Candide

Thematic Essay 1984 by George Orwell Psychological relativism is a term that has been applied to the novel 1984. This concept is defined as “the assumption that there is no such thing as human nature; that there is no such thing as qualities essential to man; that man is born as nothing but a blank sheet of paper on which any given society writes its text.” Winston Smith, a character in George Orwell’s, 1984, is an example …

…the slaves will arise and overthrow us. Put it out of your mind. They are helpless, like the animals. Humanity is the Party.”(pg. 222) This statement made by George Orwell’s character, O’Brien in 1984, supports the theory of psychological relativism. Winston’s human nature was stripped away and as he began to write the words of the Party on the slate, his mind was beginning to be filled with thoughts not of his own.