Manipulation in 1984

In the novel 1984, the author George Orwell describes what he believes the future will be like. A man named Winston Smith, along with other manipulated people, is living in a dystopian society which is being controlled by a Tyrannized Party in Airstrip One, Oceania. I not only relate to one character but to many of them. I can relate to the people being manipulated in this government. The people of Airstrip One are being manipulated into believing many different events in history, whether they are true or not. This event is significant because it is the whole reason why the government has so much control in this part of Oceania.

The easiest way to be manipulated is at a young age. When I was younger, I was manipulated to believe that there was a Stork, Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, Leprechauns, Unicorns, and Santa Claus and his elves. My parents and teachers manipulated me to believe that they were real. One day, I was misbehaving and my parents used Santa Claus and his stories as a reason for me to behave like a good child or Santa Claus would not give me any presents on Christmas for being naughty.         Of course, as a little girl, I believed everything I heard, therefore it was easier for me to believe that what they were telling me was true. Especially since they are my parents, I had no choice but to believe them since they were older and responsible of me.      Likewise, in the novel 1984, the people have no choice but to believe in the things they were being told by the government or they were vaporized for thought crime, which was having unspoken beliefs or doubts that oppose or question the ruling party. Since the Party was in control of the people, the people couldn't rebel. For Example, I could not rebel against my parents because they were older and thus in charge of me. Speaking up is not an option for the people in Airstrip One, Oceania.

As one will see, the novel 1984 portrays manipulation. Therefore, I can relate to the people in this novel that are being controlled by this Tyrannized Party. Everyone has at least been manipulated once in their life. I feel as though I now have a connection with characters in the novel which helps me to understand what George Orwell is trying to depict in this novel. Manipulation is not always used in a bad way, but in 1984, it is being used in one of the worst way possible.
 ©SamanthaSosnowski