Nineteen Eighty-Four-control of information
79Topic: "Nineteen Eighty-Four shows that control of information is the most important tool of tyranny"
Discuss.
George Orwell's dystopian novel, "Nineteen Eighty-Four", depicts a society in which the oppressive implication of authority is accentuated by the control of information. "The Party" manipulates each "comrades" experience, and subsequent understanding, of history, education, and the media to expunge all connections to an existence that is not immersed in "Party worship".
"Swallower's of slogans" possess no concept of history. The Party employed the "purges" of the "fifties and sixties" to expunge the presence of all that remember "the ancient time", when "privacy, love and friendship" suffused society. The implication of this is that "comrades" are unable to perceive the detrimental nature of Oceanic society, since there is no means of comparison to highlight the "fear, hatred, and pain" which encapsulates Big Brother's omnipotent rule. Thus, citizens subsequently possess a limited perception of "Airstrip One" and the true machinations that encompass "party slogans". This characteristic is intensified by "The Ministry of Truth"; the protagonist observes that "the past had actually been destroyed". Thus, "Miniture" is the present embodiment of The Party's incentive to corrode connections to the past. These related devices project a tainted image of the encompassing world, which emphasizes that "Party worship" is the universal truth of existence.
Oceanic "comrades" are exposed to incessant jargon that emanates from "telescreens", and is reinforced by propaganda. The "telescreens", which "received and transmitted simultaneously", constantly provide individuals with misinformation. These falsifications are inexorably accepted as truth, since the constant reminder of Party "victory" instills a profound sense of pride for "comrades". The media portrayal of "victory" is heightened by the incessant presence of propaganda, such a Big Brother posters that occupy "every commanding street corner". These interwoven elements evoke an avenue to Party "victory", which subsequently catalyzes the tendency to undertake "party worship", since the eminence of "Big Brother" transcends the abstemious nature of their own lives. The images of The Party's success are juxtaposed with the individual's poignant lack of achievement, which forces "comrades" to associate their leader with the path to a better life. However, the irony is that all possess the knowledge that citizens are inevitably "vaporized" even if they exercise the "imbecile enthusiasms" of their ruling body. This elucidates that ephemeral success via "collectivism" is projected to be more honorable than an ordinary service to Oceania.
The Party's manipulation of education taints the values of Oceanic citizens at an early interval of development. The Party instigates children's involvement in organizations such as the "Junior spies" and the "Junior Anti-Sex League", to sculpt their characteristics to be more befitting of "tiger cubs that would soon grow up into man eaters". These institutions are invariably aligned with Party ideals, and the incentive to "denounce" familial relations in lieu of a "love for Big Brother", permeates their education. Big Brother's omniscience is established, he is portrayed to have "invented aeroplanes"; which heightens the legend of their leader. This plethora of respect dissolves traditional family values, because the stark contrast of Big Brother's salience with their parents "paralyzing stupidity", equates to the underpinning suggestion that family is of no value. This creates obsequious conformity of all perceptions in the sole direction of "love for Big Brother", and catalyzes the efficiency of this oppressive rule which encapsulates all totalitarian regimes.
The presence of information that is infused by political interests is an ever-present element of society. During the totalitarian regime of Nazi Germany, the German citizens were intoxicated by the prospect of prosperity in contrast to their recent economic and emotional depression. They were subject to sources of information that conveyed the newly established national pride, and sense of success, which now encompassed their own society. This detracted attention from the obvious crimes against humanity that underpinned their heroic government. The German citizens were overcome by the stark emotional appeals of propaganda, since it ameliorated the futilities of their former lives; and they were thus scarcely aware that they were endorsing genocide of the Jewish race. This historical truth exemplifies that the manipulation of information is salient to the acquisition of power for totalitarian regimes.
George Orwell's novel underscores the author's viewpoint, that the tainted knowledge of citizens is a necessary factor for the cruel use of authority to prevail. Oceania is established by the concepts of history, education, and public exposure, being immersed in Party ideals that equate to "Big Brother worship". This concern resonates in history, as the implication of pre-existing totalitarian regimes rely on the control of information.
