The Alchemist: Blog 4

"Love is the falcon's flight over your sands" (Coelho 144).

Santiago explains the meaning of love to the desert because the desert claims it has not experienced such emotion.  The desert notices that "the falcon nourishes man ... man will nourish [the] sands, where the game will once again flourish (145).  The game is similar to survival.  The falcon roams across the desert in order to search for necessities, similar to men crossing the desert in search for treasures.  Some fail their journeys, which over time causes their bodies to disintegrate into the desert.  They become one with the desert, allowing the desert to possess them.  Looking at the specific possessive diction with the word "your", love corresponds with possession.  Coelho incorporates love and the possessive word "your" together to show that the desert has love. In correspondence, the action of flying across the desert demonstrates Santiago's journey from Spain to the pyramids.  His trek causes him to discover new aspects of life that he has never experienced, such as love.  Therefore, the desert has always had love.  Since Santiago spent most of his journey in the desert, he was going to end up experiencing love sooner or later.

The Alchemist: Blog 3

"If you have to wait until the war is over, then wait.  But if you have to go before then, go on in pursuit of your dream.  The dunes are changed by the wind, but the desert never changes.  That's the way it will be with our love for each other" (Coelho 97).

Fatima lays out two possible options for Santiago, similar to the two different roads depicted in the poem The Road Not Taken.  Santiago has to make the decision whether to embark on his Personal Legend or to be with Fatima.  Fatima explains that whichever option Santiago chooses, she will not be disappointed.  The analogy between the dunes and the desert parallels Santiago's exploration.  The dunes represent their relationship because if he chooses to embark on his Personal Legend, the wind will end up changing their relationship.  The desert never changes, signifying love will exist between them no matter what because Santiago believes the "language that everyone [is] capable of understanding ... [is] love" (92).  Even though they have just met, Santiago instantaneously conjures affection for Fatima, and she demonstrates the same affection towards him.  Their hasty affections for one another show Santiago's progression in finding his Personal Legend.  Finding Fatima could symbolize Santiago's true journey, not to find the riches of the pyramids, but rather to rise up from the difficult times in his life.

The Alchemist: Blog 2

"The language of enthusiasm, of things accomplished with love and purpose, and as part of a search for something believed in and desired" (Coelho 62).

Looking at the syntax of this sentence, Coelho utilizes a simplistic tone in order to convey Santiago's complex journey.  Santiago's desire is to travel.  He encounters many simple obstacles along the way, each adding up to intensify the journey's complexity.  At this moment, Santiago realizes that enthusiasm is a language that everyone can understand.  In a literal sense, he does not have to worry about the different types of dialects he will encounter on his journey to Egypt.  In a figurative sense, it could be looking for a passion in life and truly being passionate about that subject.  In Santiago's case, it is his personal legend to travel.  In general, the language of enthusiasm parallels to religion.  People have different beliefs on religion, but they can all understand a core concept in their of similar beliefs.

The Alchemist: Blog 1

"The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world,and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon" (Coelho 32).

The wise man enlightens the boy about his surroundings. People end up focusing on a single aspect of life, neglecting the other aspects around them. Some people spend their lives not looking at others' perspectives, resulting in one view of life. In the movie, Click, Adam Sandler focuses on his job and receiving a promotion. His lack in perception symbolizes the drops of oil that he truly focuses on, in order to achieve success. By focusing too much on his drops of oil, he misses the marvels of the world. In the movie, he fast-forwards through life, receiving his promotion, but in return missing out on life. He realizes that he should have focused on his family instead of his promotion. Now, he realizes both aspects of his life, holding onto both, without forgetting their significance.

Iago and Desdemona's Juxtaposition

Richard Pho

Mr. George

Honors World Literature

2 December 2010

The Battle of Good vs. Evil

            Shakespeare has created a clash between right and wrong.  The play, The Tragedy of Othello, The Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare, depicts the tragic downfall of a noble moor known as Othello.  Othello faces several obstacles that seem to increase his rage, changing his personality from sane to insane.  His faithful wife, Desdemona, and his “honest” nobleman, Iago, physically represent conflicting pieces of evidence over the course of the play.  Desdemona and Iago’s conflicting beliefs demonstrate their juxtaposing personalities.  Since these two characters resemble foils of one another, they enhance the tragedy through the overarching theme of good versus evil.

