1984 Lesson 3 Doublethink PDF

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DOUBLETHINK: KNIHTELBUOD Doublethink, one of the cardinal principles of Ingsoc, is described in the novel as the ability: To know and not to know, to be conscious of complete truthfulness while telling carefully constructed lies, to hold simultaneously two opinions which cancelled out, knowing them to be contradictory and believing in both of them, to use logic against logic, to repudiate morality while laying claim to it, to believe that democracy was impossible and that the Party was the guardian of democracy, to forget whatever it was necessary to forget, then to draw it back into memory again at the moment it was needed, and then promptly to forget it again, and above all to apply the same process to the process itself—that was the ultimate subtlety: consciously to induce unconsciousness, and then, once again, to become unconscious of the act of hypnosis you had just performed. Even to understand the word “doublethink” involved the use of doublethink (Orwell, 35)

Later in the novel, Goldstein’s book makes clear that doublethink is 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 from 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 – all this is indispensably necessary. Even in using the word doublethink it is necessary to exercise doublethink. For by using the word one admits that one is tampering with reality; by a fresh act of doublethink one erases this knowledge; and so on indefinitely, with the lie always one leap ahead of the truth (Orwell, 214)

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Si

In a chart write the key points of each explanation. You do not need to repeat anything that is similar. Why would Orwell write the definitions in this way?

Explanation 1

pg 35

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Explanation 2

pg 214

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GOALS OF THE PARTY (3,3 pg 263 – 266) Summarize what O’Brien says about power? What does the Party want? How do all things exist, according to O’Brien? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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EXAMPLES OF DOUBLE THINK:

At one point in the novel, the telescreen reports demonstrations to thank Big Brother for raising the chocolate ration to twenty grams a week. “And only yesterday, [Winston] reflected, it had been announced that the ration was to be reduced to twenty grams a week. Was it possible that they could swallow that, after only twenty-four hours? Yes, they swallowed it. Parsons swallowed it easily, with the stupidity of an animal. The eyeless creature at the other table swallowed it fanatically, passionately, with a furious desire to track down, denounce, and vaporize anyone who should suggest that last week the ration had been thirty grams. Syme, too—in some more complex way, involving doublethink—Syme swallowed it. Was he, then, alone in the possession of a memory?” (Orwell, 58-59)

1. How do Parsons’, the eyeless creature’s and Syme’s swallowing the lie differ?

2. If Parsons can swallow the lie with “the stupidity of an animal,” how do you account for his chanting, “Down with Big Brother!” in his sleep?

3. Why can Syme doublethink and Winston cannot?

NOW READ THE FOLLOWING SECTIONS ON YOUR OWN AND FILL IN THE CHART BELOW Example Why it is doublethink Winston’s Response Response of Others The statistics about boots in Part 1 Ch 4 (pg 41)

Winston erasing Withers and creating the story about Ogilvy (1, 4 pg 44-47)

Razor blades and other items vs Telescreen information (1,5 pg 49 vs 58)

The picture

of Jones Aaronson and Rutherford (1, 8 pg 79 and 3,2 pg 246 and 3, 4 pg 277) The war with Eurasia and Eastasia (1,3 pg 34 and 2,9 pg 181 and 3,2 pg 246)

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BIGGEST QUESTIONS

1. What are the overall goals of doublethink? Why would the Party want people to double think in each case?

2. Why is doublethink necessary? Isn’t propaganda enough?

3. Why wouldn’t the Party want its citizens to simply forget? Why is it necessary to have the other thought still in mind somewhere?

4. Could the doublethink we see in operation in Oceania be possible? Can you think of a historical example of it? Or, is the doublethinking we see in the book an example of Orwell’s satire? If so, what he is he satirizing?

Are you doublethinker? Consider the following examples. On a scale of 1 – 5, how would you rank the following in terms of evidence of contemporary doublethink? Be prepared to defend your rankings. That’s not at all doublethink! 1

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Example

Brian insists that money can’t buy happiness, but also knows that consumerism keeps our economy strong and buys all the latest gadgets.

Jennifer is a vegetarian—she eats no meat products—but owns a pair of leather shoes.

A British woman firmly believes in the idea of meritocracy but is opposed to the dismantling of the monarchy.

Nicholas sings Creationist hymns at Church but studies evolution at school.

Canada supports Saudi Arabia, who beheads citizens, and fights against ISIS for doing the same thing.

Jim abhors racism and supports affirmative action.

The Canadian government talks about banning the hijab, but makes its priority in Afghanistan a women’s rights. The Ontario government tells teachers to treat students as individuals. It also gives students standardized tests.

Give an example of your own

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Rank

That’s classic doublethink! 4 5

Explanation of Ranking...