Syme, a character in George Orwell’s novel “1984,” was vaporized because he was too intelligent and perceptive, which made him a threat to the Party.
In the dystopian world of “1984,” Syme works at the Ministry of Truth as a philologist, specializing in language. His main project is the Eleventh Edition of the Newspeak Dictionary, which is designed to reduce the number of words in the language and eliminate the possibility of subversive thoughts—the concept of thoughtcrime. Syme is enthusiastic about his work and takes pride in destroying words. He explains to the protagonist, Winston Smith, that the ultimate goal is to make thoughtcrime literally impossible, as there would be no words in which to express it.
Despite Syme’s loyalty to the Party and his intellectual contributions to Newspeak, his intelligence makes him a potential threat. He is too curious, too aware of his surroundings, and too openly expressive about the implications of his work. The Party cannot tolerate such a clear understanding of their methods of control, as it could lead to dissent if not kept in check.
Winston realizes that Syme’s intelligence is a danger to his own survival, and he predicts that Syme will be vaporized. Soon after, Syme disappears without a trace. His existence is erased from all records and memories, as if he had never existed—a common fate for those who fall out of favor with the Party. This serves as a chilling reminder of the Party’s power to control not only the present but also the past and the future through manipulation of records and the erasure of individuals.