My Book Review > George Orwell: 1984

The key insight that animates this book is that the interest of the oligarchy runs contrary to the existence of a wealthy and educated society. In their quest for power over the people, oligarchs (the privileged minority) and ‘the(ir) party’ must oppose sciences and education in order to impose ‘alternative truths’ (‘Doublethink’). In so doing, they will suppress any opposition, control the society, and install a permanent dictatorship. In other words, alternative truth is the ultimate means of eradicating freedom of thought and democracy. Alternative truth (or ‘Doublethink’) is the basis of Orwell’s dystopian society. “Doublethink means the power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one’s mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them. (-) To tell deliberate lies while genuinely believing in them, to forget any fact that has become inconvenient, and then, when it becomes necessary again, to draw it back oblivion for just as long as it is needed, to deny the existence of objective reality and all the while to take account of the reality which one denies”. Actually, an alternative truth is a blatant lie! It is used to manipulate public opinion and is no more than a despicable means of holding onto power. “Power is not a means; it is an end. One does not establish a dictatorship in order to safeguard a revolution; one makes a revolution in order to establish the dictatorship”. “Power is power over human beings. Over the body, but above all over the mind”. “Power is collective. The individual only has power in so far he ceases to be an individual. You know the Party slogan: ‘Freedom is Slavery’“… “How does one man assert his power over another? (-) By making him suffer. Obedience is not enough. Unless he is suffering, how can you be sure that he is obeying your will and not his own? Power is in inflicting pain and humiliation. Power is in tearing human minds to pieces and putting them together again in new shapes of your own choosing”. Kacey Kells, Feb. 16, 2017