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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

... of his childhood when such a thing was used and its beauty appreciated. "Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past." The party has made things of the past and things of simple beauty become meaningless. 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 a species of one ... ...

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

2. George Orwell

... be published pseudonymously. I have no reputation that is lost by doing this and if the book has any kind of success I can always use this pseudonym again."" ("Orwell- 2) The book was published as, Down and Out in Paris and London, in 1933 by the House of Gollancz. Eric Blair was now officially known in the world as George Orwell. Down and Out in Paris and London, is not a novel; it is a kind of ... to 20 g a week. Winston wonders whether he's the only person with memory, that isn't inflicted by Doublethink. ("Summary of 1984-4) By far the most important of the things that are clearly d...

  • Word Count: 8146
  • Approx Pages: 33
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

3. 1984 - Relations Of Totalitarianism

... though George Orwell's mind-numbing novel 1984 was written in 1929, he accurately predicted some societies outcome of a totalitarianism government. In the book 1984, Winston Smith, a low member of the ruling party, lived and matured with the concept of a totalitarian government. The same totalitarian concept took place in Fascist Italy under the ruling of Benito Mussolini in the early 1900"s. Mussolini and Orwell's concepts and ideas intertwined in imagination. They both had the same notion, Orwell's 1984 ... completely rewritten to alter time. Records of pictures and memories were all ...

  • Word Count: 1015
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Has Bibliography

4. Power and Gender in George Orwell's 1984

The classic novel "1984", by George Orwell, successfully explores issues of power and gender using allegory. Orwell strongly communicates these issues through the characters of Winston and Julia as well as through the structure of the Three Parties. He uses irony to give the reader a better understanding of who, in his fictional world, holds the power. The main theme of "1984" is power and Orwell digs deeply into the exploitation, struggles and abuses committed by those who possess it. In the ... too large for indoor display had been tacked to the Winston made for the stairs it was no use tryi...

  • Word Count: 1604
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Ubiquitous Presence Of Government In 1984

... all evidence of what they have said before. ""Who controls the past controls the future; who controls the present controls the past,"-In memory. Very well, then. We, the Party, control all records, and we control all memories. Then we control the past, do we not?""(204-205). This shows that the government in 1984 has control over what the public knows and believes because there isn't any proof of anything different because ... each other was as "comrade". ""Oh Comrade," she began It was Mrs. Parsons, the wife of a neighbor on the same floor. ("Mrs." was a word somewhat discountenanced b...

  • Word Count: 823
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • 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. Winston Smith hates this and attempts rebellion with his love, Julia, and the Brotherhood, but is simply tricked by O"Brien, an inner party member. The ... 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 ar...

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

7. Comparing and Contrast - The Play Crucible and Novel 1984

... , at great personal cost, where their loyalty lies. During the time of mistrust and hostility between USA and USSR, Senator Joseph McCarthy chaired a committee to rid of the Communists from the United States government and its nation. Mc Carthy alleged that the United States government departments were infiltrated by the communists and this made him start a campaign against them. During this ... painful shocks, O"Brien tells Winston, "Who controls the past 'controls the future: who controls the present controls the past'". The Party has complete control over the population in the presen...

  • Word Count: 2628
  • Approx Pages: 11
  • Grade Level: High School

8. 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. Winston Smith hates this and attempts rebellion with his love, Julia, and the Brotherhood, but is simply tricked by O"Brien, an inner party member. The ... 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 ar...

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

9. Crucible / 1984 Compare and Contrast

... , at great personal cost, where their loyalty lies. During the time of mistrust and hostility between USA and USSR, Senator Joseph McCarthy chaired a committee to rid of the Communists from the United States government and its nation. Mc Carthy alleged that the United States government departments were infiltrated by the communists and this made him start a campaign against them. During this ... painful shocks, O"Brien tells Winston, "Who controls the past 'controls the future: who controls the present controls the past'". The Party has complete control over the population in the presen...

  • Word Count: 2648
  • Approx Pages: 11
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

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