1984 #9: The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism (notes)

WAR IS PEACE: pages 192-193: “In his capacity as an administrator…with Oceania the undisputed master of the entire world”.

-          Goldstein speaks that it is necessary for the Party to “split” the intelligence of its members, easier to do during war.

-          Inner Party aware of the untruthful nature of Big Brother and the lies it tells about wars.

-          BB uses Inner Party to suppress free-thought through use of double-think; IP unwilling to suggest lies to the “undisputed master of the entire world”.

WAR IS PEACE: page 199: “The peculiar pressure that it exerted on human beings…the inner meaning of the Party slogan: WAR IS PEACE”.

-          War is not a means of destroying other nations anymore, since it is impossible for the three states to take each other out, even with an alliance.

-          The Party uses War as a way of maintaining ignorance amongst their members.

-          War in this world would be equivalent to having “perpetual peace” with other nations, each state would not have to worry about each other, and thus the citizens would not have to know about differing cultures and places.

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH: pages 202-202: “The Middle, so long as it was struggling for power…a fresh tyranny as soon as soon as the old one was overthrown”.

-          Social hierarchy has always been a part of society: always a High, a Middle, and a Low.

-          The Middle and the Low often ally to downfall the High, yet the Middle tend to take the position of the High.

-          The Middle has always been thirsty for power, and will disenfranchise the Low after every successful uprising.

-          The Party wants to avoid this possibility by eradicating the thought of rebellion, thus Ignorance is Strength because without rebellion, there is no weakness.

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH: pages 211-: “A Party member is required to have not only the right opinions…self-abasement before the power and wisdom of the Party”.

-          Goldstein speaks about the use of double-think and Newspeak specifically: the term double-think, stemming from the language “Newspeak” makes it nearly impossible for members to think deeply on any subject.

-          This makes it easier for the government to have complete control, essentially eradicating emotion and free-thought.

-          Aims to avoid rebellious and pleasurable actions by eradicating the words and emotions that come with them. Hope to establish ignorance in the members as to avoid the revealing of the truth and oppression.

-          Government thinks strength only stems from the guarantee of complete approval with little to no opposition from members of the party – anyone who rebels is vaporized.

SUMMARY:

-          Winston receives opportunity to read The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism by Emmanuel Goldstein.

-          Becomes fascinated by the “truth” he is obtaining from the book.

-          First chapter he reads in depth addresses the War is Peace slogan to the Party.

o   3 superstates formed from the combining of major powers: Eurasia comprised of Russia and Europe, Oceania comprised of United States and Great Britain, Eastasia comprised of northeastern Asia, China and India.

o   All 3 superstates have equal military power, cannot destroy each other through war; cannot destroy each other at all.

o   The Party tells its citizens that they are at War to create anger and hatred for other states in order to form a secure society.

o   War has not become all out war, it is equivalent to permanent peace, used only to maintain the ignorance of citizens to admire their government and ignore other societies and cultures.

-          Second and final chapter Winston reads in length is titled Ignorance is Strength.

o   Basically, Goldstein implies that the hierarchical system, which has been around since the Neolithic times, is trying to be nearly eradicated by the Party.

§  Although the Party still incorporates it through Inner and Outer Parties and the Proles, the premise behind the system is being changed.

o   Often times, the Middle and Low classes would take out the High and the Middle class will take over the mission of the High class, returning Low class to servitude and obedience.

o   Party wants to avoid this possibility by incorporating concepts like double-think and Newspeak, essentially stripping humans of their humanity and emotions.

§  Makes it more difficult for members to rebel because they don’t have the intelligence (or if they do the courage) to actually revolt.

o   Very effective because it runs parallels with how the Party handles War, relates back to the idea of nationalism, where citizens are confined to the belief that their Party is paramount.

-          Concludes with Julia and Winston briefly discussing the book by Goldstein and falling asleep.

