controlled by an imaginary leader, Big Brother. This society is lead by a totalitarian Party that controls the society by enforcing their slogan onto their people: War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery and Ignorance is Strength. These slogans are encrypted into everyone’s brain as a way to manipulate them and make them believe they live in a fair, just society. In 1984’s Oceania, the slogan “ignorance is strength” plays a massive role in the Party’s manipulation of the society.
Once being proposed anything having to do with rebellion, Winston obviously would jump at any opportunity. The Party has banned any form of love, with the exception of love for Big Brother. Winston is handed a note that says ‘I love you.’ from a girl named Julia, who is also a rebel. This gesture led to a long standing relationship between the two, which is obviously banned by The Party. Winston felt love for Julia when he saw “something in your face...As soon as I saw you I knew you were against them.” (128) Winston sees Julia’s opposition to The Party as attractive, which leads him to see ‘something’ in her face, which is his love for her. Winston has a love for Julia, but since his feelings are banned, he now has another reason to hate The Party, being that they do not allow him to express his love for Julia. The love that Winston feels for Julia is unconditional, which is proven in The Ministry of Love when O’Brien asks, “‘Can you think of a single degradation that has not happened to you?’ Winston had stopped weeping, though the tears were still oozing out of his eyes. He looked up at O’Brien. ‘I have not betrayed Julia’ he said.” (273) Even when Winston is in the worst possible situation, his love for Julia and his loyalty towards her does not go unaccounted for at the time that he said that he had not betrayed her. Winston had not put himself before
Julia, another member of the Outer Party is no exception. Like Winston, she abhors the policies of her government but mostly those related to laws related to sex. The backbone of her individuality lay within her sexuality. Julia stated that she lost her virginity at an early age and engaged in sexual activity with numerous men over time. Her sexuality is also a point for her weakness due to her desire to be with Winston romantically and sexually. Due to this, it puts her independence and character at stake. This is demonstrated when she agrees to meet O’Brien under with Winston under his influence. It emphasizes how attached she is to Winston and unwittingly put her independence and character at stake. However, the burden of her responsibilities as a citizen comes back to haunt her. This is demonstrated when she is captured by the Thought Police along with Winston. Both Julia and Winston realize that they shall die and this demonstrates the consequences of ignoring their responsibilities as members of the Outer Party. It also highlights how Julia attempts not commit to her duties as a member of the Outer Party due to her engaging in sex. Her independence and character is broken and turns into a delusory sense of elevated self-worth. This is evident in the change of her body shape and scar near her scalp. This indicates that like
Occupations are important in order to be successful in life. One needs a source of income and a way to provide for one’s families. Some people work at home, some people have a schedule when one leaves at a certain time each day and return home at the same time each night. One gets comfortable in one’s work but does one take time to ask oneself why one is doing it? If an occupation does not help society or have any real purpose then is it really a useful occupation or is it just a bunch of mindless activity? Professional athletes make an insurmountable amount of money but what is the point of professional sports? Professional sports do not help make the world a better place nor does it have a purpose other than entertainment for the sports junkies on this earth. What is the purpose of movie makers and artists? How do they make the world a better place? In some ways they make a world a worse place because people get so caught up in entertainment that they forget about the rest of the world and the ones who suffer and the corrupt governments and the deadly diseases. Why cant jobs be created to help in those areas? Instead of paying people for doing mindless jobs, one should be paying others to actually work to make this world a better place with a better economy and without suffering people.
Ignorance is defined as a lack of information or knowledge. Society often looks down upon those who are ignorant or less educated because they consider themselves to be better. Even though we do this, society as a whole is often misled or kept ignorant about meaningful issues in the world, especially in the news. However, almost no one is actually aware of this because their main source of information is the one that is probably leaving out information or lying to them. Some governments even block out all sources of news altogether. One might wonder why governments would do this. By using the novel, 1984, George Orwell establishes the theme that governments use ignorance as the most powerful means of control, conveyed by the use of fabrication
Societal control, in the lamest definition, is a method used by authority to decline the number of opposition and increase “good” behavior. It is issued in a multitude of forms, including laws, morality, customs, public opinion, etc. However, societal control differs from place to place. In George Orwell’s 1984, societal control is achieved through a communistic set of ideals and the use of ignorance. Today’s society forms control through laws, but it still holds true to the right of freedom.
The novel 1984 is a futuristic portrayal of the world in the year 1984. The main characters Winston and Julia fall in love with each other but are caught and purified of all their wrong doings. In the end they betray each other because of the pressure of the party. The party is a group that controls society in these ways: Manipulation of Reality, Invasion of Privacy, and Desensitization.
When George Orwell’s epic novel 1984 was published in 1949 it opened the public’s imagination to a future world where privacy and freedom had no meaning. The year 1984 has come and gone and we generally believe ourselves to still live in “The Land of the Free;” however, as we now move into the 21st Century changes brought about by recent advances in technology have changed the way we live forever. Although these new developments have seamed to make everyday life more enjoyable, we must be cautious of the dangers that lie behind them for it is very possible that we are in fact living in a world more similar to that of 1984 than we would like to imagine.
George Orwell is considered to be one of the most creative and expressive political writers of the twentieth century, particularly for his views opposing communism and totalitarian regimes famously expressed in his novel, 1984. Orwell perceived communism as, “A new, dangerous form of totalitarianism, a powerful tool for controlling the masses.” Orwell’s hatred towards communism began with communist leader, Joseph Stalin whom he referred to as, “a bloody-minded master” (Rossi 1). Orwell’s views solidified during his participation in the Spanish Civil War; throughout his experience, Orwell was subject to communist propaganda, which led to his distrust of authority and established hatred of fascist and communist governments (Rossi 2). Orwell’s views, along with his participation ...
George Orwell’s intent in the novel 1984 is to warn society about the results of a controlling and manipulative government by employing mood, conflict, and imagery.