"1984" by George Orwell.

Essay by monodiabloHigh School, 11th gradeA+, May 2003

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METHODS OF CONTROL

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In the novel Nineteen Eighty-four by George Orwell there is a system of controlling by manipulating the populations thoughts. History in the novel is distorted or completely altered by the upper Party who control the proletarians and lower Party. The states in Nineteen Eighty-four are led by a high powered minority group who keeps a heavy eye on the rest of the population with the use of tele-screens. Oceania, where the novel takes place, is controlled by fear, xenophobia and the threat of the Thought Police. Constant observation and brain washing takes place in every ones lives from an early point in their education.

In Nineteen Eighty-four, the population of Oceania is divided into two groups, the Party members, which is then divided into Upper and Lower Party, and the proletarians, who are the much lower class and are kept away from the Party members.

The proles must live with an extremity of seriousness their entire lives, a single outbreak of an emotion or with any sign of trying to be unique can end with their lives. The proles make up 85% of the population, and the Party who are a minority have all the control over the proles. The proles could overthrow the Party if they only realised the power they have, but the Party has such total control over them that they never even try to change their situation and doing something about their lives. "Until they have become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they will never become conscious." They do not realize the power to over throw the Party is in numbers, and they could easily overthrow the Party.

Later in the novel we see that the Upper Party controls everyone, even the lower Party. Since...