Persuasive Techniques free essay sample

In this book, the society is controlled by an all powerful government that capsizes the people’s brain so that there is no independent thought. Citizens are constantly being watched and monitored while all they can do is support them and pour out hate to the enemy thinking the party is always right. Hope comes to a man named Winston, the protagonist, a lone man who secretly opposes the manipulation of the mind. After the plot unravels, Winston begins to show his opposition against the party. The party controls everything in the society and puts everything the way they want it to be, endlessly reminding people that they need to support their country, Oceania. Using the persuasive techniques of reasons, loaded words, and bandwagon appeal, George Orwell develops his theme that thoughts can be controlled. First, Orwell uses the technique of reasons to develop his theme of thought control. â€Å"Do it to Julia! Do it to Julia! Not me! Julia! I don’t care what you do to her. We will write a custom essay sample on Persuasive Techniques or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Tear her face off, strip her to the bones. Not me! Julia! Not me† (Orwell 286). The party controls people’s minds through extreme torture by inflicting pain and seamlessly scaring them. It makes them become empty like a robot that follows its owner’s commands. O’Brien controls Winston’s mind by showing him a cage full of hungry rats. This last torture makes Winston an empty shell like what O’Brien had wanted all along. Next, thoughts are controlled by reminding citizens that Big Brother is watching them. It makes â€Å"you feel that you constantly need to support the party and push back other thoughts away. This is the â€Å"manipulation of popular feelings and ideas by the mass media†Ã¢â‚¬  (Fitzpatric 248). The party uses war to control people’s thoughts. They use war to distract people from worrying about being poor and â€Å"use up the products of the machine without raising the general standard of living† (Orwell 188). The citizens think the food is being put to good use. This method keeps the citizens from complaining, thus controlling their thoughts. It is clear that Orwell uses the technique of reasons to develop his theme that thoughts can be controlled. Moreover, Orwell uses the technique of loaded words to develop his theme of thoughts being controlled. â€Å"With a tremulous murmur that sounded like â€Å"My Savior! † She extended her arms toward the screen. Then she buried her face in her hands. It was apparent that she was uttering a prayer† (Orwell 16). Citizens are brainwashed and controlled to have deep feelings about Big Brother and that it is everything. Other citizens are also brainwashed the same way because they see others doing this and follow the people around them, â€Å"The horrible thing about 2 Minutes Hate was not that one was obliged to act a part, but that it was impossible to avoid joining in† (Orwell 11). Peer pressure makes people think it is right to do many things. â€Å"Controlling minds and truth is ultimate power. Truth is subordinated to the Party† (Davis 250). Fake history is also created. Citizens will believe anything the Party puts in books. Their minds are too controlled to rebel against the party. Fake enemies are also created. It relieves the citizens’ anger when they are allowed to say anything against them. It is shown that Orwell uses the technique of loaded words to expand his theme of controlling thoughts. Last, Orwell uses the technique of bandwagon appeal to expand his theme of thought control. The party is able to control real life by tormenting people’s minds. â€Å"We bring him over to our side, not in appearance, but genuinely, heart and soul† (Orwell 255). The party puts them in room 101, where the person’s worse fear is encountered. Individuals are also not able to keep records of the past, causing memories to become unreliable as it forces them to believe the party. â€Å"It is impossible to see reality except by looking through the eyes of the party† (Davis 249). In addition, Language is controlled. English is replaced by Newspeak so that no one is able to question the party’s power because there are no words for it. â€Å"Communication will become not the transmission of meaning, but the attempt to avoid meaning† (Ranald 251). It is portrayed that Orwell uses the technique of bandwagon appeal to develop his theme of controlled thought.