Analysis of Themes

The slogan of the Party is explained in the pages between 152 and page 179 of chapter 9. Winston is given a book on oligarchical collectivism by Emmanuel Goldstein after Winston's meeting with O'brien. The parts of "Ignorance is Strength" and "War is Peace" are explained in chapter 9 while "Freedom is Slavery" is explained by O'brien later in the book.

"War is Peace" is a way to explain the economic stability of Oceania. As one of three powers, Oceania's industry produces so much of everything that it can produce a surplus. To counter this, Oceania, Eastasia, and Eurasia are at constant war in order to use up the surplus. As the book explains, the war is not meant to be won, it's endless so that the surplus is used and economic stability is achieved.

"Ignorance is Strength" is the means by which the Inner Party keeps a hold of their status. In history, there is always a lower class (the proletariats), a middle class (Outer Party), and an upper class (Inner Party). The lower class is the one that usually causes the revolt with some middle class members in tow. The reason for the upper class' fall is either because of their incompetence or the lower and middle class thinking in a political manner that leads them to revolt against their tyrannical rulers. By learning, they gain the intelligence necessary to overthrow tyranny, but by keeping them ignorant and having a hold on all education no one would bother rising up due to the futility or the lower classes being satisfied.

"Freedom is Slavery" is explained by O'brien as how the people are seen as a whole. The individual is just one person who will eventually die, but the entire community is a being in itself that will never die as it always gives birth to new members. Furthermore, if everyone's minds have the some ideas and by having people give up their freedom of thought, everyone will have one-like-mind and the people will only think of Big Brother as if they were all one working entity and will be immortal.