Doublethink is a manipulation strategy used by the Party in 1984 to enforce a certain viewpoint on the public. Winston describes it as using “logic against logic” (Orwell 37). The Party used doublethink by presenting two completely opposing ideas and manipulating them in a way that the public believes both to be true. The citizens of Oceania just accept the fact that they’re being controlled and are too scared to rebel against the Party for fear of what might happen to them. The most significant example of doublethink in 1984 is “War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength.”
The Tiananmen Square Massacre involved the execution of people in China who fought for the right to free speech and democracy in 1989. Unlike the citizens of Oceania, the students who protested in China had the courage to rebel against the government, however, they did not consider the consequences, hence their execution. The massacre being removed from the archives of China’s history is much similar to history being rewritten in 1984, so nobody actually knows what life was like in Oceania before Big Brother and the Party took over. The people who witnessed the protests and the massacre of 1989 were the only reliable source of information from that period of time. The authorities of China manipulating history is much similar to the way the Party leaves out details of Oceania’s history in 1984. Doublethink enabled the Party members to have a significant level of control over the citizens’ thoughts and emotions.
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In 1984, Big Brother plays a significant role in the lives of the citizens of Oceania. Big Brother is a mysterious concept, or being, that is believed to be the leader of the Party. In 1984, the proles are always being watched by Big Brother. Big Brother dictates and controls their emotions and actions by watching their every move. Similarly, if we choose to have Google Home assistants and Alexa devices in our homes, we open up the opportunity for our conversations to be recorded. Although designed for convenience, these assistants track our behaviours and listen in on our private matters.
The role of Big Brother in 1984 is to strip individuals of their individuality and enforce a certain mindset and culture into society. By keeping tabs on each of the citizens through the use of telescreens, they have the power to instill fear in them and force them to stay loyal to the party. The citizens are like guinea pigs in a lab experiment as they are closely observed and punished for not abiding by the party’s laws. In Chapter III of 1984, Winston dreams of his mother and his situation is evidence that the citizens crave a life of freedom and privacy: “Tragedy, he perceived, belonged to the ancient time, to a time when there was still privacy, love and friendship.” It is arguable that having a Google Home or Alexa assistant in your home is a good thing because it contradicts the idea of people having the right to privacy. Donovan Molloy mentions in an article: “‘We don’t need to be controlled.’ As a privacy commissioner, and as a citizen who doesn’t want to lose my privacy, I find this very frightening.” The concept of home assistants watching people’s every move is a concept that is scary to think about but is inevitable in today’s society, as the world of technology is constantly evolving. The difference between the people in 1984 and real life is that the citizens in 1984 have no choice but to accept the fact that they are watched by the party at all times and people who use smart assistants in their homes choose to risk personal information being leaked. Edward Snowden, the notorious man labelled a whistleblower by the US government, is arguably one of society’s biggest heroes. After leaking supposedly “confidential” information during his time as an employee of the NSA he fled to Hong Kong, where he resides today, hiding from the U.S government.
Snowden has performed a significant public act of service by exposing the massive scale of the US government's eavesdropping on people all over the world, which far surpasses any violation of trust he may have committed. He mentions in the TED Talk: “What really matters here is the kind of government we want, the kind of Internet we want, the kind of relationship between people and societies.” He revealed that the government has access to anything on the internet, from our passwords to our private files, without our consent. Similarly, in 1984, the citizens of Oceania are always watched by Big Brother through the telescreens, their every move being monitored and all they can do is put up with it. As per Orwell in chapter 1: “The telescreen received, transmitted simultaneous any sound that Winston made, above the level of a very low whisper, would be picked up by it moreover so long as he remained within the field of vision which the metal plaque commanded, he could be seen as well.” The citizens’ lack of privacy mean that they have no freedom of expression or personal thought, which will eventually result in the loss of humanity. The lack of privacy in 1984 is much like the lack of privacy that the U.S citizens have. The U.S government contradict their claims of their people having the right to privacy. It is Snowden’s courage that sparked a wake up call in society; some companies like Instagram and Whatsapp are doing more to protect peoples’ privacy. Snowden revealed information that deserved to be made public, while causing no long-term harm to his country's national security. Regardless of legality, the government's infringement of privacy had to be disclosed. “Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live.” This quote by Norman Cousins is a thought-provoking quote, making us question whether we really appreciate everything around us and humanity as a whole.
