Download Theme of Repression

Theme of Repression
Analysing repression in ‘1984’ and how it
is seen to link to Winston and supply an
overall foundation for Orwell’s audience.
Resource 23: Theme of Repression
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Theme of Repression
1. What does the term repression mean?
The action of restraining or preventing someone from
feeling or remembering something.
Repression can be exercised in the form of repressing
thoughts or feelings.
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Examples of Repression
The aim of the Party was not merely to prevent men and
women from forming loyalties which it might not be able
to control. Its real, undeclared purpose was to remove all
pleasure from the sexual act. Not love so much as
eroticism was the enemy, inside marriage as well as
outside it. All marriages between Party members had to
be approved by a committee appointed for the purpose,
and—though the principle was never clearly stated—
permission was always refused if the couple concerned
gave the impression of being physically attracted to one
another. The only organized purpose of marriage was to
beget children for the service of the Party.
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Examples of Repression
Sexual intercourse was to be looked on as a slightly
disgusting minor operation, like having an enema. This again
was never put into plain words, but in an indirect way it was
rubbed into every Party member from childhood onwards.
There were even organizations such
as the Junior Anti-Sex League, which advocated complete
celibacy for both sexes. All children were to be begotten by
artificial insemination (ARTSEM, it was called in Newspeak)
and brought up in public institutions. This, Winston was aware,
was not meant altogether seriously, but somehow it fitted in
with the general ideology of the Party. The Party was trying to
kill the sex instinct, or, if it could not be killed, then to distort it
and dirty it. He did not know why this was so, but it seemed
natural that it should be so. And as far as the women were
concerned, the Party’s efforts were largely successful
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Examples of Repression
The women of the Party were all alike. Chastity was as deep
ingrained in them as Party loyalty. By careful early
conditioning, by games and cold water, by the rubbish that
was dinned into them at school and in the Spies and the Youth
League, by lectures, parades, songs, slogans, and martial
music, the natural feeling had been driven out of them. His
reason told him that there must be exceptions, but his heart
did not believe it. They were all impregnable, as the Party
intended that they should be. And
what he wanted, more even than to be loved, was to break
down that wall of virtue, even if it were only once in his whole
life. The sexual act, successfully performed, was rebellion.
Desire was thoughtcrime. Even to have awakened Katharine,
if he could have achieved it, would have been like a
seduction, although she was his wife.
Resource 23: Theme of Repression
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What do these examples show?
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Success in exercising Repression
The aim of the Party was not merely to prevent men and women from
forming loyalties which it might not be able to control. Its real,
undeclared purpose was to remove all pleasure from the sexual act.
Not love so much as eroticism was the enemy, inside marriage as well
as outside it. All marriages between Party members had to be
approved by a committee appointed for the purpose, and—though the
principle was never clearly stated—permission was always refused if
the couple concerned gave the impression of being physically
attracted to one another. The only organized purpose of marriage was
to beget children for the service of the Party.
Resource 23: Theme of Repression
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Success in exercising Repression
Sexual intercourse was to be looked on as a slightly disgusting
minor operation, like having an enema. This again was never
put into plain words, but in an indirect way it was rubbed into
every Party member from childhood onwards. There were even
organizations such
as the Junior Anti-Sex League, which advocated complete
celibacy for both sexes. All children were to be begotten by
artificial insemination (ARTSEM, it was called in Newspeak) and
brought up in public institutions. This, Winston was aware, was
not meant altogether seriously, but somehow it fitted in with the
general ideology of the Party. The Party was trying to kill the sex
instinct, or, if it could not be killed, then to distort it and dirty it.
He did not know why this was so, but it seemed natural that it
should be so. And as far as the women were concerned, the
Party’s efforts were largely successful
Resource 23: Theme of Repression
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Success in exercising Repression
The women of the Party were all alike. Chastity was as deep
ingrained in them as Party loyalty. By careful early conditioning,
by games and cold water, by the rubbish that was dinned into
them at school and in the Spies and the Youth League, by
lectures, parades, songs, slogans, and martial music, the natural
feeling had been driven out of them. His reason told him that
there must be exceptions, but his heart did not believe it. They
were all impregnable, as the Party intended that they should be.
And
what he wanted, more even than to be loved, was to break
down that wall of virtue, even if it were only once in his whole
life. The sexual act, successfully performed, was rebellion. Desire
was thoughtcrime. Even to have awakened Katharine, if he
could have achieved it, would have been like a seduction,
although she was his wife.
Resource 23: Theme of Repression
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What do these examples show?
Resource 23: Theme of Repression
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4. Why do you believe the Party allows marriage if
they forbid desire?
The sole purpose of marriage is to have children.
Encouraging desire or love would endanger the Party
by directing people's loyalties away from the
government.
5. Why does the Party view sex as dangerous and
antithetical to its power?
Sex creates private loyalties and the Party must
control these social acts and constructs. Desire, love,
elation, jealousy and hatred are all strong emotions
that can stem from a sexual relationship. All these
emotions could prove more powerful than a duty to
the Party, which is why sex is seen as such a threat.
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6. Why does the Party allow these desires to flow freely among
the proles to the extent of supplying them with pornographic
material?
The proles outnumber the Inner Party members and so could
easily overpower the Party if they chose to. The Part
successfully disables their power by allowing the, a steady
standard of living which includes pornography, music, films
and alcohol. Although they do not live in comfort they are
given just enough to ensure they never contemplate rebellion.
7. What do you think the Party’s aim is in repressing sexual
desire?
A successful totalitarian regime. This cannot be if private
loyalties are formed as it will trump loyalty to the Party.
Furthermore, it creates a mass of people who do not feel
and are therefore dehumanized. This stripping away of
emotions ensures successful manipulation and control. It
all links together!
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8. How is Winston seen to be different and
somewhat rebellious towards the restrictions of
the Party concerning sexual activity?
Winston questions the Party’s actions
Winston does not repress his emotions; he
wants to be loved, he wants to act on his
desires
His varicose ulcer is a symbol of Winston’s
sexual repression. As you read the novel take
notice the time his ulcer begins to itch, the
detail he uses to explain how it feels.
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Class Discussion
What are your ideas on the following
quote:
So far, sexual repression is the Party’s most potent
tool of power and control.
Do you agree or disagree?
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