The Declaration (6)

Both her parents put their hands to their mouths, and looked like they were eating something, and then her mother smiled, like she was laughing, like she'd just been given something she'd wanted all her life. And she turned to the Catcher, and she said, 'You can't touch them now,' and he frowned, and then her mother stumbled slightly, and she fell to the ground, followed by Anna's father. But they were both smiling, and their hands found each other. 'Anna,' her father said. 'Anna, you're free. You and Ben are free. A life for a life. It's in the Declaration. We've been waiting for this moment. Wanting it to come. Waiting to give you life again. A real life. A real future. We're so sorry, Anna. So sorry...' (pg. 291)

Anna struggled and suffered because of all the lies that Mrs. Pincent filled her mind with. She was told that her parents never loved her and that she was a waste of space. The government used their corrupt methods to manipulate and gain control over the people in the society. Anna was one of many that were under their control. Everything she did was for the sake of the government because she accepted the fact that she was a Surplus and her parents’ mistake. She cleaned for the Legals because they were thought to have a higher value than the rest of the people in the world. The government took complete control of the life of Anna. They kept her in Grange Hall to keep an eye on her and they never let her on the Outside because they feared she would absorb different ideas. Like Mrs. Pincent said in the novel, “Anna doesn’t have a mind of her own”. She was easily manipulated until Peter came to the hall and shared his view on society. He told her that she had a valuable life and that her parents loved her.

The moment Anna’s parents swallowed the pill to end their life, Anna’s life was saved from all the corruption of the government. She was no longer a puppet; she had a mind of her own and could make her own decisions. The author creates a world in which the people are conformists and must hate on the same group of people and praise the same group of people. Anna searches for a way out of this world and into a life filled with freedom and happiness. A world where every behavior and thought is the same is a dystopian world. Conformity only allows one person to take charge of the rest of the world. One leader leads to dictatorship and dictatorship leads to destruction. Hitler was a dictator who manipulated the Germans to follow every move he wishes to make. History can tell us that his rule did not result in a positive manner. A certain group of people (like Surpluses) were targeted and ignored, which led to the Holocaust and the extermination of millions of Jews.

The Declaration (5)

It's impossible to escape from Grange Hall. The Catchers will come after us, and Mrs Pincent will too. But we have to go. Mrs Pincent was talking about Peter and she wants to get rid of him. She said that I was stupid too. Indoctrinated. I hate Mrs Pincent. I thought I liked her. I though Mrs Pincent knew best. I thought she did horrible things for our own good. But she doesn't. She's cruel and mean and she doesn't think I'm Useful at all, even though she told me that I was, even though I've always done everything that she said I should. I'm scared about leaving Grange Hall, though. I don't know anything about the Outside. On the Outside I won't be a Prefect. I won't be set to be a Valuable Asset either. I don't know what I'll be on the Outside. Just an Illegal, I suppose...But Peter says we have to go to London. Peter says we have to go back to my parents...Peter says that in Bloomsbury I won't have to scrub and clean and be Obedient; that my parents will teach me about literature and music and that I can join the Underground Movement. (pg. 137-138)

 I feel that this passage from The Declaration symbolizes the struggle people have to break free from a conformist society. Throughout the novel, Anna struggles with choosing which path is the right one: Mrs. Pincent’s words or Peter’s words. In the beginning of the novel, she chose to listen to Mrs. Pincent, but in the end she realized the truth, which was she was using Anna. Out of anger and realization, Anna chooses to follow Peter and his urge to escape Grange Hall, along with the way the government is ruling society. Anna’s fear symbolizes her reaction to finding out the truth. Similar to when anyone finds out the truth about something, Anna is in somewhat of a denial state where she does not know which side is the right side. Though she is afraid to escape Grange Hall she knows she must do it in order to be free from a world where having a mind of your own does not exist.

Anna and Peter are people who step out of the ordinary and challenge the thoughts of the government. From the beginning, Peter saw that a common thought among the people was not the way a society should behave. Everyone should have self-expression and have different perspectives. At the end of the novel, they both see that a government like theirs does not bring happiness or a better life like they were told. Without a government with absolute control, Anna can live in a world where she doesn’t “have to scrub and clean and be Obedient”. People are born different because no two people share the same thoughts on everything. Since the world is so different, then it is wrong for people to be forced to follow certain behaviors and laws. Therefore, the government depicted in this novel where they establish a uniform thought among the people is corrupt and dystopian.

