Bio:
Defining Characteristics: Intelligent, small body, dark hair, big eyes
Inner desires: excited about downsizing the language to Newspeak, faithful and proud of the Party Talents: condensing the language, understanding how the Party plans to control thought with Newspeak Fatal Flaw: understanding too much |
"Don't you see that the whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make thoughtcrime literally impossible, because there will be no words in which to express it" (Orwell 52).
Syme's Role In 1984
The irony of Syme comes from the way his intelligence is used to create Newspeak, which in turn keeps future generations ignorant. He is then vaporized for his intellect and ability to understand how the methods of the Party work. Syme emphasizes the point that logic and reason cannot exist for the Party to have totalitarian control because Syme's intellect could eventually lead him to question the Party's contradictory ideals.