            Desdemona and Iago introduce their conflicting personalities towards Othello.  Iago represents the embodiment of evil, while Desdemona represents the embodiment of good.  Iago motivationally desires to do wrong to many characters in the play by lying, scheming, and creating chaos.  On the other hand, Desdemona is described to be “one that excels the quirks of blazoning pens” (Shakespeare 2.1.69).  She appears faultless, pure, and meek.  These two characters symbolize the battle between good and evil.  The play not only demonstrates this conflict as physical, but also mental and emotional.  Physically, Othello demonstrates superb skills in fighting off his enemies.  Mentally, Othello struggles with both Desdemona and Iago’s claims.  Emotionally, Othello questions the validity of his marriage.  The reoccurring theme of good versus evil prolongs as these two characters influence their lord.  As Othello goes through his journey of discovering the truth, he enters fog as his search to ascertain the truth is clouded.

            In regards to Othello, Desdemona and Iago coincide with their varying degrees of truth.  Clouded by anger because of the perception that his wife is cheating on him, Othello believes Iago’s deceitful statement: “But this denoted a foregone conclusion. / ‘Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream” (3.3.486-487).  Iago claims he heard Cassio talking about his affection for Desdemona.  Even though Othello recognizes the purity in his wife, he cannot fathom Iago to be accurate.  Through manipulation, Iago takes every opportunity where Othello is vulnerable enough to implant the seed of Iago’s plan.  Othello is blinded by the truth, only looking at what is presented in front of him at the moment.  Those few moments unleashed Othello’s inner beast.  Othello’s change in sanity causes him to slowly release his grasp from his lovely wife.  Although Iago manipulates Othello, Othello still struggles to understand the truth as he sees Desdemona’s point of view.  She has never acted in a way to upset Othello.  She defies Brabantio and every other suitor of Venice.  She solely chooses a former black slave to be her husband.  Desdemona’s loyalty to Othello flusters him to determine the truth.  Othello “think[s] [his] wife be honest and think[s] she is not” (3.3.439).  Othello trusts his wife, but after his talk with Iago, Othello has some doubt.  Even with that instance, Othello is persuaded into the tragedy of the play.

            In addition to Othello’s confusion, Desdemona and Iago respond to Othello’s questions in unique manners.  Whenever Othello inquires information from Desdemona, she appears perplexed as if she does not know what to say.  In the end, Othello accuses his wife of committing sins.  Desdemona pleas to “say one [more] prayer!” (5.2.104). Throughout the play, Desdemona’s naivety shows how she does not think about these scenarios.  She cannot fathom what Othello is saying because she does not understand that Iago is manipulating her husband.  In contrast, whenever Othello questions Iago, Iago appears stealthy enough to answer Othello.  Iago is always one step ahead of Othello.  When Othello interrogates Iago about Desdemona’s disloyalty, Iago instantly states that he heard Cassio say “sweet Desdemona, / let us be wary” (3.3.475-476).  Iago takes every opportunity to incorporate another aspect of manipulation.  Iago always knows what to say to Othello.  Desdemona and Iago’s converse approaches highlight their differences.

            Even though Desdemona demonstrates affection towards her husband, the honor and loyalty Desdemona and Iago exhibit are different from one another.  Throughout the whole play, Desdemona has been nothing but faithful and honest towards her husband.  When Othello is enraged at his wife’s supposed affair, she simply responds by “ not stay[ing] to offend [him]” (4.1.277).  Desdemona has no idea for the reason of her husband’s rage, but it does not matter in her eyes.  She remains true to him from their elopement to her last words before dying: “Nobody. I myself, Farewell” (5.2.152).  She does not blame anybody for her death, as if it was her fate to die.  Even as she is dying, she remains loyal to her love with Othello.  Knowing that Othello is blinded from the truth, he believes Iago demonstrates more honor and loyalty than Desdemona.  Desdemona and Iago differ on who truly wields honor and loyalty.  Desdemona has those characteristics, but she does not display them. In contrast, Iago does not have those characteristics, but he purports to have them.  At Othello’s marriage celebration, Othello congratulates Iago for his honor and loyalty: “Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter” (2.3.263).  Through Iago’s manipulation, Othello believes Iago is more honest and loyal than Desdemona.