“The Large Ant” by Howard Fast is a short story about a man who kills an ant with no hesitation, however, he later regrets his actions as he had no reason to do such a thing. He comes to the profound realization that violence is a part of human nature, and humanity has a deep fear of the unknown. This story in particular is centred around the idea that humans are violent creatures in that they act without considering the subsequent effects of their actions. This is a result of the “curse of fear,” which dates back to the days when war between countries was prevalent. Society has the potential to reverse the “curse of fear,” however, it requires consistency from everyone. In “The Pedestrian” by Ray Bradbury, Leonard Mead is the only person who sets foot outside to enjoy nature. He takes note of all the families occupied by technology in their homes, so much so that they forget to embrace nature. Later in the story, he gets sent to a mental institution because he is thought to be mad for simply walking outside and taking in the fresh air. “The Fun They Had” by Isaac Asimov is set in 2157 and explores the contrast between pre-technology days and the present day. Margie and Tommy find an old paper book and reflect on how simple and enjoyable life was in the days before society was consumed by technology. School has been taken over by robots and computers, so learning about school life in the old days makes Margie feel deprived of the childhood experience that once was. “The Pedestrian” and “The Fun They Had” prove that advancements in technology have resulted in people losing touch with the world around them, “killing” humanity in a sense. The curse of fear has so deeply devoured mankind that we will initiate violence on anything unknown to us. Death plays a role in “The Large Ant” in the sense that the ant was killed by Mr. Morgan, however, it is Morgan’s inconsideration for the ant’s life and immediate transition into ‘flight or flight mode’ that highlights the idea of “what dies inside us while we live.” The curse of fear has resulted in humans losing their softness and consideration for other beings on earth. The warmth of humanity has perished. “The Large Ant” is a short story about a man named Mr. Morgan who impulsively kills an ant out of fear and without hesitation. In retrospect, Mr. Morgan questions whether it was really necessary to kill the fourteen-inch-long ant which raises an interesting question: Is humanity innately violent, and are we truly incapable of changing that? Mr. Morgan’s impulsive decision to kill the ant proves that he does not think of the consequences of his actions: “I had to look at the ant now, and I realized that I had not truly looked at it before. We don't look carefully at a thing that is horrible or repugnant to us” (Fast 6). This introduces the idea of humans having a fear of the unknown. At the moment, Mr. Morgan acts irrationally and, as a result, comes to the realization that he has fallen prey to the “curse of fear.” The story is centred around the notion that it is human nature to act without thinking as a result of their fear. Mr. Morgan can't even look at the ant because of his shivering fear and disgust for it. The idea of humans being innately violent is so engraved in society that it is carried through generations, but what is not considered, is that it stems from the curse of fear. This so-called “curse” dates back to the times when war was prevalent. I believe that humans are not innately violent, but it is rather learned behaviour. People are brought up with the morals that they grew up with and learned from the generations before them. Even though Fitzgerald believes that we, as humans, are who we are and we can’t change that, I think that society needs to break away from that mindset and make an effort to consider their surroundings before reaching “fight-or-flight mode.” “The Pedestrian” is a short story set in 2053, about a man named Leonard Mead. Leonard goes on nightly walks every day of the year, but what is strange is that he is the only person who ever sets foot outside. Acknowledging the various families consumed by technology as he walks past their homes, he embraces the nature around him while noting what the world has come to.
By using imagery, Ray Bradbury highlights the regression of humanity, contradicting the idea of “advancements” in technology. Ray Bradbury is trying to send the message that technology is threatening the future of humans on the planet. Leonard getting sent to a mental institution for simply walking outdoors to get a breath of fresh air is evidence that people’s mindsets have been ruined as a result of technology. Set in 2157, “The Fun They Had” is a story about the tangible experience that life once was. Tommy and Margie find an old book about school and reflect on how life used to be, in the days before technology replaced human teachers and children used to learn together in school buildings rather than on their own in their homes. Margie finds school extremely bleak, so hearing all these strange facts about the “ancient” school system fascinated her. Margie feels as though she is deprived of all the basic life experiences that youngsters had back in the day. Margie enjoys breaking down what life was like and interacting with her friend Tommy, more so than when she has to return to school, which is merely a TV screen with an automated computer for a teacher. Her enthusiasm proves that she would much rather be in an environment where she is in the presence of people she can relate to and make memories with. Both short stories explore the idea of society being devoured by technology. By providing evidence of the effect that the progression of technology has had on mankind, both texts emphasize the loss of the essence of humanity and the interconnectedness of mankind with the world around us. Through realistic depictions of friend and family relationships, King Lear and the short story "The Winner" thoroughly explore the bonds that connect people. Between the characters in both texts, there is evidence of both strong, open relationships and corrupt, toxic relationships.
