1984 Group

Question:

kylie16
kylie16
Student
College - Sophomore

What is the meaning of "whoever controls the past controls the future and whoever controls the present controls the past"?

Rate question:

Posted by kylie16 on Sunday June 28, 2009 at 7:59 AM and tagged with quotes, themes.

Answers:


  1. akannan Teacher
    Middle School

    I believe that in addressing this question, you have to examine the issue of power.  The meaning of this statement is that someone can redefine who they are and, in fact, what a society is by being able to change the perception of how the past is configured.  For example, dictatorships are very passionate in the idea of "rewriting history."  You can see this in Milan Kundera's excellent book, "The book of Laughter and Forgetting."  We can also see this in history.  When Communist rule was at its zenith of power, governments were driven to recreating history in a manner that coordinated with the current government's goals.  In doing this (controlling the perception of the past), more credibility is given to the current, present day policies.  The Khmer Rouge government in Cambodia, after they wrestled power away from European control, declared a "Year Zero" where they made the argument that the past is the present.  By controlling the means of reading the past, they were able to fortify their control of the present.  This is also seen in the French Revolution.  After the French Monarchy was overthrown, and they instituted a new view of history, where the past was considered immoral and evil, lending greater credibility to the present.

    I think you want to focus on the idea that people understand their present and future in how they conceptualize and comprehend the past.  If someone in the position of power can change how the past is viewed, they have a greater chance of controlling the present in that they are able to link the two together.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/1984
    http://www.enotes.com/1984/themes

    Rate answer:

    Posted by akannan on Sunday June 28, 2009 at 9:20 AM


  2. marilynn07 Teacher
    High School - 9th Grade

    This is an interesting question. I am sure you have heard the phrase, "winners write the history."  Or somthing Napoleon Bonapart is attributed to having said, "Histroy is a lie agreed upon."  As the previous answer states, history is rewritten by those who are in power.  Those who are in power control the media and therefore control the perception of who is right and who is the enemy.

    If the persons in power can control what our views are regarding the past, they will then be able to control how the future unfolds as well based on their ability to control the media and the military.  Power is persuasive, and by using power effectively, people might be persuaded that their friend yesterday is now the enemy.

    Some time in the past during the 1950s, our friend was the Shah of Iran, now Iran is considered to be an unfriendly power. As powers shift and change, alliances also shift and change.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/1984
    http://www.enotes.com/1984/themes

    Rate answer:

    Posted by marilynn07 on Sunday June 28, 2009 at 11:38 AM

  3. spazzzzzzzzzzz
    spazzzzzzzzzzz Student
    College - Freshman

    i believe arthur is the once and future king meaning he controls all and is big brother

    Rate answer:

    Posted by spazzzzzzzzzzz on Thursday July 23, 2009 at 9:31 PM