Xenophobia

In the novel, Orwell makes a point about our increased speculation of inferiority of other cultures and peoples, or xenophobia. This sort of attitude is encouraged by Big Brother, especially towards the other two super states. This is not only shown today, but has been in all of our history. When the Europeans had their first contacts with the American Natives, we automatically assumed they were inferior to us. Bartolome de Las Casas was one of the very few to question this ethnocentric attitude, he proposed that no culture is inferior to another, as they are all different, so why would we be scared of them? This attitude is even displayed today. Many people are outrageously fearful of foreigners coming into the country, but why? It must be because of our fear of the unknown. We don’t know what sort of manners they have. We don’t know how they will treat us back. The easy way out of knowing is all in all, to just ignore them, and get fearful when our mixing of cultures comes around.

I believe Orwell meant to show us how that were not necessarily scared of other cultures, as the word xenophobia implies, but of the fact that our culture will change due to contact with other cultures. Big Brother has the civilization set so there are strict rule and if you disobey them, you face an extreme penalty. It is set this way in order to keep the culture from changing. An example of this in history is in the 15th century, when the Ming Dynasty in China shut out the world and stopped all trade an exploration. Compared to this, Spain and France's economies were flourishing with new ideas and territories. They received this change in intuition because of the fact that they traded with other cultures and with other civilizations. I believe Orwell meant to show the fact that a society can become so ethnocentric to the point in which they feel as if they do not need any other societies; that they can supply what they need. When they begin to realize they do need those other supplies like cloths and spices, they feel like they already have a set culture and is too late to change. They've been going this long without having to import pre-made cigarettes, so why stop now? It is the same in how only the Inner Party has access to the good cigarettes and wine.