             Shakespeare implements Desdemona and Iago as contrasting personas of innocence and guilt.  Iago causes Othello to believe that Desdemona is having an affair with Michael Cassio.  He does this by revealing ocular and verbal proof, as Bianca introduces Othello’s missing handkerchief: “What did / you mean by the same handkerchief you gave me” (4.1.167-168).  That handkerchief is a symbol of Othello’s marriage with Desdemona.  The moment he had that ocular proof, he determined that his wife was guilty and that Iago must be telling the truth.  This is spurious because the guiltiest person is Iago, due to his lying and scheming.  Iago embodies this guileful character, as no character suspects him to be cynical until the end of the play.  His depravity causes many innocent people to encounter their demise.  In Desdemona’s case, she has been the most innocent character in the play. She simply tries to keep her husband sane, only to be trumped by Iago’s manipulation.  She is described to be virtuous.  When she talks to Emilia about adultery, Desdemona is shocked that “there be women [who] abuse their husbands / In such gross kind?” (4.3.68-69). Desdemona does not suspect society to contain people with those characteristics.  Her innocence demonstrates her belief that women should only be loyal to their husbands.  Desdemona does not exhibit any faults or sins because she is the epitome of purity.

            Finally, these two characters differ in the morals they present.  Desdemona expresses the ideal of Christian virtue.  She exhibits excellent values of faith, hope, charity, and love.  Throughout the play, she remains true to her love with Othello, no matter the circumstances.  Since she is the epitome of Christian virtue, she believes everything happens for a reason.  She is the type of character that lives life the way nature intended it to be.  On the other hand, Iago desires revenge and holds a grudge towards people in the play.  From the beginning, he disdains Othello for not promoting him and choosing Cassio because Cassio is a better strategist.  This is ironic because the whole play demonstrates Iago strategizing ways to get his revenge.  Iago “will wear [his] heart upon [his] sleeve / for daws to pick at” (1.1.70-71).  There will come a day where Iago makes himself vulnerable; he will do everything in his power to get what he wants, no matter what the cost is.

            Although Desdemona and Iago both shape Othello’s decisions in the play, these two characters embody contrasting concepts of good and evil.  Desdemona represents the good in nature, while Iago exhibits the forces of evil.  Through the actions of honor, loyalty, morals, friendship, and truth, Desdemona and Iago clash while trying to persuade Othello.  One character makes the other pronounced by fighting for the trust of Othello.  Without their juxtaposition, Othello would not have to choose which truth is valid.

Character Analysis: Emilia

Richard Pho

Mr. George

Honors World Literature

1 December 2010

Character Analysis

Emilia, a cynical but faithful wife to Iago, deteriorates from her sphere of domesticity, showing her true loyalty to her mistress than her husband.

As the play progresses, Emilia succumbs to the faults made by her husband, causing her to break free from the traditional role of women.  Emilia acts as the guileful wife, paralleling to the actions of Iago.  When Othello desires answers about Desdemona, Emilia explains that she never "heard, nor ever did suspect" relations between Desdemona and Cassio (4.2.2).  Even though Emilia recognizes the truth, she fulfills her duties by fostering Iago's ideas.  Desdemona's death sparks Emilia to emerge as her true self.  Finally, Emilia expresses her own beliefs: "I will not charm my tongue.  I am bound to speak. / My mistress here lies murdered in her bed" (5.2.220-221). Talking back to her husband breaks the standards related to a marital couple.  She proclaims true loyalty to Desdemona, rather than Iago.  Her act of rebellion sets her free to express her own personality.

