Posted by Katherine on March 26, 2002 at 17:48:29:
In Reply to: Is power applied religiously in 1984?? posted by raynebow on December 08, 2001 at 11:37:20:
Hell yeah it's applied religiously! =) In the book, Big Brother is like God. Here's a really specific example: There is no religion in Oceania. But in Mr. Charrington's room that Winston rents out, there is a picture of a church. Behind that picture is a telescreen. Big Brother can see and hear everything going on in that room except Winston doesn't know. Hence, in a world without religion, HE IS GOD. He knows and sees everything. Big Brother will never die, the people live out their lives loving him and if they don't, they are vaporized.
Big Brother's laws are like the word of God, and the Party could be his messengers, like God's priests, etc. He is never wrong, and if something he predicted turns out the opposite, the people at the Ministry of Truth simply change the records to show that Big Brother predicted the right thing. He has control over everything.