substance abuse in 1984

[tendayi]

how would you describe 1984s substance abuse to control socity (victory gin)?

[Xamonas Chegwe]

An acquired taste - personally I find it a little bland, with a sickly aftertaste - stick to malt whisky.

[Bandini]

heh!................

[Ingenieur]

Alcohol is an effective way of self-medicating certain ails. The supply of Victory Gin and Victory Cigarettes helps "ease the pain" of living in such a society. I for one know I'd drink a lot more than I do now if forced to live under Engsoc.

[bugmasta]

I know this might not answer the question, but if you want to see an example of substance abuse to control society you need to check out a similar book, A Brave New World. I've read both recently and the alcohol use in 1984 is no where close to the consumption of soma in A Brave New World.

[SueNH]

Think about all the ADHD meds pushed on our children now because they think and learn a bit different than most. Is it really different than the fiction??

[PadreMellyrn]

how would you describe 1984s substance abuse to control socity (victory gin)?

that it is pretty normal for any society - the use of alcohol to control the people is and has been common place for centuries - above and beyond the use for medicinal purposes. One of the common elements of the societies around the world is the use of various forms of drugs - alcohol, nicotine, Herbs, and so on.

One also needs to take into consideration the time in which the book was written, as alcohol and tobacco at that time were considered necessaities of life. It wasn't so much abuse to control, but simply supply the things that keep the people happy. That is best described in "Panem et Circus" from the roman philosophers.

[chmpman]

I somehow remember hearing something about gin consumption in 19th century England and relating it to 1984. Does anyone have an idea of what I'm talking about?

[rabid reader]

I somehow remember hearing something about gin consumption in 19th century England and relating it to 1984. Does anyone have an idea of what I'm talking about?

In the beginning of the 18oo's (I think) there was something called the "Gin Craze" that went hand-in-hand with new adiction to opium in England... and thus Romantic poetry is born

[Trace]

If you follow the link you'll see that substance abuse to control the masses has always been a popular option in England, be sure to look at the picture one of the most startling and striking depictions of the situation

http://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/MothersRuin.htm

[wolfram]

Gin was originally the "drink of the masses" in the UK and esp. among the "less fortunate." I seem to recall that the prostitutes murdered by Jack the Ripper frequently drank gin at local East End pubs (and this in the late 1880s).

You might want to compare vodka consumption by the peasants in Chekov's writings - alcohol abuse was a problem the Soviets denied but were never able to fully get a handle on.

[Asa Adams]

One also needs to take into consideration the time in which the book was written, as alcohol and tobacco at that time were considered necessaities of life. It wasn't so much abuse to control, but simply supply the things that keep the people happy. That is best described in "Panem et Circus" from the roman philosophers.

I couldn't agree more, Padre. I was recently watching an antiques show on television, and there in front of me was a milk bottle with Winston Churchills face brandished with a Giant red "V". It dated back to the WWII times, and simply was an emphasis on The 'soon to be' Victory over the Nazis. Now, Milk is not a substance that can be used to control the masses' urge to revolt over a party, it was used to advertise and gain support for Churchill and the boys fighting the war.

[jcdzyn]

while alcohol gives men the courage, and women an excuse it will be the main drug PUSHED in our (and other) society.

[Asa Adams]

while alcohol gives men the courage, and women an excuse it will be the main drug PUSHED in our (and other) society.

That doesn't have anything to do with societal control over the people. However, alcohol, like tabbaco, is a large tax pofit for governments. But until i see chemicals that are in cigerettes also in Booze to make me addicted, I will then agree with you. Alcohol is a "gene addiction."

[kadjrare]

but the alcohol was not purchased by the people; therefore there was no financial gain for the government from the people. it was a sacrifice on "big brother"'s part to use alcohol to keep the people together, but in reverse. in today's society, alcohol is mainly used as anti-depressants, social "icebreakers", etc. whereas in 1984, alcohol was considered a staple; a commodity, a necessity to the public. when i said reverse i meant a substance that helped keep the group together through disobedience, one of the core values of the society in 1984.

d(-_-)b