Emilia resembles the Farival Twins from The Awakening by Kate Chopin.  The Farival Twins embody society's expectations of how women should act.  The fact that they are twins demonstrates that every woman is a duplicate of one another.  In the beginning of the play, Emilia expresses the characteristics of the ideal woman, remaining loyal to her husband no matter what the circumstances are.  In the end, Emilia defies the Farival Twins as she breaks free from society's standards by speaking up for herself.

In The Wizard of Oz, the wizard feels the need to fulfill his expectations of being dark and powerful, when he really is overpowered by society's pressures just like Emilia.

Othello Quote Log: Act 5 Scene 2

"Twill out, 'twill out.  I peace? / No, I will speak as liberal as the north. / Let heaven and men and devils, let them all, / All, all cry shame against me, yet I'll speak" (5.2.260-263).

Emilia is sarcastically amused by her husband's remarks.  Iago tells her to keep her mouth shut.  Emilia rants that  anyone other than her husband can keep her bottled up about the truth.  Emilia has had enough keeping secrets from the world.  Continuing Iago's cynical plans has taken a toll to Emilia.  A reoccurring theme of loyalty in a relationship has changed when Emilia goes against her husband's wishes.  During this time century, women were defined to fulfill their traditional roles of obedience in their spheres of domesticity.  Emilia decides to defy those exceptions, showing her true loyalty towards Desdemona, rather than her husband.

Othello Quote Log: Act 4 Scene 3

"But for the whole world - <'Uds pity!> Who / would not make her husband a cuckold to make / him a monarch?  I should venture purgatory for 't" (4.3.85-87).

Emilia and Desdemona dispute their conflicting beliefs upon the faithfulness of women.  Emilia does not understand why Desdemona would not take an opportunity to help her husband achieve glory by cheating on him.  Emilia and Desdemona are complete foils of one another.  Emilia displays characteristics similar to her husband, being deceitful and unmoral.  Desdemona stay true to the sentimental value of faith and honesty.  Emilia subtly hints that she would do anything to get her husband power, which she has by helping Iago with his cynical plan.  Emilia is also faithful to Desdemona, and Desdemona expresses pure characteristics that maybe rubbing off on Emilia.  Their conversation might allow Emilia see the unethical ways of her husband.

Othello Quote Log: Act 4 Scene 2

"Unkindness may / do much, / And his unkindness may defeat my life, / But never taint my love" (4.2.187-190).

Desdemona exploits her emotions to Emilia and Iago.  Othello's verbal abuse seems to affect Desdemona emotionally and physically.  Although Othello is unkind to her, Desdemona stays true to the love with her husband.  This is the peak in Desdemona's loyalty and affection towards Othello.  Even though she is baffled by her husband's behavior, she disregards the meaning of his comments.  Rather, she holds on to their love to aid her through their rough patch.  Desdemona may not know the reason why Othello is mad at her, but the situation does not matter to her.  Desdemona and Emilia are both loyal to their husbands, but the contrast in their intentions.  Desdemona defends her marriage over Othello's incomprehensible jealousy, while Emilia obeys her husband, no matter if his intentions are cynical.

Othello Quote Log: Act 4 Scene 1

"This is some minx's token, and I must / take out the work!  There, give it your hobby-horse. / Wheresoever you had it, I''ll take out on work on 't" (4.1.172-174).

Bianca rampages to her love, Cassio, about her disdain towards the handkerchief.  Clearly, her tone is anger.  Negating all the negative comments, Bianca scolds Cassio for interfering with the love of another couple because she notices that the handkerchief has sentimental value to another pair of lovers.  Bianca demonstrates characteristics of loyalty in a relationship when she rejects copying the patterns of the handkerchief, showing her resentment towards sabotaging others' relationships.  These characteristics contrast Iago's characteristics, yet Othello sides with Iago's beliefs.  Othello is clouded by his anger, causing him to be blinded by the true and the clues showing that Cassio and his wife are innocent.

Othello Quote Log: Act 3 Scene 4

"'Tis not a year or two shows us a man. / They are all but stomachs, and we all but food; / They eat us hungerly, and when they are full, / They belch us" (3.4.120-123).