1984 #3

George Orwell often emphasizes the dangers of Totalitarianism in very humorous and inconceivable ways. Throughout the novel, Orwell will provide examples of the Party acting out in an effort to silence their population; a broad attempt to control the way they behave and think. In most cases, the Party is successful in doing so, yet Winston is observant of these tricks because he was born right on the border of the past and the present. When talking to Mr. Parsons about Winston’s encounter with his children, a sudden message is delivered from the Ministry of Plenty explaining that the chocolate ration had been increased to twenty grams a week (57-58) Almost immediately, Winston caught sight of the Party’s trick thinking that “only yesterday…it had been announced that the ration was to be reduced to twenty grams a week. Was it possible that they could swallow that, after only twenty-four hours? Yes, they swallowed it” (58). Winston is absolutely amazed at the stupidity of his comrades. They believe, without hesitation, anything that Big Brother or his Ministry’s say. The Party has taken complete control of the minds of its citizens; this example merely displays the effect. In order to quell “thoughtcrime” or any instance of rebellion, the Party takes it upon themselves to eradicate any outside understanding, to make their word absolute. Orwell is expressing the dangers of Totalitarianism as means by which the government takes complete control over everything one says, does, or believes. It seems, however, that the Party has eradicated intelligence as well as free will. This humorous example just goes to show the extent to which the Party has become omnipotent in order to guarantee their citizens incompetence.

1984 #2

Winston becomes incredibly fixated on the girl with dark hair because she has an outstanding impact on the way Winston views the controlling government. Winston lives in a world full of lost meaning, everything truthful has been eradicated and past history is seemingly nonexistent. Winston know this to be true, it is part of his job to make sure no citizen under the Party can have free thought. When Winston first writes in his diary, he is overwhelmed with “a sense of completely helplessness” (7). Winston is fearful and restricted by the Party. The sense of being watched every second of every day results in the release of powerless and purposeless feelings. However, Winston has taken a controlling interest in a certain young and beautiful woman whom he has seen occasionally inside the Ministry of Truth. This woman seems to excite Winston. He is dumbfounded not only by her beauty, but her own sense of heresy that distinguishes striking similarities between the two. During a dream, Winston sees this woman with dark hair undress in a field, but it is not her beauty that interests him: “What overwhelmed [Winston] in that instant was admiration for the gesture with which she had thrown her clothes aside” (31). Winston realizes as he begins his diary, that he is helplessly lost in this world. He feels oppressed by the Party; whereas this woman simply flings her clothes to the side with no regret or fear at all. This demonstration of free will and purpose excites Winston. He sees a gesture of rebellion, an idea Winston has fought long and hard to suppress as to avoid treason against the Party. However, it is this feeling of purpose and meaning that encourages Winston to find rebellion in his words. Hopefully Orwell will elaborate on this desire in the upcoming chapters.

1984 #1

            George Orwell wrote 1984 as an attempt to predict what the world would be like in the year 1984, roughly four decades after the book was published. The setting is filled with danger, hypocrisy, oppression, darkness, and technology. All of these details develop the theme of totalitarianism and its certain destruction of humanity, as seen through protagonist Winston Smith. When Winston is describing his apartment and the telescreen, the fear in the Thought Police provides enough justification to be afraid of the entire government as a whole: “You had to live – did live, from habit that became instinct – in the assumption that every sound you made was overheard, and, except in darkness, every movement scrutinized” (3). The telescreen and all of technology is a symbol for what the government is capable of in terms of controlling their population. The advantage of using technology as a means of control provides the government the necessary instruments to successfully run an oppressive Totalitarian regime. The Though Police have ways of knowing what you are doing, saying, and thinking at seemingly every moment. Living without and competition or rebellion is similar to living with no government at all, it becomes void and completely useless. The danger in Totalitarianism is the factor of control and supremacy, which George Orwell invokes the possibility of through the control in rising technological advancements displayed in the novel.