Isn’t it interesting how every product in 1984 is named “Victory _____”? (Victory Gin, Victory Cigarettes, and Victory Coffee) The word “victory” makes it sound like it is the best product around, but in reality they are made poorly. For example, Victory Cigarettes falls apart whenever Winston attempts to smoke it. I think Orwell is trying to show how consumers are satisfied by the image of the product and because of that disregard the actual quality of it.
At my work there is this drink called “Madagascar Vanilla Freddo”. It’s just an ice blended coffee drink with vanilla syrup, which makes it a very typical drink at Peet’s. By adding “Madagascar” to its name it gives this image as if the drink is superior compared to the rest of the plain named drinks on the menu. The vanilla freddo is not particularly the best drink on our menu and neither are the Victory Cigarettes in 1984. From this I am understanding that consumers constantly needs to be reassured that they are pruhasing he best product on the market and the name of the product helps build the quality of it.
What do you think?
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5 comments:
I was wondering about the whole "Victory" title too! There was also this part on page 64 that I found to be interesting (pertaining to the cigarettes) - "Quite likely the person at the next table was a spy of the Thought Police, and quite likely he would be in the cellars of the Ministry of Love within three days, but a cigarette end must not be wasted." --- a cigarette no matter how horrible must not be wasted? even when one is faced with about the possibility of being taken in by authorities?
I completely agree! I think that the government also represents their war power through the overused word... victory. The government is victorious and will always be victorious, so it shouldn't/can't be challenged. It's surprising how much influence a little word can make.
The Drink acrually sounds good
Melissa, did you mean the Victory Gin? If so, how did you mean? This stuff does make things that seem awful seem acceptable. It does serve to numb the suffering of day-to-day existence. Orwell's irony is that this "victory" contributes to their defeat by deadening their senses and making them more manageable.
George refers victory as prefix for gin ,cigarettes & coffee because he was trying to explain
his readers the kind of monopoly existed during big brother's regime . There were no other brands for people to choose & relish . They have to have only victory brands .
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