Emilia enlightens Desdemona about the nature of men.  Metaphorically, she articulates how all men are the same.  It is just a matter of time to see their true colors.  Emilia tries to explain Othello's jealousy towards Desdemona.  Emilia suggests how men use females and then move on.  Emilia's repetitious usage of the noun they infers the antecedent of men, more specifically Othello and Emilia's husband, Iago.  Emilia suggests that not only men, but specifically Iago falls into this description.  This foreshadows Iago's malevolence since his own wife can already detect it.

Othello Quote Log: Act 3 Scene 3

"I'll watch him tame and talk him out of patience / His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift / I'll intermingle everything he does / with Cassio's suit.  Therefore be merry, Cassio" (3.3.25-29).

In the beginning of the scene, Desdemona tries to reassure Cassio that he has nothing to worry about.  Saying she will tame and pester Othello with everything he does reassures Cassio.  She has power over her husband because she is the "captain of captains", demonstrated in her task of returning Cassio's position.  Desdemona is easy to sway, especially since Cassio comes to her with pity.  Looking from previous sections of the play, Desdemona is sympathetic to anyone.  Her act of sympathy will be the key to unlocking the tragedy of Othello.

Othello Quote Log: Act 2 Scene 3

"This / broken joint between you and her husband entreat / her to splinter, and, my fortunes against any lay / worth naming, this crack of your love shall grow / stronger than it was before" (2.3.341-345).

After Othello's disappointment towards Cassio, the manipulative Iago begins to plant his seed of destruction.  Implementing his plan, Iago persuades Cassio to talk to Desdemona.  Talking to Desdemona would create a stronger bond between Cassio and Othello.  Iago explains Desdemona's wondrous characteristics.  Being a lady's man, Cassio listens to Iago and decides to talk to her.  Losing his reputation with Othello, Cassio needs to redeem it.  Iago's plan seems to augment.  He has ruined Cassio's title.  He creates an idea of how Cassio can redeem himself.  Overall, Iago is toying with everyone, creating fallacies and being two-faced.

Character Description

Richard Pho

Mr. George

World Literature Honors

14 October 2010

Conforming from Loneness

            Although Winston embodies the last humane individual in Oceania, Big Brother manages to excavate through his stubbornness and opposition towards the Party, causing Winston to assimilate into the dystopia he never believed in.

            Throughout the book, Winston subtly rebels against the Party.  He consistently writes in his diary about his hatred towards Big Brother: “Freedom is the freedom to say two plus two makes four” (249).  The Party’s main goal is power and prosecution, keeping the proles ignorant to stay in control.  In Winston’s life, he does not accept their beliefs, knowing the hope of leaving this dystopia would fade away.  Winston does not account the factor of torture; the Party utilizes it to segregate Winston from human qualities, such as emotions: “Tear her face off […] Not to me! Julia!” (286). Emotions keep one human; the fact that the Party prevents the proles from exhibiting any emotion keeps the Party superior.  Subjected to torture, Winston falls into the Party’s trap, giving up his loyalty to Julia.  He has done what the Party wanted, betrayal, showing his assimilation to the Party.

Winston resembles a missionary. He logs his beliefs and hatred towards the Party in his diary. He has always believed in the opposition of the Party like how missionaries solely pertain to a certain religion. When Winston preaches his opposition to Julia, she has no care for it. Her indifference to the problem mirrors the Party's disagreement with Winston. Just like missionaries, they are decidcated to their beliefs, even if some people do not agree with them.

Just like in the movie, Shutter Island, Big Brother controls everyone. In Shutter Island, Teddy Daniels is sent to this island to solve a mystery, not knowing that he is never going to leave. He is eventually conditioned to be crazy, becoming a new patient of the island. The lighthouse, where people's brains are tweaked to make them crazy resembles room 101, and how people's fears cause them to assimilate. 

Othello Quote Log: Act 2 Scene 3

"And 'tis great pity that the noble Moor /  Should hazard such a place as his own second / With one of an engraffed infirmity. / It were an honest action to say so / To the Moor" (2.3.144-148).

