Similarities between the Brotherhood and the Party

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When O'Brien describes to Winston and Julia how the Brotherhood functions, some of what O'Brien says holds striking similarities to how the Party operates. O'Brien talks about how members of the Brotherhood must be prepared to "corrupt the minds of children" and "distribute habit-forming drugs". The Party, through organizations like the Junior Anti-Sex League and the Spies, already corrupts children to think in a way that aligns with Party ideology. Party members also drink Victory Gin, which, like certain drugs, makes the drinker more cheerful. The effects of the gin may just be caused by its alcohol content, but knowing the lengths the Party goes to to ensure loyalty, I wouldn't put it past the Party to insert drugs into alcohol.

The members of the Brotherhood are also told to obey orders without questioning the reasons behind them, similar to how Party members are expected to accept rewritten records as truth without thinking too deeply about the alterations. Additionally, the Brotherhood occasionally changes the faces and identities of their members to avoid suspicion from the Party, a practice that closely resembles the Party's vaporization. Both cases involve erasing all traces of a person's existence and pretending that they never existed.

Are there any similarities that I missed? Why do you think the Brotherhood is so similar to the Party? Comment below!  

Comments

  1. L. MoffittMarch 9, 2021 at 7:54 AM

    I kind of think possibly the Brotherhood is fake -- created by the Party. O'Brien says he even wrote part of The Book. There goes that hope.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mayahuel MalikMarch 9, 2021 at 7:55 AM

    i think because the brotherhood is made up of some ex party members, they use the same tactics because they know they will work/its all they know.

    ReplyDelete

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