The Declaration (4)

'He what?' Mrs Pincent demanded, her knuckles whitening visibly as her fingers clenched into fists over her desk. 'What?' Anna swallowed desperately. She couldn't tell her. For the first time in her life, she couldn't tell Mrs Pincent what she wanted to know. 'He said he got caught in Essex,' she said eventually. 'He said his parents hadn't told him about the Declaration and that he was sick of hiding all the time.'...But instead of shouting at her for her insolence, or telling her that Peter deserved to rot in Solitary, Mrs Pincent frowned, then stood up. 'Peter needs some time to think about his role in this world,' she said thoughtfully...'You understand your place in the world, you understand the debt that you owe to Mother Nature,' Mrs Pincent continued. 'But Peter does not think of himself as a Surplus. He sees himself as something better, as if he has a rightful place in this world.' Mrs Pincent paused, and as she did so, Anna noticed the familiar venom creep back into her eyes. Striding back to her chair, Mrs Pincent smacked her hand down on the desk. 'Peter is a danger to the other Surpluses, and a danger to this earth,' she said, her voice now harsher. 'That's why he's in Solitary. I won't allow anyone to mention that boy's name until we rid him of his illicit thoughts. Until I am sure that I have fulfilled my duty and that he understands the truth, I cannot risk him contaminating the rest of you.' (pg. 120-122)

Mrs. Pincent’s tone when speaking to Anna in this specific part of the novel is sincere and comforting. She wants Anna to feel comfortable around her and gain her trust in order for Mrs. Pincent to know Peter’s true meaning for being in the institution. All her life, Anna has been indoctrinated by Mrs. Pincent’s words, telling her which Surpluses misbehave and are disobedient. Mrs. Pincent sincerely interrogates Anna into exposing Peter; however, it does not work because Anna has been influenced by Peter and refuses to tell her the truth. As represented by Mrs. Pincent, the government creates a false bond with their people to gain their confidence and enter their minds.

The government is run by greed because they want all the power to themselves: the more people they control, the more power they have. They fear people like Peter who interfere with their master plan and “contaminate” the minds of the Surplus children. “Peter is a danger” because he makes the children see the truth of their corrupt government and how the government manipulates the minds of the children. Peter has already spoken to Anna about the truths of the government. He has gotten into her mind and has made her know what really is going on. Peter’s influence on Anna is great because he has given her the courage to disobey the commands of Mrs. Pincent. Anna lied to her about Peter’s purpose in Grange Hall by appearing to be oblivious to what Mrs. Pincent asks for. There is always at least one person in society that understands what is happening and knows the difference between what is good and what is bad. In this case, it is Peter preaching his thoughts and his wisdom to Anna so she can escape the horrors of their society.

The Declaration (3)

'Hit her,' ordered Mrs Pincent, who was now walking towards her. 'Maker her know her Sins. Help her to learn from her mistakes and to understand what being a Surplus means. Make her see that she is unwanted, a burden; that every step she takes along these corridors are steps that she has stolen. Maker her see that she is worthless, that if she dies no one will care, that in fact the world will be better off with her not trespassing on it. Make her understand all that, Anna.' Mrs Pincent's voice was low and menacing, and Anna found herself trembling. Tania had to understand, she told herself. Tania had to learn, for her own sake. For all their sakes. Slowly, she drew her hand back to swipe Tania across the face. Tania looked at her for a moment, then her eyes flicked up to Mrs Pincent and back again. And then she smiled at Anna, a mocking smile full of hatred and contempt...However much she wanted Tania to Learn Her Place, she couldn't hit her. And the realisation frightened her, particularly as another smile began to wend its way across Tania's face. (pg. 83-84)

The government depicted in this novel establishes fear and domination within the institution of where Anna and Peter live. In this moment of the novel, two Surpluses, or unwanted children, engage in an argument. In that institution, misbehavior is frowned upon and will result in severe punishment. Since Anna is one of the oldest Surpluses in the building, she is the right-hand girl of Mrs. Pincent. Therefore, Anna acts as an overseer who keeps order among the children and makes sure the rules of Mrs. Pincent are enforced. As the overseer, she is viewed by the other children as a teacher’s pet or a goody goody and receives many “mocking smile[s]”.

Domination is present in the government of The Declaration because of the impact Mrs. Pincent has on Anna. Specifically in this passage, Mrs. Pincent has complete control over Anna and the way she thinks. When Mrs. Pincent tells Anna to hit Tania, Anna does her best to follow the order. She has in her mind that the way Mrs. Pincent thinks about society is the correct way to view things. Mrs. Pincent preaches that the Surpluses are “worthless” and “a burden” because their parents committed the ultimate “Sin”. Anna, not able to have a mind of her own, agrees with this ideology and wants “Tania...to understand”. She has been brainwashed by Mrs. Pincent and preaches against the children.

Fear is present in this government, and is an important aspect to how the government rules the society. It is something that overpowers the mind of the children, causing them do whatever the superiors want them to do, such as cleaning, cooking, and building. Mrs. Pincent has a reputation being the most feared person in the institution, for that the children tremble and become frightened when they misbehave or do something that goes against the word of Mrs. Pincent. Anna knew that Tania had not yet “Learn[ed] Her Place”, which goes against one of the biggest rules in that society. The phrase “Learn Her Place” is capitalized because it is something that must be inserted in the minds of the children. It represents a commandment that cannot be broken unless it would be considered a “Sin”. Superiors like Mrs. Pincent have created a society in which they can manipulate the people to do whatever they desire. They have the people fearing the Surpluses and the Surpluses fearing their existence.

