Let's jump right in and begin with O'Brien, a man who we now know to be a member of the Brotherhood disguised as a member of the Inner Party. His character serves as a representative of this counter-movement, a person with inside-access who would never be suspected of disobeying. He plays the game of the Party intelligently, and is therefore able to outsmart it. O'Brien inspires Winston and passes on his knowledge in the form of a book by the one and only Emmanuel Goldstein titled "The Theory and Practice of Oligarchial Collectvism." It provides a window to the past in how the world did not always used to be like this. Starvation didn't prevail, war did not constantly take place, and people were not always conditioned to not think. It also ties the current state of the society to its famous slogan "Ignorance is Strength, Freedom is Slavery, War is Peace."
The book provides an explanation for how the society keeps its people ignorant by teaching them what to think and what words to think with. This essentially leaves no room for creativity or discovery or invention, which is what advancement depends on. Anyone who does not conform to this mentality gets killed off, which sends out a message to others about what will happen if they do the same. The book also provides an explanation for the line about war being peace. Goldstein starts with how the Party tries to keep everyone working all the time. In doing so, people have less time on their hands to think about revolution, and are instead being productive members of the Party. To use up this surplus of goods, which the Party would never dream of giving to people because it wants everyone to be impoverished to some degree, it stays in a constant state of war. However, the war is not really a war, because each of the three super-states that fight each other are self-sufficient and stable politically and economically. Therefore, it is more of a game that keeps everyone in a constant state of fear, poverty, and governmental dependence, and in turn maintains the societal structure and strength. The only problems the super-state must constantly strive to solve are "how to discover, against his will, what another human being is thinking, and how to kill several hundred million people in a few seconds without giving warning beforehand" (201). Pretty twisted, right? Well, that sums up the society as a whole. We are left with a good picture of how this society operates, yet, as Winston puts it, we are still unsure of why.
Additionally, Goldstein provides some insights that tie up loose ends from the last section. First of all, he clues in Winston to how the rhyme ends.
" 'Oranges and lemons,' say the bells of St Clement's,That last line instantly shows why the Party does not want anyone to have any recollection of the the latter half. The idea of 'growing rich' is something that the Party does not want implemented in any of its followers' minds. The Party strives to keep everyone in their own low-middle classes and not have any economic mobility for this connotes thinking for themselves and finding a way to increase their status. Overall, the main purpose of including this rhyme in the book is to show the society's repressive nature and to also provide a connection to the past through the allusions to the churches.
'You owe me three farthings,' say the bells of St Martin's,
'When will you pay me?' say the bells of Old Bailey,
'When I grow rich,' say the bells of Shoreditch." (186)
Another interesting component of this section is the continuation of the contrast between light and dark. At one point, Winston says how they are fighting in the dark, meaning they are blind to what the outcome will be in the future. The most notable scene that features this contrast is when Winston says to O'Brien that they should meet again "in the place where there is no darkness" (185). This is actually foreshadowed earlier in the book during one of Winston's dreams. It is an ironic reference to the Ministry of Love, because they always have lights on and are supposed to concern themselves with love, but actually concern themselves with torturing people. The darkness continues to represent uncertainty, fear, and hatred, but light is now also negatively associated with torture and pain, instead of representing freedom, peace, and hope. Light and dark seem to intertwine in the book, symbolizing the inability people in the society have to distinguish wrong from right and truth from falsehood. It gives readers less hope for the society's future.
Singing is another motif worth pointing out. People, especially the Proles who follow the unconsciously follow the party, sing almost constantly. I guarantee that half the people don't even know what they are singing about, though. It is a way for them to communicate still and reminds me almost of a historical reference to slaves singing in fields. The Proles are comparable to slaves in the society and their singing is a pleasant way for them to communicate. After all, you don't see members of the Inner Party walking around singing. In addition, singing is seen through the bird that whistles during Julia and Winston's first meeting in the woods. That, too, symbolizes the recognition of their societal defiance and freedom and, ultimately, hope.
Okay, now I think I have covered most of it- O'Brien and the Brotherhood, Emmanuel Goldstein's book, the mysterious rhyme, and singing and light/dark motifs. To wrap this up, I will leave you hanging on the same cliff hanger I am on. Prepare yourself for this! Julia and Winston just got caught. They are surrounded by men, voices are telling them to put their hands up, and Mr. Charrington's true identity as a member of the Thought Police just got revealed. Part III is about to get interesting, so check back soon to see what becomes of this situation as the book comes to a close.
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