Montano has a new outlook on Cassio after Iago's description.  Montano feels bad for Othello because Othello picked a second in command that might not have been a good choice.  The hazard is depicting Cassio's "drinking problem" or what Montano believes.  Iago has planted the idea that Cassio is a bad second in command because he appeared drunk in front of them.  The reality is that Cassio did drink a lot, but he retained himself in the end.  Iago is manipulating the situation to get back at Cassio for stealing the promotion Iago desires.  Everything Iago says seems to intensify his plan for revenge.

Othello Quote Log: Act 2 Scene 1

"Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me / For making him egregiously an ass / And practicing upon his peace and quiet / Even to madness. 'Tis here, but yet confused. / Knavery's plain face is never seen till used" (2.1.330-334).

Iago's jealousy seems to intensify.  Yet again, he explains to Roderigo his plan to get Cassio to like Desdemona, since she is easily swayed.  If Desdemona leaves Othello for Cassio, Othello will be heartbroken, causing Iago to be very happy.  Iago wants Othello to basically bow at his knees and forgive Iago for his improper promotion towards Cassio.  Since Cassio is a lady's man, making Othello jealous will cause Othello to not think properly, possibly allowing Iago to make a move in creating his revenge.  The sole purpose of Iago is to get revenge.  The only problem is that the plan will not be successful, until the moment has finally arrived.  Iago's monologue demonstrates his disdain towards Othello, playing out as a reoccurring theme of the play.

Othello Quote Log: Act I Scene 1

"Farewell, for I must leave you.
It seems not meet nor wholesome to my place
To be produced, as if I stay I shall,
Against the Moor. [...]
With such loud reason the the Cyprus wars,
Which even now stands in act, that, for their souls,
Another of his fathom they have none
To lead their business.  In which regard,
Though I do hate him as I do hell {pains,}
Yet, for necessity of present life,
I must show out a flag and sign of love-
Which is indeed but sign" (I.i.161-74)

Iago rants to Roderigo about his abhorrence towards Othello.  Iago explains how he must leave Venice because it is not safe for him to stay and allow others to discover his plan.  His plan is to get revenge for not receiving the position Cassio has just received.  If Iago stays in Venice, his disdain will continue to augment.  The only problem is that Othello plays a vital role in the Cyprus wars.  No one else can compare to the skills of Othello, which also causes Iago to hate him.  Finally, Iago concludes by saying how he must show signs of affection towards Othello.  Iago is two-faced, playing two different roles in order to get revenge for his lack of promotion.  From these very few lines, the reader can categorize Iago as stealthy, two-faced, and manipulative.

Ignorance is Strength Essay

Richard Pho

Mr. George

World Literature Honors

21 October 2010

Ignorance is Strength

            In Orwell’s 1984 dystopia, he utilizes a series of paradoxes to explain the key concepts that governs Oceania’s citizens.  A paradox is a statement that self-contradicts itself to demonstrate a certain truth.  One of Oceania’s slogans, Ignorance is Strength, reveals the complexity of Oceania.  Although this slogan paradoxically articulates true insanity, the Party encapsulates the purpose of keeping a hierarchical society under certain regulations by eliminating all types of oppositions into maintaining a ruling upper class.

            Oceania’s hierarchical society preserves a division of power, keeping the lower class immobile to rise in supremacy and strength.  Divided by the classes’ wealth, a tension propagates between the middle and lower classes to rise and overthrow the ruling upper class: “Of the three groups, only the Low are never even temporarily successful in achieving their aims” (Orwell 202).  The lower class aspires to create a classless society in order to achieve absolute equality.  A cyclic struggle for power, where the middle and upper classes oscillate with power, leaves the lower class to never succeed.  The lower class’ inability to move up the social ladder demonstrates a lack of achievement and a stable power between the other two classes.  Preventing the lower class to advance in social status easily pinpoints this class as the prey of the upper class.  This occurs due to the Party’s unethical usage of Socialism. 

