Winston is unsure whether or not the lyrics to the song sung by the prole woman are meaningful. However, the fact that she sings them so tunefully does give them a certain connection to human-content that is enough to elevate them to the status of art.
In 1984, the world is divided into two classes: Party members and non-Party members, known as the proles. The members of the Party are given access to resources based on their rank and the Party controls all other aspects of society, including culture, education, and work. The proles are left to entertain themselves with newspapers, films, low quality paperback novels, and music.
Despite this, the proles are happy. They are motivated by their desire to improve their lives and the fact that they can reproduce without being watched by Big Brother. As such, they embody the Party motto of "if there is hope, it lies in the proles."
Winston, who works in the Ministry of Truth, occasionally visits a prole neighbourhood to purchase a diary from Mr. Charrington, an antiques dealer. During these visits, he notices that the proles are not indoctrinated into the Party and are unaware of Big Brother. As a result, they lack the will to rebel against their oppressive government. This is a major disappointment for Winston, who believes that "If there is hope, it lies in the proles." Winston decides to take a room above Mr. Charrington's shop for Julia and himself to live a life of comfort previously unavailable to them.
