08 George Orwell 1984 Summary (Part Two – Thoughtcrime: Chapter Eight – Doublethink)

40.

Part Two – Thoughtcrime: Chapter Eight – Doublethink

How can we tell that Julia does not expect to understand Goldstein’s book?

We can tell that Julia does not expect to understand Goldstein’s book from the fact that she asks Winston to read it to her so that he can explain it to her as he goes along.

41.

What reason does Goldstein’s book give for equality between the ‘the High, the Middle and the Low’ becoming possible in the early twentieth century?

Goldstein’s book states that equality between the ‘the High, the Middle and the Low’ was possible in the early twentieth century because machines had developed to the extent that they could do most of the boring work previously done by the Low.

42.

How, according to Goldstein’s book, does the Party stop itself ‘from becoming stupid or weak’?

Goldstein’s book explains that the Party stops itself ‘from becoming stupid or weak’ by replacing Inner Party members who are weak with the cleverest and strongest members of the Outer Party.

43.

Give a definition of ‘the proles’.

The proles constitute the lowest level of the social structure in the world in which ‘1984’ is set, below the Outer Party: Goldstein’s book states that they make up ‘about 85% of the population’.

44.

According to Goldstein’s book, what does ‘Doublethink’ allow people to do?

Goldstein’s book states that ‘Doublethink’ allows people ‘to hold two different ideas in their head at the same time – and to accept both of them’: it is necessary for being able to live with a ‘changing reality, including a changing past’.

45.

‘The book had not told him anything he did not already know’. Does Goldstein’s book have any effect on Winston at all?

Yes, the fact that Goldstein’s book does not tell him anything knew confirms to Winston that he has not been going ‘mad’: it also make him feel safe and that ‘everything is alright’, allowing him to drift off to sleep.

46.

“The voice which emanates from the telescreen behind the painting in the room above Mr Charrington’s shop has a controlling power.” True or false?

This statement is true: the voice which comes from the telescreen in the room above Mr Charrington’s shop exerts a power over Winston and Julia which stops them trying to escape because they found it ‘unthinkable to disobey’.