One of the biggest recurring ideas throughout the book is ambition. The reader sees first the ambition of Randolph and then the ambition of Winston. Winston is not ambitious when he is in school. He has little interest in academics until he goes to military school which is why he does poorly in school. He never attends university. He becomes interested in academic subjects when he is serving in India. He sends Jennie lists of books she would have to buy and send him. He is basically self-taught in many subjects, including oration.