1984

A detailed Summary of 1984

Orwell's society displays a threatening projection of a totalitarian system into the future. Indeed it is a regime very similar to the tyrannies of the 20th century and strongly echoes Stalin Russia or Nazi Germany. The dominant mood inside this repressive system is one of threat and suppression due to the systematic persecution and oppression of non-conformists. As Goldstein explains in his 'Oligarchical Collectivism' there have always been three classes: the high, the middle and the low with the middle and the high constantly changing their respective position. Eventually this movement was identified by historians as being cyclical. In an attempt to interrupt this recurring pattern the Party is essentially focussing on the problem of Stability. Indeed Stability becomes paramount in Oceania as well as in the other two superpowers Eastasia and Eurasia. In short it is the problem of how to keep things the way they are and maintain a hierarchical society without risking an overt!

Several devices and attitudes have been conceived to achieve this aim. First of all the Party constantly controls and monitors its subjects. A crucial device in this scheme is the telescreen which, by being able to send as

matter of fact contrary to the Party propaganda their standard of living was not constantly increasing, Goldstein did probably not exist nor is there any threat of an immediate invasion of any part of Oceania. Ultimately an awareness might arise that the state massively manipulates and blurs reality and that their whole 'party-distorted' existence has no relation to reality whatsoever but only aims at sustaining the Party's authority. Winston's rational behaviour reveals to which extent an empirical way of thinking constitutes a threat to the system. Although small and unimportant as a person himself, many 'Winstons' might eventually cause the downfall of the Party. Indeed Winston is the living evidence of Goldstein's statement that empirical thought opposes the Party's principles.

Another crucial concept contrived to maintain the system is the concept of 'doublethink'. In practise it means the power of holding simultaneously two contradictory beliefs in one's mind and accepting both of them. In Nineteen Eighty-Four this is not merely a way of thinking, it is a doctrine. It is a concept which lies at the very heart of Ingsoc. Undoubtedly an empirical point of view radically contradicts the concept of 'doublethink'. Hence this is another fundamental reasons why Goldstein's book identifies empirical thought as 'opposed to the most fundamental principles of Ingsoc'. Indeed it refutes the very relativism (i.e. 2 x 2 = 5) as displayed by the regime's spokesman O'Brien in the Ministry of Truth during Winston's interrogatio

Some common words found in the essay are:
Inner Party, O'Brien Winston's, Police Spies, Nazi Germany, Eastasia Eurasia, Oceania Ultimately, Indeed Winston, Ingsoc Undoubtedly, , Ingsoc' Indeed, inner party, achieve aim party, concept 'doublethink', winston's interrogation, 1984 p225, careful observation, threat system, stability paramount, hierarchical society, aim party, empirical thinking,

Approximate Word count = 1030
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Politics