Title: Two Minutes Hate 1984 - eNotes.com
Headings: Two Minutes Hate 1984
1984
Two Minutes Hate 1984
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Content: 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. It also shows how the Party uses propaganda to manipulate people. It reveals how quickly enemies can change, which forces people to engage in doublethink or quickly forget what they once knew in order to align with a new reality that must simultaneously be accepted as what always has been. Last Updated by eNotes Editorial on December 15, 2020
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The Two Minutes Hate in 1984 is a daily ritual where Party members gather in front of a large telescreen and vent their rage and suppressed emotions towards flashing images of Emmanuel Goldstein and enemy soldiers. During the Two Minutes Hate, Winston and his fellow Party members feel compelled to shout, spit, and stomp in an unrestrained manner. Although Winston is a secret rebel and does not subscribe to the Party's orthodox beliefs, he cannot help but join in the ritual and release his suppressed emotions.