Examples Of Propaganda In 1984

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Pliable Propaganda & Molding Language
In this day and age, people’s lives are filled with newspapers, comics, books, magazines television, advertisements, radio broadcasts, and more. Most media is needed to understand what is going on in the world around us, but a majority of it is not as genuine as one would think.
In George Orwell’s 1984, a corrupt government called the Party gains total power through propaganda and the manipulation of language. By imposing fear to gain control, the government became dangerous. As long as propaganda and language are around, some forms will always present a danger. These two methods of persuasion have put people in danger in the past, it could put our generation in at risk and potentially pose a threat to …show more content…
This is a substantial issue in the sense that no one can think for themselves because the propaganda is everywhere they turn. The questionable protagonist of 1984, happens to be a member of the Outer Party. His name is Winston Smith, who is not particularly out of the ordinary other than his insight of overthrowing the government. However, the government controls the media which in turn controls the people making it impossible mentally and physically to revolt. Winston writes in a diary, which is an act of rebellion on its own, about “three slogans of the Party: WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.” (p. 3)
The government's use of propaganda is highly effective yet it is unethical and insidious. It is the reason that the government is able to maintain the control. In our lives, the use of media is increasing rapidly which means people are more exposed to propaganda than before. There is the possibility of it presenting a danger at this time if one’s beliefs or opinions are easily swayed by the copious media around them.
Language is important to all. It’s how people and even animals communicate. Societies rely on language because it is how people relate. When language is used to manipulate one’s beliefs, opinions, values or thoughts, it can prompt a threat to a person’s …show more content…
In the end of the book, he is controlled completely by the Party. He hears what they want him to, says anything they tell him to, and he believes whatever they say is right and wrong. When he unconsciously traces that “2+2=5” (p. 259) it is evident that Winston is no longer a free citizen at heart. Within that one formula, Winston does not question instead he accepts that it is no different from 2+2=4. The four fingers presented before Winston could have been whatever that the Party needed and least of all the true evidence.
The formula was used as a way to reject the evidence before Winston’s eyes. The manipulation of language that we also see in 1984 could inflict a great danger upon societies because speech is a fundamental way that people connect. When words are twisted and altered, it can be corrupting.
In the past, propaganda has been capable of swaying people’s opinions and language, when manipulated, can cause someone to accept a concept versus questioning. In the present, we are surrounded by media containing propaganda in many shapes and forms. This year, the election of 2016 shows how language can be used to deceive and form public opinion. In the future, propaganda will continue throughout time as long as the subjects react to the fear it stimulates. Language will only grow into more of a
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