Lawrence Wong, Rayna Basa

Mann

Block 2

22 September 2017

1984 Open Q Outline

Prompt:

In some works of literature, memory and the past play a central role in defining characters and

the setting. Focusing on George Orwells 1984, discuss the significance of memory and the past

to the meaning of the work as a whole.

Thesis:

In 1984, Orwell warns his audience of the detrimental effects a complete totalitarianism rule can

have when controlling society, as the government must perform inhumane acts such as altering

peoples memory and the past to effectively establish its supremacy.

Sub-claims:

1. In an effort to control society, the Inner Party governs the past, the present, and the future

by destroying, creating, or altering false historic events [and all other sources of

information].

a. Evidence: Winstons job is to destroy records and make new, fake records.

b. Evidence: Who controls the past, controls the present. Who controls the present,

controls the future.

2. By enforcing its people to not keep any records of their daily lives, like a journal, the

government controls the memories of the people themselves; by manipulating memory,

the Party is able to make them believe anything as their memory is unreliable.

a. Evidence: doublethink, everyone easily believes that Oceania has always been

fighting one enemy be it Eurasia or Eastasia.

3. Complete totalitarianism includes exhibiting complete control over the minds of the

subjects. Nothing is off limits in this society.

a. Evidence: 2+2=5.

b. Evidence: Room 101 and torture in general.

4. It is physically and mentally impossible to successfully rebel against Big Brother.

a. Evidence: The proles dont have enough to eat so they have no reason to fight

against oppression. Theres no time to contemplate the past if you are starving

now.

b. Evidence: Winston and Julia attempt to rebel against Big Brother which only

results in them being reduced to humans lacking a psyche.