1984

Contradiction, as a literary device, involves presenting opposing ideas or elements within a narrative to highlight complexities about the novel’s world. In 1984, the Party’s three main slogans—“WAR IS PEACE. FREEDOM IS SLAVERY. IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH” (6)—are contradictions. By juxtaposing these conflicting concepts and presenting them as truths rather than absurdities, the novel emphasizes the Party’s goal of controlling its citizens’ minds until they no longer accept any logic outside of what the Party dictates. This is the essence of doublethink, which requires members to accept opposing concepts as truths and highlights the theme of Propaganda, Emotional Manipulation, and Conformity. The same technique is used when juxtaposing the names and functions of the ministries: the Ministry of Truth creates propaganda, Ministry of Love inflicts punishment and torture; the Ministry of Peace creates war; and the Ministry of Plenty keeps society impoverished. These deliberate contradictions reinforce totalitarianism’s moral corruption, contributing to the novel’s dystopian framework.

The novel uses neologisms, or invented words and expressions, to emphasize the Party’s control over all aspects of its members’ lives. Neologisms in literature aid in world-building, providing insight into the novel’s culture, norms, and time period, especially in science fiction and fantasy.