The main factor that contributes to people's actions in relationships is their sense of belonging. When people feel acknowledged in a relationship, they will reciprocate the energy through gestures or words. An example of a healthy, mutual relationship in King Lear is that of King Lear and Kent. Kent is a loyal servant to Lear, so he cares about him and is in utter disbelief when Kent is put in the stocks. In "The Winner," Sarah and Pius's relationship parallels that of Lear and Kent. The characters in both texts demonstrate a desire for power while putting on a front. In “The Winner,” Pius’s relatives make it seem as if they are celebrating his accomplishment with him but instead, they take advantage of his personal space and overwhelm him to the point where he leaves his home to be at peace. They have never been present in his life prior to him winning the football pool, which proves that they have just shown up to take advantage of his money and his shamba: “Musisi frowned. “I should warn you, sir, those relatives of yours have made a terrific mess of your shamba—your plantains have been stripped.” ” (Kimenye 7). This desire for power is displayed through dramatic irony in King Lear. Edmund does not feel valued in his relationship with his father because he is the illegitimate son: “Lag of a brother? Why bastard? Wherefore base?” (1,2,6) He plans to get rid of his older brother to gain his father's inheritance. His greed and selfishness lead him to act untowardly just to feel acknowledged. Throughout the play, Goneril and Regan demonstrate a close bond through their secret scheme to usurp Lear’s kingdom after they felt inferior to Cordelia. These people did not feel acknowledged in these relationships which resulted in their wickedness. Unhealthy, toxic relationships stem from the lack of a sense of belonging. The theme of sibling bonds is evident in King Lear through the relationships between King Lear’s daughters and Gloucester's sons, respectively. In his Ted Talk, Jeffery Kluger discusses the bond between siblings, the important role that they play in our lives, and the effect of parental behavior on these relationships.
Healthy sibling relationships serve as the foundation for many other relationships we will encounter throughout our lives. Siblings provide emotional support in times of need, and they relate to you the most because they have shared similar domestic experiences. King Lear’s daughters were raised in a patriarchal era, so the idea of authority made them (Goneril and Regan) greedily ambitious. This meant that they would do anything to obtain power, even if it meant acting immorally. In the TED Talk, Jeffery mentions that studies have shown that the most common trigger for sibling fights is property. Although there are no obvious fights between Lear’s daughters, there is evidence of competitiveness among them when they are asked to express their love for their father when he divides his land. Kluger noted that the middle child tends to fight harder for recognition, which is evident in Regan’s monologue: "I find she names my very deed of love/only she comes too short, that I profess/Myself an enemy to all other joys (1.1.73)." In her attempt to flatter Lear, she makes it sound as though she loves him more than Goneril. Goneril and Regan exaggerate their love for their father, while Cordelia is extremely frank and refuses to "heave her heart in her mouth." King Lear bursts into a fit of rage at this, since "the most common favorite for a father is the last-born daughter" (Kluger). He expected Cordelia to flatter him the most, giving him an excuse to grant her the lion's share of the kingdom. Not only does the way parents treat their children play a huge role in who they grow up to be, but it also determines the strength of sibling bonds. For example, Jeffery shares a story about him and his brothers hiding from their hot-headed father to avoid getting a beating: "We were by no means battered children but we did get hit, and we found it terrifying" (Kluger). Jeffery implies that the physical pain caused by their father wasn’t nearly as traumatic as his behavior. Jeffery and his siblings were able to overcome their struggles, strengthening their bond. Goneril and Regan display the opposite in King Lear. Although they demonstrate a close sisterly bond between themselves, they display no unanimity whatsoever towards Cordelia after she is publicly humiliated and disowned by their father, which is a result of their jealousy. This ties into the idea of parental favoritism. It makes children feel the need to try harder and do everything in their power to get their parents’ recognition. Their envy of their sister drives Goneril and Regan to conspire against their father in order to assume control. In the TED Talk, Jeffery mentions a man named Elliot who struggled with alcoholism, depression, and addiction after being compared to his big brother all his life. In King Lear, Edmund, being the illegitimate son of Gloucestor, feels inferior to his brother because, by law, Edgar will inherit his property. Edmund acts irrationally as a result of his resentment and plots to turn everyone against his brother in order to gain Gloucestor’s inheritance. Goneril, Regan, and Edmund’s actions prove that favoritism influences children's decisions. It is evident that sibling relationships are determined by how they are treated by their parents. The theme of sibling rivalry as a result of poor parenting is seen throughout King Lear. There are several connections between the TED Talk and King Lear; however, the TED Talk focuses on the family dynamic and the siblings' actions in the play raise the question of whether they value family relationships or are just desperate to have authority. |
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January 2023
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