Period Two- The Discussion Continues
Sorry it took so long for this to get up guys, my computer has a major personality disorder and likes to shut the Internet down for long periods of time...
Anyway, here is your question;
What are some of the methods that the Party uses to control the general population? Why do they do this? Is it effective?
posted by EmilyH @ 6:23 PM
16 Comments:
One of the major methods is fear. It is especially utilized through the telescreens. The screens are nearly omniscient, they hear and see all. Nobody knows when they are or are not listening so it is never safe to say anything out of line. Therefore, keeping absolute control over the spread of ideas.
I agree with phillips. I think that a major method the Party uses to control the general population is by targeting emotions, particuarly fear. I think the telescreens obviously target emotions because they are always watching and listening. Another aspect of fear is seen in the Thought Police and even in the children who are members of the Spies. These three things are combined to scare the general public into never misbehaving. The Party does this in order to keep everyone in line and to ensure that no one is against them or plotting against them. This method is clearly effective because, with the exception of Winston and possibly O'Brien, no one challenges their government. Targeting emotions is one major, effective way the Party controls the general public.
The Party also uses its power to manipulate the past to control the people. We talked about this quote in class, but in the book it says that one of the Party's mottos is "Who controls the past controls the future; who controls the present controls the past" (Orwell 35). The Party is able to get the people of Oceania to do what it wants by altering the past. For example, if Oceania is currently allied with Eastasia and at war with Eurasia, they can wipe out any records that say that they were once allied with Eurasia and fighting against Eastasia. By doing this, they can convince the people to support their cause fully and erase any part of the past that does not fit with their present motives. Because of the the fear that the Party uses against the people to control them, the people are too afraid to point out the inaccuracies, and have no way of proving that there are inaccuracies because all the records of what actually occurred in the past have been erased.
Like everyone before me has said, the government uses fear and power to rule the people. My elaboration is that Big Brother instills comfort and a fear in the people, so they know no other way of living. This is good for the government, because it is certain (or almost)that nobody that remains secure will try to stop anything.
The government and Big Brother use fear and hatred to control their people. The two-minute hate is a great example, as are the arrest, whether they are real or not. The two minute hate really brainwashes the people into the government's ideas. The comrades have no choice but to hate the people on the screen because the two minute hate is so arousing. The arrests bring fear to the people because they always know they have to completely agree with the Gov. or they are as good as gone. Both ways are obviously extremely effective considering the government can do what ever they want and have complete control.
Just like what many previous people have said, I think that some methods the Party uses is fear and manipulation. Using the telescreens in their rooms and on the streets, actually pretty much everywhere makes the general population fearfull that the BIg Brother and thoughtpolice are watching them. You never know, there could be no one who watches through the telescreens, but they are there to scare the people so they follow instructions and the laws at all times. Also control them through manipulation such as their uniforms, or jobs, and the ministries.
Also to add on to everything else that as been said, I think that the party uses a method that is like if everyone is doing it then there isn't going to be a person that doesn't follow. Sorry I'm not really sure what a word is for that. There are alot of different methods that are used along with this that you could probably see if we really analized the book.
By control the general population do you mean like control their behavior or control how many people are living? Anyways I'll answer both. They control the population by vaporizing people and having a large percentage of people being "anti-sex" members. They control the general population's behavior by having them all hate and all love the same things. The common enemy is Goldstein and the common savior is Big Brother. Big Brother has a pretty effective method going.
Good question guys.
One method is the telescreens. With these, the party is able to watch anyone and everyone at any given time, without notice. They are also able to hear what is going on.
Another method is just the posters of "Big Brother is Watching You". These posters are a way of controlling the people, because they show that the government is always there watching over your every move. (Creepy!)
Another method is the "Two Minutes Hate". With this, they have everyones attention, and are able to say whatever they want to. They can control the audience by saying certain things. By doing this, they can get the audience riled up and basically determine their feelings towards certain people.
I think that the ways they control the general population is very effective, because they are afraid of what could happen to them if they dont follow the rules. They know that they could be wiped from existence, along with all records, and (as we talked about in class) this is one of the humans' greatest fears. People are afraid of the unknown, and are therefore willing to follow the "norm", and stay conformed like everyone else, to not bring attention to themselves.
I agree with almost everyone. They use fear to keep people in line. Because they knew that if they stepped out of line or crossed the line they would be doomed. Also the government uses hate to prove that they are better then anything else out there (using the Two Minute Hate). The telescreens and Thought Police also kept everyone together because they made sure eveyone was doing what they were supposed to. Everything was kept in order.
I agree with pretty much everyone, so:
- fear: thoughtcrime is death
- war: unite through hate of their enemies
- change the past: Big Brother always looks right
Another way that they control the people by limiting the knowledge of the people. By only allowing them to know certain things, then they won't have the wisdom to know that what is happening may not be the best. If they know that bad things had happened in the past, and Big Brother was incorrect, then they would be able to determine for themselves that Big Brother isn't perfect and that there might be a better thing out there. However, they do not know this, and thus, they think that Big Brother knows best and that all is well.
I agree with adam. The party uses hate to unite the people. And in doing so, the people work as a single body, as if they're one person.
The party uses fear of the goverment. They have no official rules, but if you disobey you die. The party does this because they want to eleminate desenters to keep their power strong. The goverment is a super pyscologist.
I think that the government defintaly uses propaganda. They have all the Big Brother posters for intimidating, and use "Victory" in all the products mentioned so far. Other then that, I don't really have anything else to add because it has been covered.
The party uses the posters that say Big Brother is watching you to somewhat control the people. this puts a little bit of fright in them, enough to make them behave for the most part. Those who don't behave are arrested or hung.
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