Aimee Kerr
How do 1984 and The Handmaid's Tale show the state's control over characters through the control of love and emotion?
1984 The Handmaid's Tale
Totalitarianism
Propaganda
Extremely well organised and effective
The Ministry of Truth is responsible for disseminating all Party publications and information
All facts and figures come from the Ministry of Truth and are all dictated by the Party
Constantly correcting old material to reflect the Party's current position on any subject from chocolate rations to the loyalty of a specific individual allows the Party to completely dominate the range of information disseminated to the public
The machine determines reality
The Two Minutes Hate, Hate Week, posters of Big Brother, required daily participation of Physical Jerks
The Party uses literally every waking opportunity to instil its ideals into its citizens and is strikingly successful in achieving its goal of total loyalty
We see the vigour and loyalty such propaganda inspires in its citizens, they are filled with hatred for the country's stated enemies but it's easily redirected if the enemy happens to change, this efficiency is quite disturbing
If propaganda rules all information it is impossible to have any grasp on reality, the world is as the Party defines it
Love/Sexuality
The Party works to quell all physical sensations of love and depersonalises sex to the point where it is a "duty to the Party", some Part organisations even advocate complete abstinence and procreation only through artificial insemination
Winston suffers the Party's removal of personal fulfilment or enjoyment in relationships in his failed marriage with Katharine
When he finds Julia he relishes the freedom of being able to love someone physically and emotionally, most of his rebellion seems to be guided by the Party but not his relationship with Julia, he is only able to rebel...