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How Does Orwell Use Language In 1984

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Throughout Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell goes into great detail of the gruesome physical and emotional tortures that the brutal Big Brother Party commonly practices. However, Orwell maintains that because it can be imposed onto the mass majority without causing immense suspicion or fear, the psychological manipulation of language is the Party's greatest strength. By emphasizing the manipulative connotations and restrictions of Newspeak, Orwell demonstrates the deep influence that language has on the public’s minds and memories. Orwell creates the totalitarian government of Oceania along with the omniscient Big Brother Party that watches over everybody at all times. In this society, the Party controls everyone and everything with the …show more content…

Orwell demonstrates the dangers of language and its connotation because such changes in emphasis and word choice are so minute, it is difficult to detect and continuously consciously resist their effect. The Party utilizes the media and propaganda language by presenting everything in a patriotic light. Only ever discussing their mistakes and the war positively, the government manipulates the connotation of a sentence until it means something entirely new. When speaking about the change of chocolate rations, they describe it as a raise to twenty rather than a decrease. This simple change in the statement allows the party to inform everyone of the new ration number while also creating feelings of celebration rather than resentment in the public. The telescreens are also constantly projecting “good news” that is meant to rally the masses and increase loyalties while also streaming “bad news” which provides a distracting outlet of hate. By emphasizing the extremes of both the honor and nobility of war heros and the treachery and shame of thoughtcrime, the party further strengthens their policies and fortifies their values in the public

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