Title: Two Minutes Hate 1984 - eNotes.com
Headings: Two Minutes Hate 1984
1984
Two Minutes Hate 1984
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The Two Minutes Hate is a break in the day in which Party members briefly stop their work routines and gather in front of a screen in order to participate in an intense expression of hatred against enemies of the state. Its overt purpose is to bind Party members in solidarity and collective purpose against those who would undermine or destroy the government of Oceania. Its covert purpose is to allow people to vent their repressed aggressions and frustrations in a socially sanctioned way. These aggressions are caused by the many deprivations and humiliations the inner Party deliberately orchestrates to keep people broken, miserable, and under control. The Two Minutes Hate also functions as a plot device. In a society in which people are kept alienated and apart from each other—and in which too much interaction with others can potentially be a thought crime—this activity brings people together as a group. It gives Winston a chance to observe Julia, even though at first, he doesn't even know her name, and to interact as well with O'Brien, albeit fleetingly.