Totalitarianism Through Newspeak and Doublethink: An Evaluation Through George Orwell's 1984

Abstract

Dictatorship, loss of privacy and cognitive control can result solely from the usage and control of language. The Scandinavian Realists' recognize 'wordmagic', the inherent power of words to influence action. Doublethink goes further. It restricts expression, perception and thinking- it is propaganda. This paper examines the society and underlying themes in George Orwell’s novel “Nineteen Eighty-Four”, comparing it with politics today. The emphasis is on totalitarianism and control of the mind through linguistic and ideological control: Newspeak and Doublethink. It looks at how limiting the scope of language can lead to a dictatorship. Sources include the book itself and secondary sources.