1984 Essay Help

[misskaraleah]

Just writing an essay in reposne to the text 1984.
I've been given the prompt.

' The past was erased...the lie became truth'. Why is the refusal to record the past accurately so important in the world of 1984?'

The main point i'd like to discuss is that preventing the people of oceania to become aware of the past, maintains the operation of a totalitarian government.

Yet im stumped for ideas.

I'm willing to touch on the concepts used to prevent people of oceania becoming aware of the past, such as the thought police, dobule think, ministry of truth etc.

As well as the reasons why history should be abolished, because truth lies within the past, knowelege about history through influential party members (O'Brien).

Im just not sure how to set it out. Help would be much appreciated.
 

[jcc]

"He who controls the present, controls the past. He who controls the past, controls the future."

That quote basically summarises the entire reason for the past's importance in 1984. Given that this is a unit 4 SAC (and thus more interpretative) it could also be useful to contrast that with the age old adage, "history is written by the winners".

Anyway, it'd probably be good to start with a paragraph highlighting the importance of history for the party's purposes. If the party controls the past, then there is no frame of reference which the citizens of Oceania are able to compare their current living standards against. For instance, the Party portrays pre-IngSoc Air Strip One (England) as being a world where the capitalists exploited people ruthlessly. By contolling the past the Party is thus able to portray pre-IngSoc society as being decadent, and take the credit for pre-IngSoc inventions which hence elevates the Party's status in Oceanian society. It is unlikely that the people would protest or attempt to overthrow a regime which they believe is bringing unheralded prosperity to them. If the people had known the real pre-IngSoc world (so, 1940's England) they would have had a society which to compare their own to and thus a reason to be angered by the developments in Oceania.

It'd probably also work well to outline the importance of the Records Department in terms of maintaining party control in Oceania. This be first manifest within the day-to-day editing of information such as the deletion of information relating to people who have been vaporized. If the Party was to allow such information to exist, then people would begin to question the judgment of the Party. For instance, if the Party were to allow for traces of information such as the fact that Oceania used to be at war with Eurasia, not Eastasia to exist, then it would show that the Party can at times be wrong. The Party relies upon its judgment being infallible in order to maintain its stringent control over the population. This is similarly the case when the Party is going to drop the chocolate ration despite a promise not to do so, thus requiring Winston to edit history to remove that promise. If such a promise could be proven to exist, then the Party would certainly run into dismay from the people.

Another more conceptual thing you could look into is the link between controlling history and doublethink and how they are inextricably dependent on each other.

Hope that helps somewhat!

[Rosie]

I'm working on a sample essay at the moment on 1984.

the topic is: "In the world of 1984 human relationships are impossible to sustain. Discuss"

How would i go about constructing this essay. I know that i can talk about how the structure of the party and the principles of it forbide close, meaningful relationships to occur.
I can also talk about how Winston and Julia tried to have a loving relationship but were then forced to betray one another after being caught.
How else could i go about constructing this essay
thanks

[ninwa]

You could try defining human relationships ... as in, the emotional ones cannot be sustained (i.e. romantic, friendship - I'm pretty sure there was a nice quote about how friendships don't exist anymore) but ones without emotion can (e.g. political relationships, "group" relationships like the community centres etc)

[Rosie]

So, i thought that i should at least have three paragraphs in order to have a solid essay.
My first paragrpaph could focus on Winston's and Julia's failed relationship.
A second paragraph could focus on children going against their family
So far, does this sound good
I can't think of an extra paragraph that i can focus on. Any help!

[Pandemonium]

Everyone having to refer to each other as comrade and having sex only for the benefit of the government as opposed to as a result of loving another person, perhaps?

[Rosie]

can i just ask how refering to each other as 'comrade' breaks the bond between relationships. 
thanks

[shinny]

Well referring to one another as comrade is something more seen in military or nationalistic types of situations, where a sense of group identity is attempted to be fostered in order to unite everyone. However, this comes at the expense of personal and intimate relationships as you're basically admitting that you see everyone as equals, and is a phrase used kind of just for the sake of it rather in situations where you don't or can't really call someone an actual friend; they're a comrade just because you follow (or in the case of 1984, forced to follow) a similar ideology. Hence you don't truly connect with anyone on a personal level really...I mean, would you ever call one of your friends 'comrade'? o_O