is Strength". These words are the official
of the Party, and are inscribed in massive letters on the white pyramid of the Ministry of Truth, as Winston observes in Book One, Chapter I. Because it is introduced so early in the novel, this creed serves as the reader?s first introduction to the idea of doublethink. By weakening the independence and strength of individuals? minds and forcing them to live in a constant state of
decrees, even if it is entirely illogical. For example, the Ministry of
Peace is in charge of waging
war, the Ministry of
Love is in charge of political torture, and the Ministry of Truth is in charge of doctoring history
books to reflect the Party?s
ideology. The Party develops this ability in its citizens by undermining their
individuality, independence, and
autonomy and by creating an
environment of constant
fear through
propaganda. In this way, the Party breaks down their ability to
think rationally and makes citizens accept and believe anything they tell them, even if it is entirely illogical.
The motto
War is Peace indicates how having a shared enemy unites
the people of Oceania and helps them remain on a common course. It gives them something to worry about external to the way the country is being run, which is happening somewhere else. It helps to prevent them from becoming consciously aware of the obvious problems in their own
society. This mentality, put in place for the benefit of the Party, gives
the people someone other than the
government to blame for their problems, making them easier to rule.
The second motto,
Freedom is
Slavery, represents the message that the party imparts to the community that anyone who becomes independent of
society?s control is bound to be unsuccessful. A
society that is based on free will result in
chaos and the devolvement of the
society. Since the slogan is commutative, if
freedom is
slavery then
slavery is
freedom. Here, the Party communicates the message that those who are willing to subjugate themselves to the collective will or the will of the
society which by
definition is the will of the Party will be freed from danger and wanting what they can?t have.
Society defines what is good, what is acceptable, what is desirable. Those who focus on those things and on fulfilling the will of the
society will be free from despair and will lack nothing, at least nothing that
society, or the Party, condones.
"
Ignorance is Strength" means that it is this
ignorance that maintains the power of the
government and the seeming coherence of the
society. It is only through
ignorance that people can find the strength to live in a totalitarian
society where the
government oppresses them even while communicating to them how fortunate they are.
Printed in USA
