Unperson Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations
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unperson
[ʌnˈpɜrsən ]
Definition
social term
An 'unperson' refers to an individual who has been deliberately erased from existence in the eyes of society, typically due to political or ideological reasons. This term became popularized through George Orwell's dystopian novel '1984', where the government removes all records and references to a person who has fallen out of favor. The phenomenon is often associated with totalitarian regimes that exercise extreme control over information and public perception. Unpersons may be entirely forgotten, with their existence denied, leading to significant psychological and social implications for communities and historians trying to preserve knowledge about the past.
Synonyms
erased person, forgotten individual, nonperson.
Examples of usage
- The regime turned dissenters into unpersons.
- They became unpersons after the political purge.
- In the book, many characters were labeled as unpersons.
Translations
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Interesting Facts
Political Context
- Governments have utilized the concept throughout history to eliminate dissent, making opponents appear as if they never existed in official narratives.
- The practice often involves altering documents, removing images, and revising history to reject the individual's contributions.
Media Representation
- In film and literature, the act of unpersoning serves as a powerful narrative device, depicting the extreme lengths of suppression and control over individual identity.
- Episodes of popular television series often explore the themes of erasure and unpersoning to comment on social issues.
Psychological Impact
- Being unpersoned can lead to significant psychological trauma as it symbolizes loss of identity and connection, deeply affecting relationships.
- Victims of unpersoning often face social isolation, which can exacerbate feelings of anxiety and depression.
Literature
- Apart from '1984', many dystopian novels employ similar themes, showcasing how regimes use unpersoning to maintain power and suppress individualism.
- Authors use the unperson concept to critique real-world authoritarianism and warn about the dangers of societal conformity.
Origin of 'unperson'
Main points about word origin
- The word was popularized by George Orwell in his novel '1984' to describe a person who has been erased from all records, often by a totalitarian government.
- It combines 'un-' (meaning not) with 'person,' implying the stripping away of a person's identity and existence.
The term 'unperson' is a neologism that emerged prominently in the mid-20th century, particularly associated with the themes of censorship and authoritarianism depicted in George Orwell's novel '1984', published in 1949. In the book, various characters are made to disappear from public consciousness, symbolizing the extreme lengths to which a dictatorship might go to control historical narrative. The prefix 'un-' signifies negation or removal, while 'person' denotes an individual. The combining of these elements encapsulates the concept of a person being stripped of their identity and existence in a sociopolitical context. Since its inception, 'unperson' has been used in discussions about political repression, propaganda, and the manipulative power of governments over truth and reality. The term has since transcended literary origins, finding relevance in modern discourse about social justice and the importance of remembrance in the face of oppression.