Title: Two Minutes Hate 1984 - eNotes.com
Headings: Two Minutes Hate 1984
1984
Two Minutes Hate 1984
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Last Updated by eNotes Editorial on December 15, 2020
Colin Cavendish-Jones, Ph.D.
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M.A. from Oxford University Ph.D. from St. Andrews University
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In 1984, the Two Minutes Hate is a collective act of affirmation in which Party members gather in front of a telescreen to express their hatred of the Party's enemies. For this two minutes, the words of Emmanuel Goldstein, the Enemy of the People and leader of the clandestine opposition which Winston later attempts to join, are broadcast, while his image appears on the telescreen. Orwell remarks that the program of the Two Minutes' Hate varies each day, but Goldstein is always the principal figure. The Two Minutes Hate is important as a plot device in the story because it regularly brings Winston into contact with both Julia and O'Brien (who is a member of the Inner Party and, therefore, not someone whose life would otherwise intersect with Winston's). It is also important as a demonstration of the way in which the Party compels loyalty and orthodoxy. Although Winston does not believe all the lies about Goldstein and is not even sure that he exists, he finds that he does not need to pretend to hate the figure on the telescreen. After about thirty seconds, he feels a sense of passionate hatred for the figure on the screen and the words he hears, and he joins unaffectedly with the other Party members in their frenzy of hatred. The Party is therefore able to promote orthodoxy and cohesion at the same time. Last Updated by eNotes Editorial on November 30, 2020
marilynn07
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The Two Minutes Hate is a ritual observance that is designed to use the collective rage of the people against supposed "enemies of the Party" to strengthen the Party's position among the people. The ritual serves to unify the people in the observance of the ritual.