Quote 1
war
is peace
freedom is slavery
ignorance is strength
These words are the official slogans
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 propaganda-induced
fear, the Party is able to force its subjects to accept anything
it decrees, even if it is entirely illogical—for instance, 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.
That the national slogan of Oceania is equally contradictory
is an important testament to the power of the Party’s mass campaign
of psychological control. In theory, the Party is able to maintain
that “War Is Peace” because having a common enemy keeps the people of
Oceania united. “Freedom Is Slavery” because, according to the Party,
the man who is independent is doomed to fail. By the same token,
“Slavery Is Freedom,” because the man subjected to the collective
will is free from danger and want. “Ignorance Is Strength” because
the inability of the people to recognize these contradictions cements
the power of the authoritarian regime.
