Manipulation In 1984

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Most people have very strong beliefs, but lack the confidence to share them. As humans, it is easier to be firm in opinions when there is someone else who feels the same way. Winston always knew in his mind that the Party was publishing false information, but when he meets new characters his theories are confirmed. In Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984, Winston’s view on information control changes and strengthens when he encounters Rutherford and O’Brien, and realises all messages have been altered by the Party.
First and foremost, throughout the book Winston Smith is always more aware of what is going on than the rest of society. Through his job at the Ministry of Truth Winston takes news facts and drops “them into the memory hole to be devoured”
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No matter how hard he tries to overlook the lies of the party, he cannot forget all of the factual statements that he destroyed in the memory hole. Winston can pretend to support Big Brother, and he can say that two …show more content…
Winston is sitting in a cafe one day, and he begins to observe that Rutherford “seemed to be breaking up before one’s eyes, like a mountain crumbling” (Orwell 77). Winston begins to identify the poor development of Rutherford's anatomy. He watches as Rutherford slowly deteriorates and comes to the cafe skinnier, and with a broken nose. By having this visual Winston begins to understand the ability of the Party to ruin the lives of those who catch on to their scheme. While doing his job Winston comes across a picture containing three men, showing them in New York. In their confessions they state that on the same day that picture was taken they were on Eurasian soil. Winston cannot deny the fact that he distinctly remembers that the date the three men confessed to was inaccurate leading him to the realization that “the confessions were lies” (Orwell 78). After reading about the men and Rutherford’s confessions, Winston constructs the belief that the dates in their stories were impossible and that the statements were completely made up. The proclamation that the three men make, illustrates a clear picture alerting Winston that Big Brother truly is controlling every aspect of society. Rutherford forms the missing piece of Winston’s theory, and acts as concrete evidence for the Party’s

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