Chapters 4-5. Language controlling individuality.

The reason that Winston writing in his diary is a crime is because it promotes thinking. The party is doing everything it can to make the citizens less like human beings and more like zombies. Syme’s job of destroying words is very similar to what not letting Winston write is accomplishing. If people aren’t allowed to think then they pose no threat to the party. When we think, we think in words. If we have no words to think with, then it is nearly impossible to communicate how we feel. Say somebody realizes that the party is awful, and they are making their lives miserable but all they know now is newspeak so they have no way to say or think about what they are feeling inside. When you control someone’s language and not allow them to put their thoughts onto paper you are destroying their individuality. Everybody becomes exactly like everybody else, not because they have similar interests, but because they aren’t allowed to have the words to construct their thoughts into something other people can understand. So the party is making it impossible for people to rebel by restricting their language.