The Erasing of Values and Memory of the Past
64 hour-a-day devotion to duty. He had no subjects of conversation except the
principles of Ingsoc, and no aim in life except the defeat of the Eurasia enemy and the hunting down of spies, saboteurs, thought-criminals and
traitors generally p. 41.
History is constantly rewritten to suit the current goals of the Party. Only the destruction of human memory will make it possible. Hence, the Ministry of
Truth Minitru modifies history perpetually to the tune of the ideals of the Party. In the year 1984 Oceania is at war with Eurasia, and Eastasia is Oceania’s
alliance. “In no public or private utterance was it ever admitted that the three powers had at any time been grouped along different lines” p. 30. Though
Winston knows that four years ago Oceania was at war with Eastasia and in alliance with Eurasia he could tell it to any one and not can it be proved as the
records are rewritten to create an impression that Oceania is at war with Eurasia, as it is eternal enemy. “The enemy of the moment always represented absolute
evil, and it followed that any past or future agreement with him was impossible” p. 31.
The Party history books claim that the Party invents aeroplanes. Winston thinks that he has saw aeroplanes long before the Party formed government.
However, it cannot be proved because there is no evidence. Even people cannot rely on their memory. Winston struggles to remember his childhood.
It was extraordinarily difficult. Beyond the late fifties everything faded. When there were no external records that you could refer to, even the
outline of your life lost its sharpness p. 29.
Galtung 1969 explains that violence can attack an individual physically and psychologically. The act of violence as depicted in the novel, the divorce from
65 values and memory of the past, is categorized as psychological violence. It is a
destruction of human memory. Physical violence hurt human body and can kill people directly while the psychological violence is mental pressure intended to
reduce mental ability or brains. Both of them actually equally dangerous for human being. Maintained by state’s institutions, through the Ministry of Truth, in
order to defend state’s power domination this act of violence is categorized as a structural violence. The subject of violence seems invisible is more likely because
of the violence’s ceaseless repetition in the open place rather than because it has been hidden away in a dark or hidden place.