zlacker

Well what was it

>>jncfhn+(OP)
Control, indoctrination, and fear. The books makes a big deal about language and editing history because of how important they are in framing how people think.

The ration increased from 200 units from 15p units without mention that last years ration was 250. You couldn’t trust anyone including friends or family members etc.

But what’s so masterfully done was the realization that the revolution had become a tool for the state.

>>Retric+M
IMO, surveillance is a necessary tool for control and fear. It need not be total surveillance (see e.g. the panopticon), but a belief that you will get caught is needed.

>>Retric+M
But the surveillance was a crucial part of control and indoctrination. Surveillance of the home, never knowing whether or not someone was watching, led Winston Smith, and presumably other citizens, to change their thought patterns. He was literally afraid to have an unapproved thought lest it change detectably his behavior while he was being watched. This was very similar to Soviet-style control where you could never be sure your neighbor wasn’t spying on you.

One big difference, though, is that people in our society generally accept the set of forbidden things.