The Declaration (2)

Peter looked at her then and took her wrists firmly in his hands. 'Your parents love you,' he said in a very low voice. 'You're not surplus to anything, you're Anna Covey, and you should never have been locked away here.Your Mrs Pincent is the person you should hate. She's the one who brainwashed you, the one who beat you and starved you, just like she tried to do to me. Just like she'll do again when she realises she hasn't won. We need to get out of here. We need to get back to London.' Anna stared at him, her mouth set crossly. 'Brainwash!' she said contemptuously. 'That isn't even a word.' Peter smile sarcastically. 'Not a word they'd teach you in Grange Hall, I suppose, but it is a word, Anna. It means to indoctrinate. To make you think things that aren't true, to make you believe that you don't deserve to live on the Outside, that you're lucky to live in this prison.' (pg. 66)

At this point in the book, Peter has been placed in the same orphanage as Anna, Grange Hall. Unlike the rest of the children in this institution, Peter sees right through Mrs. Pincent and the other dictators of the multiple institutions spread across the world. As a child coming from the “Outside”, he has seen things that children like Anna—who have never stepped foot out of the building—have never seen.

Peter is a unique character in the novel, The Declaration. His character is similar to that of Clarisse from the novel Fahrenheit 451. They both share the same quality of supporting the main protagonist of the story, in this case would be Anna Covey. Peter innocently tries to convince Anna that they live in a dystopian society where the government tells the people what and what not to think. He says that Mrs. Pincent is “the one who brainwashed [her]”. This sort of relationship Mrs. Pincent has with Anna resembles the kind of relationship the government has with their people. Both the government and Mrs. Pincent control their subordinates through confinement, labor, and starvation. Peter wants to put an end to this lifestyle, so he blatantly tells Anna about what is going on. He explains how her real parents love her because they gave her breath and the opportunity to live life and how Mrs. Pincent does not love her because she has made her suffer.

The reaction that Anna has to what Peter has told her symbolizes how naïve humans can be. All her life, Anna was told that her parents did not love her and they were the reason for her sufferings. She was easily manipulated and therefore never dreamt that her mind was being “brainwashed”. Humans can be told that a certain behavior is the right behavior multiple times. Many scientists have performed tests on this topic, especially after World War II. The result was that if a person is told that something is right but they disagree, then they will be punished. The punishment will be carried out until they learned to select the answer that matched with the ideas of others. In other words, the human mind can be manipulated through fear. Mrs. Pincent creates fear within the minds of the children. Anna always craved to be Mrs. Pincent’s right-hand girl because she did not want to be on her bad side. Anna did what Mrs. Pincent wanted to please her. Anna was being manipulated and brainwashed without even knowing it was happening.

The Declaration (1)

Legal people generally have at least two names, sometimes more. Not me, though, I'm just Anna. People like me don't need more than one name, Mrs Pincent says. One is quite enough. Actually, she doesn't even like the name Anna--she told me she tried to change it when I first came here. But I was an obstinate child, she says, and I wouldn't answer to anything else, so in the end she gave up. I'm pleased--I like the name Anna, even though my parents gave me that name. I hate my parents. They broke the Declaration and didn't care about anyone else but themselves. They're in prison now. I don't know where. None of us knows anything about our parents any more. Which is fine by me--I'd have nothing to say to them anyway. (pg.8)

In the society depicted in the novel, The Declaration, the thoughts of the people are controlled by the government. Since thoughts are no longer an expression of freedom, the things they do and the perspectives they possess are not their own. The ideas are all the same, meaning this society is an example of a conformist society.

The children who were born because their parents disobeyed the “Declaration” were given the status of a surplus. The government placed these children in an orphanage-type of residence that forces them to perform hard labor. The government isolates the children of the law-breaking parents in order to send a message to the rest of society. It uses the children as an example of how people who break the law are treated. Everyone in this society lives the way the government wants them to live. The people are told to not have children or they will be placed in prison. The government establishes fear within the society to get them to obey their every command. It uses the basic idea of being considered an outcast to get the people to follow the rules. Everyone outside of the orphanages fears the surplus because they are different. With this fear, the government is able to create conformity within the community because everyone is given the longevity drug to stay young and they are forced to sign the “Declaration” that tells them how they should live their life. Not only does the government manipulate the minds of the people outside of the orphanage, but they also manipulate the minds of the children within the asylum.

The children are told that they were a mistake and that their parents committed a sin by deciding to give birth to them. The government ordered to put this information and this thought into the minds of the children. For example, in this specific orphanage, Mrs. Pincent drills the idea of the parents being criminals into the mind of Anna. In the beginning of the novel, all Anna knows is that their parents are in prison—meaning they are viewed as a danger to society. Only absorbing this thought on the people who go against the government, Anna is taught to “hate [her] parents”. The government tells the children that what their parents did is unjust and morally wrong in order to prevent them from rising against it. The government doesn’t want the children, and the rest of the world, to think it is normal that they are born. In my opinion, I believe that the government wants to easily keep track of its people. Therefore, it forces everyone to think and act the same way. The government would easily find out who is misbehaving when everyone is doing the same routine while one person is doing it reverse. This allows the government to obtain absolute control over everyone.