1984 by George Orwell may seem like an ordinary dystopian novel, but the plethora of intertwined paradoxes and contradictions create a complex reading experience. Every single inconsistency within the novel turns out to be sensible and valid. Orwell cleverly weaves this backward society with contradictory slogans, ideologies, and language that leave one perplexed about what they have just read, forcing one to reevaluate one's logic. At the beginning of the novel the three fundamental mottos of Ingsoc are presented. These mottos are “WAR IS PEACE/ FREEDOM IS SLAVERY/ IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH” (Orwell 26). Each sentence is a paradox in itself. When analyzed in the context of the political and social atmosphere, every contradictory motto becomes logical. The first concept, “WAR IS PEACE,” is fully highlighted by the untitled book that O'Brien lends to Winston after Winston expresses his interest in the Brotherhood. The war in Oceania is actually peaceful because “the purpose of war is not to make or prevent territorial conquests, but to keep the structure of society intact” according to this informative book (164). The continuous wars between Oceania, Eastasia and Eurasia demonstrate that these regions have surprisingly civil relations with each other, so much so that the book even states that "the effect would be more or less the same if the three superstates, instead of fighting each other, agreed live in perpetual peace, each inviolate within his own borders" (164). These wars are waged only to obtain a manpower that will be used to gain the upper hand in the next war. The goal is to maintain peace. Although “WAR IS PEACE” appears to be a contradiction, the paradoxical quality of the statement actually increases the complexity of… middle of paper… levels of consciousness needed to understand it. it would be the same if the harmonious presence of these contradictory elements, which have developed a deeply corrupt society, was missing. Concepts like Newspeak, party slogans, and Ingsoc force readers to take an idea at face value, dig deeper to hide the lie, and then look for a way to prove that it is actually the truth. 1984 pushes readers to use doublethink, actively believing two opposing ideas at the same time and then repressing one, just to understand the way Moana runs. This effect helps create a parallel, if only for a moment, between the tortured comrades and the readers because we all have to modify our thoughts to correlate with those of the Party. George Orwell's use of paradoxes effectively brought the audience into the astonishing world of Oceania. Works Cited 1984 by George Orwell