Goldstein's book

[paiges]

Hi, I am an upcoming freshmen, and for my summer reading I was assigned to read the book 1984. I am currently reading Chapter 3 War Is Peace in Goldsteins book. I am having some trouble with what Goldstein is trying to get across about the war. I have only read half of it, and if someone could help me understand and put it into simpler terms, I would be very grateful.Thnks.

[Demian]

Paiges, don't quote me here, but I'll try to help you with the essence of the message if I can remember it correctly. I don't have a copy of the book here--I lended it to someone and never got it back. What Orwell was trying to convey was the idea that as society progressed in material terms and technology made work less of a necessity that continual warfare (or the threat of war) would be the only way to maintain order. As production pumps out more goods with no one to use and re-use them, warfare is employed to destroy them and keep production at a steady pace. The powers that be know that even though peace were acheivable (which they have done, in a sense) the constant looming presence of war is the only thing to keep complete anarchy in check--which would probably break out not over political or moral indignation of any kind--but out of sheer boredom. I'll get another copy soon and see if I can refine this rather shallow attempt to help out...