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Memories and the Present - 1984 by George Orwell

            Society develops from past experience to improve on previous mistakes in order to continue to move forward. Memories are extremely valuable in this process as they serve as a reminder of what has and has not worked in the past. However, the distortion of memories and past experience through propaganda allows society to dictate the direction that it and its pupils will move forward. In doing so, a dictatorship in a fascist society can succeed. Aggressive nationalism is a result of a fascist society as the government oppresses its people into doing what it wants. This allows for a government to maintain complete control as they suppress any kind of rebellion with their dominant presence, which is often achieved through scaring the public with military force. This essentially describes the society that is found in Airstrip One in Oceania in the novel 1984 by George Orwell. The Big Brother is the dictator in the fascist dictatorship and he is the figure the government uses to spread their aggressive propaganda. Goldstein is the rebellious figure who is secretly attempting to discredit the government to shed light on the morally skewed society. The novel follows this protagonist as he is determined to expose the lack of individuality in society. In the novel 1984, the first half of the book describes the life of protagonist Winston Smith, and his job of erasing, and rewriting history to make sure his dictator, Big Brother is always correct. A second example of the significance of memories in this novel is that without memory, the Party is able to control history. By controlling the past, the Party also controls the present. A third and final example of the importance of memories is that the Party forbids its members to keep written records of their lives, and mandates that any photographs or documents be destroyed. As Orwell stated in this novel that "Those who control the present, control the past, thus controlling the future.


Essays Related to Memories and the Present - 1984 by George Orwell

1. 1984

This is the same set-up George Orwell used in his novel, 1984. ... In 1984, George Orwell uses metaphors to express the theme that a totalitarian government strips people of the very thing that makes us humans, the right to be one. ... Who controls the present controls the past." ... When Winston is arrested by the Thought Police, the paperweight shatters, foreshadowing the soon to come shatter of all Winston's memories of the past. So, as demonstrated by George Orwell's 1984, a totalitarian government does nothing but stop human progression, and turns it into the progression of...

  • Word Count: 455
  • Approx Pages: 2
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Analysis of George Orwell's 1984

1984 is a classic dystopian novel published in 1949 by George Orwell that has influenced generations of writers and thinkers. ... Throughout this essay I will be dwelling into the various ways that Orwell depicts these concepts within his book 1984. 1984 is one of Orwell's best made novels, and it remains one of the most powerful warnings ever issued against the dangers of a totalitarian society. ... In George Orwell's 1984 there exists a very interesting dynamic where all the answers are essentially provided to the masses, a good example would be how history is tailored to fit the n...

  • Word Count: 3080
  • Approx Pages: 12
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

3. 1984 Research Paper

The goal of this paper is to analyze the book 1984 by George Orwell. 1984 is about life with no personal freedoms. ... Winston is obsessed with the past, a time before what became present day Oceania. ... In 1984, the memory of individuals is effectively manipulated, programmed, and controlled from the outside by the party (Kolakowski 127). ... These are the same reasons why Orwell wrote 1984. ... Julia is considered a sexual deviant in the oppressed world of 1984. ...

  • Word Count: 2433
  • Approx Pages: 10
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

4. 1984

Tyrants, Communism, Big Brother, Stalin, and 1984 In George Orwell's, "1984", no individual freedoms are present. ... The note said, "I love you"(Orwell 90). ... In 1984, "the memory of individuals, is effectively manipulated, programmed, and controlled from the outside by the party" (Kolakowski 127). ... Like Winston, I believe George Orwell wrote "1984" in order to allow a communist country to be revealed, the Soviet Union. ... The actual purpose of the Ministry of Truth is to spread lies and to have control over its citizens using memory-erasing techniques. "...The distinction between ...

  • Word Count: 2496
  • Approx Pages: 10
  • Grade Level: High School

5. 1984

1984, George Orwell, New American Library a division of Penguin Putnam inc., New York, New York, Copyright 1949, 272 pages, fiction. "Big Brother," a symbol that represents the 1984 government in Oceania (what used to be England) has absolute power over its citizens, and even monitors thoughts. ... It is worthwhile because it would be fun to predict the future and make up obscene fantasies about what you think it could be like based on how things are at the present. ... Another connection with this course is the loss of memory that occurs in all of the citizens. ... He knows a lot about commun...

  • Word Count: 1088
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

6. 1984

1984, George Orwell, New American Library a division of Penguin Putnam inc., New York, New York, Copyright 1949, 272 pages, fiction. "Big Brother," a symbol that represents the 1984 government in Oceania (what used to be England) has absolute power over its citizens, and even monitors thoughts. ... It is worthwhile because it would be fun to predict the future and make up obscene fantasies about what you think it could be like based on how things are at the present. ... Another connection with this course is the loss of memory that occurs in all of the citizens. ... He knows a lot about ...

  • Word Count: 1148
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Violence, Censorship and Intimidation in 1984

George Orwell's full name is Eric Arthur Blair (Ms. ... In 1949, he published 1984. ... George Orwell's novel titled 1984 shows the dangers of a totalitarian regime through the usage of violence, censorship, and intimidation as their major methods of control.  To begin with, 1984 has an abundant amount of violence. ... The third example of censorship that is present within the novel is the memory holes. ...

  • Word Count: 1517
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Interpreting 1984

In George Orwell's novel 1984 the Party of Oceania is able to control several things that we may think impossible to control. ... As a result, memories become fuzzy and unreliable, and citizens become perfectly willing to believe whatever the Party tells them. ... One of Orwell's important messages in 1984 is that language is important to human thought because it structures and limits the ideas that individuals are capable of expressing. ... In essence, 1984 is similar to today's government. ... In conclusion, 1984 is similar to our government today. ...

  • Word Count: 1166
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

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