1984

How ironic is it to name a garbage chute a "memory hole"?

How ironic is it to name a garbage chute a "memory hole"? Why do you suppose the Party names that, among other things like the Ministry of Truth and the Ministry of Love, so ironically?

 

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 Irony is implicit throughout 1984. Orwell uses irony and paradox as a context to examine our own hypocrisies. The memory hole is meant to incinerate documents that might make Big Brother or the Party looks less than perfect. The word "truth" cannot be mandated because truth is often a subjective idea. One man's terrorist could be another man's freedom fighter. Similarly the very irrational concept of "love" cannot be mandated because it is based on emotion and subjectivity.