Significant Quote From 1984

Orwell starts chapter VII off with Winston writing in his diary. Winston states, "If there was hope, it must lie in the Proles, because only there, in those swarming disregarded masses, eighty-five percent of the population of Oceania, could the force to destroy the Party ever be generated" (Orwell 69). Winston, as we have learned, has these thoughts because he has hope for society for the future and wants everything to be changed. Winston knows that the Party would be hard to corrupt but he believes that hope lies with the Proles. The Proles make up 85% of the population, therefore it would be easy for them to take over the Party if they had the desire to. Because the Proles don't necessarily have the desire for things to change, the Party does not have to keep a close watch on them at all. Winston knows that they aren't watched like everyone else is therefore if they did decide to try to make a change, it would be much easier to organize a revolt because they are being paid no attention by the party.

I believe this quote is important because it sets a base for Winston to build off of with his ideas. Winston needs some kind of a revolt so he writes down his ideas and feelings which he is not allowed to do. Also, with Winston writing these ideas down and when he continues to do so, he can put them all together and make himself a plan and if he comes across someone that he can trust enough, he can try to get others to believe what he sees and more or less, make them snap out of it.