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Berni
We are typically taught that knowledge is power/strength. In this novel, the party insists that ignorance is strength. In knowing less, there is much less responsibility on the individual. Ignorance, lack of knowledge, frees an individual from responsibility, commitment, duty, etc. If the individual is free from these human experiences which are the burden of knowledge, the individual can become much more woven into the mass entity of the "Party" and of Big Brother's regime. If that is the case, then the individual loses individuality and becomes part of something much bigger and, logically, much more powerful. Give up freedom of thought and rights to knowledge and make up part of a larger mass of people who lose individuality and become a part of something much bigger and more powerful. Give up knowledge and become part of the fabric of the party. Let Big Brother do the thinking for you.
Samantha Burns
Ignorance is strength is an euphemism that is coined by the party to make the public believe that not having knowledge about the things that are going on is powerful. When in all reality it's blind ignorance towards what’s happening in the party. The euphemism "Ignorance is strength" is shown to be true at the end of the novel where Winston loves and is relieved to see Big Brother. Compare this to the beginning where Winston saw the corruptness of the party. He lived in pain with his ulcer as a result of the stress holding in his feelings towards the party created. When Winston is blindly compliant to the government he is relieved, but when he has the knowledge of corruption and he is weak with pain.
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