How much hatred in two minutes?

Much philosophy in the history of mandkind is dedicated to the potentiality of man: how much can we achieve? What are our limitations in imagination, material, and ability? The positive strain of human traits is much discussed, but what about negative human limitations? The Two Minutes Hate seems to be an absolute vent of rage and frustratrion. Can humans achieve much more hate than in 1984?

A totalitarian society as described in 1984 makes much use of ingenious devices of manipulation and control of population, including propaganda, control of assets (gin and cigarettes) and the Two Minutes Hate. Some discontentment must occur as a condition of a totalitarian society, and the Two minutes hate gauges it very well. The venting of frustration and dissatisfaction into mindless hate is a convenient redirection of rational opposition to conditions of life, and very likely, these frustrations stemmed from the totalitarian regime, rather than the proposed problem - Goldstein the scapegoat, the stereotypical Jew, and the enemy of the State. This is because of the power of propaganda: it's easy to redirect emotions, and they must have existed; from Winston's actions and thoughts, we know that considerable dissent against Big Brother and the Party did (and should have) existed. So, the negative emotions displayed during the Two Minutes Hate must be some reflection of negative conditions in 1984 society: the negative effects of a totalitarian regime.

So, can conditions become much more negative, causing more hate? In 1984, every kind of control is imposed on humans complete with human limitations, including influence of thought and actions through control of language and observation. I'm inclined to think that the control of thought, communication, and actions (instead of material wealth and living conditions) is the ultimate oppressor of people. Does that not translate to define the ultimate creator of hate: the Party? Communism has always had material oppression, but implementation of propaganda and limitation of communication to such a large extent as in 1984 was always impossible. I find it difficult to imagine nonmaterial societal controls implemented to a greater extent than imposed by Big Brother and the Party.

1984 is much about the attempt to fulfil maximum potential: the potential efficiency of language, of society, of education, and of economics. I think that 1984 is just as much about achievement of maximum potential hate, oppression, and negative conditions... this is outlined in the Two Minutes Hate.