Mein Kampf: The Manipulative Phenomenon Of Nazi Germany

At nearly every moment, humans are constantly being bombarded with ranging forms of language. People encounter this information whenever they view an advertisement, peruse a social networking site, listen to a song, or even as they converse with friends. Therefore, it is understandable that whoever can take control of the dominant method of communication, will have power over the common person. Take the Second World War, for example. Words were being used by all sides to manipulate their own people to support national ideas. Perhaps the most notable example of this manipulative phenomenon is Nazi Germany. In Mein Kampf, Adolf Hitler, who would become the dictator of the Third Reich, accused the Jewish people of the world of using fabrications
In this case, Hitler was attempting to unite the German people against those he deemed responsible for the German defeat in the First World War and the collapse of the German economy. In the very first two lines, the eventual dictator calls the constituents of an entire religious population liars, an incredibly harsh generalization. Then, he goes onto describe how they are even lying about their entire existence as a religious community, when he deems them to be a race. He also attacks the complete Jewish history by claiming that it is built upon slander and falsehoods. In his effort, Adolf Hitler committed the most egregious misuse of language, the intentional discrimination of an entire religious community leading to their extermination as a result of the gross fabrication of information. Yet, given his national audience and the turmoil existing within the nation, it is no wonder that the Nazi leader was able to garner the support of the majority of the population. By using phraseology, the way that a specific person utilizes words, to create a common enemy and scapegoat, Hitler found the ability to unite the German population to work toward a collective goal against a shared enemy, which is among the most formidable abilities of
For of course some sort of general idea they must have, if they were to do their work intelligently—though as little of one, if they were to be good and happy members of society, as possible. For particulars, as every one knows, make for virtue and happiness; generalities are intellectually necessary evils. Not philosophers but fret-sawyers and stamp collectors compose the backbone of society. (Huxley 4)
It is evident that those in control condition the common people into believing that they must give up themselves for the good of society. However, they are led to believe this through their early development and the lack of liberal education, rather than discipline, so instead of being forced to put certain ideas of personal freedom and behind, they simply do not learn such ideas. Consequently, language is the key factor in ensuring that the people of Brave New World do not understand or feel the emotions that give a person humanity.
The central themes of Brave New World include censorship and human conditioning, both of which are fundamentally related to the usage of language. According to Oran’s Dictionary of Law, censorship is: “1. The denial of freedom of speech or freedom of the press. 2. The review of books, movies, etc., to prohibit publication and distribution, usually for reasons of morality or state security (Oran).” The censorship in Huxley’s work encompasses the entirety of the