            Big Brother initiates an improper usage of Socialism on the citizens of Oceania, keeping the upper class in power.  Socialism is the concept of everyone distributing a sense of equality.  Big Brother twists this concept by making Oceania a collective socialistic society, where the sense of equality is only shared by a small few, namely the upper class: “Collectively, the Party owns everything in Oceania, because it controls everything and disposes of the products as it thinks it fit” (206).  The Party intentionally controls society by controlling everyone.  They administer the lower class by keeping them ignorant.  The Party has complete control over the Proles’ minds because the Party has the power to justify any belief to be true.  Due to a lack of privilege, the Proles’ inability to get educated makes them ignorant.

            Eliminating the essentials to intelligence fundamentally preserves the Proles’ ignorance.  Since the majority of the population constitutes for Proles, if a majority of them were educated, they could clearly overthrow the Party: “They could only become dangerous if the advance of industrial technique made it necessary to educate them more highly, but … the level of popular education is actually declining” (210).  Education is the key concept that will change the ideal that the Low will never succeed.  The Ministry of Truth controls the education system, therefore controlling the set of facts and their validity.  Thus, the Party annihilates this privilege in order to remain in power.  The concept of fear also creates the lower class’ ignorance, giving the Party their strength.

            Ignorance allows the Party to stay in control, manipulating the Proles from achieving a commendable social status.  In Oceania, Big Brother initiates key concepts such as Newspeak, mutability of the past, and doublethink in order to restrict the Proles’ sense of rebellion.  Newspeak, as the vernacular of Oceania, limits the Proles’ range of expressing their emotions, such as their abhorrence to the Party.  Mutability of the past allows the Party to completely alter people’s thoughts to correspond with the Party’s.  Looking at doublethink, “it means the ability to believe that black is white, and more, to know black is white, and to forget that one has ever believed the contrary” (212).  The Party not only changes the meaning of these two concepts, but also mocks the Proles’ intelligence by making them believe the contradictory.  In this case, ignorance is used to achieve self power.  With the power of keeping everyone ignorant, the Party is able to prevent rebellion.

            Rebellion persists as a fear of the controlling Party, but the ideal of ignorance prevents rebellion.  The lower class cannot rebel due to their lack of intelligence: “The masses never revolt of their own accord, and they never revolt merely because they are oppressed” (207).  Even though the Proles make up a majority of Oceania’s population, they will not speak up for themselves because of the consequences they will face.  Instead, the Proles remain quiet and obedient, allowing the Party to keep their citizens supervised.  The Party manages to keep the Proles mindless and naïve, therefore creating no confusion to what is said to them.  Within the Party, a lack of weakness is to be found.  The fact that Big Brother is always right prevents a rebellion because the Proles cannot rebel against the ideal figure when they are limited in vernacular.  The Party outlines their hypothetical world as reality through chaos and fear.  The Party simply suppresses the Proles with any truth created.

            This paradox purposely constrains Oceania into creating an insanity that is the truth.  In Oceania, truth is solely any idea that seems satisfactory at the moment.  The fact that Oceania is a dystopia allows “reconciling contradictions that power can be retained indefinitely.  In no other way could the ancient cycle be broken” (216).  The Party’s intelligence for creating a society ignorant enough to believe such insanity is absolute genius.   The Party has created the ideal society where they do not need to worry about any idea because if the idea is fallacious, they have the power to reform an idea into a truth.  The citizens do not care what is considered right or wrong, solely what Big Brother believes is correct.  The fact that contradictions are considered correct demonstrates how ignorance is strength.

            Ignorance is strength contradictorily makes sense in Oceania because it allows the manipulation of facts to create a hierarchical society of different levels of power.  The division of power creates a tension that is cyclically never to be resolved.  The upper class imposes a false sense of Socialism in order to intentionally keep the power for themselves.  Ignorance manipulates the Proles’ minds into believing any belief to be true.  With that said, rebellion is not an option because the regulations and fear from the Party prevent a direct opposition.  Finally, the overall paradox is complete insanity, yet the Proles manage to obey.  With social status, wealth, and fear, the concept of ignorance is powerful enough to control a collective group of people.