1984 Group

Question:

sandkcox07
sandkcox07
Student
High School - 12th Grade

In 1984, why do all three superpowers forbid their citizens from associating with foreigners?

I read through to chapter and i am still not finding an answer that i feel is correct. =( can anyone help?

Rate question:

Posted by sandkcox07 on Monday February 23, 2009 at 12:23 PM and tagged with 1984, superpowers, themes.

Answers:


  1. amy-lepore Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    The main reason all three superpowers don't want their citizens intermingling is that the war is a farce.  The superpowers all use the war as an excuse to keep their citizens and countries under the proverbial thumb.  It is also a reason to keep working so hard and producing the items they need to operate and survive...even if it produces a surplus that needs to be destroyed.  Otherwise, the people of all three countries, if able to speak with one another, would realize that they don't need to work as hard as they are in order for everyone to have enough (food, supplies, clothing, etc.) to live.  Part of the way the governments get what they do out of their people is by using propaganda and other brainwashing techniques to "hate" whatever country they're supposedly at war with at the time.  If everyone made friends with everyone else, this "tool" of persuasion would be absent from their little box of tricks.

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

    Rate answer:

    Posted by amy-lepore on Monday February 23, 2009 at 7:12 PM