1984 Doublethink

An invasive psychological tool used by the government in 1984, by George Orwell, is Doublethink. Doublethink is the ability to process two contradictory ideas and believe them both to be true. Due to the government’s use of mental manipulation, doublethink emerged and further blinded the citizens of Oceania. Modern versions of doublethink are widely accepted and raise awareness of contradictory messages from the media. The beliefs that “skinny is ideal” and “curvy is ideal” are two contradictory messages that are voiced by the media and represent how doublethink is present in today’s society, while in 1984 the government used doublethink mainly to brainwash it’s citizens.

In his devotional on January 10, 2017, President of BYU Kevin J. Worthen discussed the idea of living in a “post-truth world.” He reflects on the misdirection of information on the internet, noting that there is an overabundance that leads to confusion amongst people. He says, “Many do not know how to determine the accuracy or the truthfulness of new information. Some deal with the matter by looking for reinforcement of their own preexisting, and sometimes ill-informed, notions… Others go to the opposite extreme, finding any piece of information that disrupts their prior views as sufficient reason to throw aside, without further inquiry, truths that have provided sure guidance to them and others in the past.” President Worthen comments address what has become known as fake news and the dangers of biased information.

George Orwell’s book 1984 is a very interesting novel. The novel is set up in Airstrip One. In George Orwell’s book 1984 it has many situations. One of the many situations are that some people refer society as “Orwellian.” What does Orwellian mean? Orwellian means, of or related to the works of George Orwell ( especially his picture of his future totalitarian state.) People believe that Orwell is realistic and say his work part of our society now. George Orwell was a writer in the twentieth century. He wrote about totalitarianism. What is totalitarianism? Totalitarianism is of or relating to a system or government that is centralized and dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state. Also he wrote about dystopias. What

The people of Oceania have absolutely no control. The Party supervises every aspect of their lives from what one says to their facial expressions at any given moment. Nobody is free to express their own will and everyone must follow the rigid guidelines set in place by Big Brother. Although there is no law against what one may think, if one’s thoughts defy any aspect of the Party, serious consequences are put into effect. Fear is ingrained into the citizens minds and they must act obediently to Big Brother.

Doublethink is described as holding onto two beliefs or opinions contradicting one another. The book “1984” is a novel written by George Orwell in 1949. This publication describes an oppressive government of the future taking place in 1984 London. The government uses power and fear to manipulate the people's thoughts to believe in their slogan and the party. Orwell describes the atmosphere created by the party using imagery, irony, and characterization.

Why do people that hate each other so much work better together than people who love each other? People who love each other never get the job done it seems, but people that hate each other get the job done fast and efficiently, have you ever wondered why? You may say maybe they get it done so fast just to get it over with so they don’t have to work side by side anymore, but maybe it might be because they take their work seriously and rather work together side by side rather than do it alone and fail. In George Orwell’s Novel 1984 the society they live in is based on hate yet it survives because they hate their ruler so much they end up confusing it with love and they become loyal under Big Brother's watchful eyes, fighting to please him and continue with his bidding. If any one person in the society is to express their hate for him they are sent to a place like a prison or more like a reform center to learn to disguise their hatred again by basically confusing the people into thinking they love him they manipulate their minds and they create a loyal subject once again, this is why I believe a society based on hate can survive because can easily be confused for love and hate can make a loyal person besides their negative feelings for the society.

“ War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength,”. The following quote originates from the infamous novel, 1984 by George Orwell. The significance of this popular quote was to display an example of the action of doublethink. Doublethink is the act of having two contradictory thoughts at the same time and believing both are true. Doublethink plays an influential role in the novel, 1984. The novel takes place in a super-state by the name of Oceania which covers the entire continents of our America in reality. The main character of this novel is Winston Smith, a thirty-nine year-old Party member who works at the Ministry of Truth correcting “errors” in past publication who has a

Found in a fictional story, the term “doublethink” is something Yeonmi Park finds solace in. From the George Orwell novel “Nineteen Eighty-Four”, the word describes a mindset of simultaneous contradictory statements. When Yeonmi Park uses the term “doublethink” in her book “In Order to Live”, it is easy to relate its contradictory conditions to hypocrisy. However, “doublethink” serves its purpose as an abuse narrative. The term itself shows how lying is a means of survival, even if that lying is to oneself. “Doublethink” is not a synonym for hypocrisy, but is in reality a coping mechanism for abuse.

“War is peace, Freedom is slavery, Ignorance is strength,” (Orwell 26). In George Orwell’s book, 1984, the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in mind and being forced to accept them, is “doublethink”. The government of Oceania, also called the Party, uses psychological operant conditioning to brainwash their citizens to keep control over them. The truth can only be proven by consensus of majority meaning if millions believe it , they too should believe it. The act of thinking freely is considered rebellion by the authorities and anyone that does this is captured and punished.

What is doublethink? Orwell describes doublethink as “the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them.'; In 1984, doublethink is the normal way of thought, and as a result everyone understands it and practices it. Doublethink is different from changing ones mind, lying, and self-deception in many ways. Doublethink involves believing in the two contradictory ideas at the same time. This is different from lying because lying is saying something that is wrong and knowing that it is wrong but still saying it anyway. For example lets say you broke a vase. When your mother asks you who broke the vase and you say the dog did it that would be lying. The reason it is not

In his first White House Press Briefing, Press Secretary Sean Spicer asserted that President Donald Trump's inaugural crowd was the largest in history. This was quickly disproved by various media outlets. Following his statements, Senior Adviser Kellyanne Conway clarified his assertions as being "alternative facts." The use of the phrase has resulted in an onset of social and political protest as well as a mounting distrust in the increasingly authoritarian Trump Administration.

appearing only as purveyors of facts chosen by persons whose minds are already made up.” I

In the novel 1984 ever since the beginning of the book propaganda has been used by The Party to have absolute control over its people. The Party used a varieties of techniques to maintain their power. The telescreens, child spies, and the thought police. It is made important that the first job of the Party is to break down self confidence in the people. They focus on destroying peoples confidence in their common sense, ability to make their own decision and intelligence. How they party does this is through what they call double think. This is propaganda suggesting that if the people are having other thoughts then what The Party says it is a crime because it isn’t what the “truth” is.

If I don’t see concrete facts how to I trust that what I am reading or being told is true. At the same time if I am just given half the facts, maybe only those that progress whatever agenda

In George Orwell’s novel 1984, the party who rules the society uses different methods to control their citizens and strengthen their own power. By comparing with the modern American society, we can see similarities. This essay will contrast the two societies within the subjects of doublethink, surveillance and the governing of the people. Doublethink is a method and an act that is being used by the party and the American government to make the citizens simultaneously accept two contradictory beliefs as correct at the same time. Surveillance is used as the eye over the population. In 1984 it is Big Brother who sees and hears every step you take, while in America it is the National Security Agency (NSA). By controlling the people with lies and