Located at the end of the book the Appendix of 1984, speaks to us about the Principles of Newspeak. This passage treats a very important aspect of the book that the image I posted above to my opinion represents very well: brainwashing. This new language , Newspeak, imposed on the people is to my opinion the fatal last step that will mentally enslave the population of Oceania forever. It was extremely shocking to me the extend to what Big Brother has changed the whole system to control the people even more. Taking the most natural right of the people: words , freedom of language. The goal of this "new concept" that fits the mentality of the government is to reduce vocabulary, decreasing the chances of the people to think;furthermore have an opinion and consider rebelling. But the question that I m the most confused about and that I would like to hear your opinion concerning it, is whether words are the only accurate way of communication that encourages thinking process and personal opinions. Or are human beings able to rely on their instincts and simply express their opinion without the need of specific words. Also, the whole concept of ignorance as a strength, can we agree on that? Is it because we have never heard of the chance to have a "better situation" that we will suffer less from it. Makes senses to me;however, can't we rely on our emotions and feelings to express the need of change. There has eventually been a first time for the birth of the concept of human rights and it was eventually because it was needed. So no matter how much the government makes them forget through a cold, limited and emotionless new vocabulary, can they ever realize and revolt or will they simply not realize the oppression they are being victims of.
First off, I am glad that you chose to post on this topic, seeing as the concept of brainwashing is important when it comes to understanding the dystopian world that Winston lives in. You asked whether words are the sole way that we, as people, are able to express ourselves, or if emotions can do just the same. Obviously everyone has a number of emotions that corralate to the situation they are currently in. Whether it be suppression, anziety, or confusion in Winstons case, we express these things through our words and conversation. However, Newspeak is a language that is becoming increasingly more and more popular, allowing people to adapt to conversations in a simpler, clearer way than Oldspeak. The following generations in the book will know nothing but the words of Newspeak and their meanings. That being said, we can infer that these people will still feel like any other human being, but might be in a different way than they do in 1984. A limited number of words would be all that these people are taught, all that they could corralate meanings too. Feelings that they have, sadness, anger, or happiness, might just as well be felt, but with no connection as to what it means. With no word for it, how can one decifer what the feeling means to themself, their friends, their family? They wouldn't have any knowledge of knowing whether to act upon the feeling or not. So yes, they could very well communicate these ideas/feelings, but to a much different extent.
ReplyDeleteI see this age of Newspeak as a huge and majorly unsolvable problem for the people of Airtrip One. This being that in a world where one is indoctrinated into believing that everything there government says is what it is. That if you speak out then you are killed, then the people of that country have a very few options. They can rebel and potentially lose there life or go into exile, mindlessly obey but secretly loathe what they live in or actually believe. The problem with this society is that there is no history in order to explain to the people that what is happening is wrong and that it used to be better, there used to be freedom and that before the war life was peaceful and plentiful. There are only few who were around during that time to remember and they have become senile or are too fearful to rebel. Thus I think that with the new invention of Newspeak and the fact that there is only the history that Big Brother writes there is no chance for redemption in this society. For the people of Airstrip One, by the time 2050 comes around, two generations will have passed, and with that all the history from the past that was so lightly kept alive, the people of that time will utterly have no concept of any of the rights and freedoms they had before the revolution. No chance for redemption.
ReplyDelete" ... then the people of that country have a very few options. They can rebel and potentially lose there life or go into exile, mindlessly obey but secretly loathe what they live in or actually believe."
DeleteI agree, Tristan. The people in this world seem to have few to zero options. Or at least no good ones. It's a lose-lose-lose situation. I'm thinking of our discussion last class about the Proles. I wonder if I could live as Winston - participating in and perpetuating the lies and destruction/re-writing of history. I'm not sure how I could do that and stay sane (the absurdity alone would drive me batty). But if the alternative is speaking out and thus death, perhaps I could adapt. Maybe, and this is sad to admit, it is better to live as a Prole. At least you are not complicit in the lies, the system.