Summary - Nicole
Winston re-writes documents at his job in the ministry of truth. He makes up a character called Comrade Ogilvy who is a good citizen, rather then a past citizen named Comrade Withers. Also Airstrip one is giving citizens less food but teaching them to be grateful for it, which they are. He then makes it so Withers does no longer exist, because of what Big Brother said was wrong. This change was made so Big Brother did not appear wrong. Later Winston has lunch with Syme. Syme tells him that newspeak is supposed to limit the range of thought. Winston thinks Syme will get vaporized. Parsons apologizes to Winston for hate week, but is proud of his children. Speakers announce that there is an increase in production, however Winston deems this as false, even though everyone else is happy. That night Winston writes about his last "love moment" with a prostitute. His wife is revealed to have hated it, so when they did not have children, they separated. He is then said that he wants another sexual encounter.
Discussion Questions - Andrew
1. What do you think about Winston's lunch with Syme? - Winston's lunch with Syme was awkward. Although they socially are "comrades", they don't like each other. Shows how difficult socializing is in this world.
2. What do you think about the dark haired girl? - She is a party worker, secretly against. When she looked at Winston maybe she suspected him of thought crime.
3. Will newspeak delete thought crime? - That is the goal of newspeak but there may always be thought crime because the government will always need to punish for intimidation.
4. Do you think Winston's dreams will come true? - If he can talk to her they may but that would be serious thought crime.
Passage Master(s) - Jenelle & Meghan
Meghan - "Your worst enemy, he reflected, was your own nervous system." (67)
a) Winston speaks regarding how if you let your emotions show through your face, the thought police will likely catch you.
b) Its troubling and important because it shows how little freedom there is in Winston's world, and how even the smallest break in your mannerism can give you away as an imposter.
c) It shows how we can hide whatever we want inside our heads but as soon as we let it show in our actions, they are secret no more.
Jenelle - "...It was not even forgery. It was merely the substitution of one piece of nonsense for another. Most of the material that you were dealing with had no connection with anything in the real world, not even the kind of connection that's contained indirectly." (43)
a) This passage is one of Winston's thoughts about his own job of rewriting, or rectifying the news and other literature if it conflicts with actual events or things non-relative to Big Brother.
b) The Passage shows importance because it displays their lack of knowledge for their own history. No one in Oceania knows how they became the way they did except for some lies they think to be true. Everything Big Brother tells society could be completely false yet they perceive it as the truth. The stories that Winston rewrites are even further from the truth than the original yet it will be on record in their history forever.
c) This passage exemplifies the relevance of our history. Knowing what has happened before helps to prevent corruption and dystopian in the future, which Oceania has created.
Word Reporter - TianTian
1. imbecility - instance/point of weakness; feebleness or stupidity
Significance: the citizens have limited thoughts/speech and are monitored by the thought police which brings weakness and no wider thought.
2. indoctrinate - to instruct in a doctrine principle of ideology with a specific partisan or biased belief or point of view.
Significance: political regime ideas are being instructed to their citizens.
3. solemnity - solemn; grave/mirthless speech, tone or mood.
Significance: the tone in which the government speaks in is very manipulative.
Connector - Nav
1. Where is the events in the book? - Winston writes in his diary and remembers his significant other and their relationship and feelings towards each other.
2. What is the background of the events? - Katherine does not have much of a personality and is boring. They were forced to marry each other. She constantly pushes him away from her and the only time she wants him is when she wants to try and have a baby. This thought happens when he is writing in his diary about a dream and suddenly remembers Katherine.
3. What happens in the event? - When he tries to have sex with her she puts no effort and just lays there. She only wants to have a baby and not do it for fun, which is exactly what the government thrives for.
4. What does this remind you of in history? - It reminds me of arranged marriages.
5. What is your reason for your answer in number 4? - This reminds me of arranged marriages because they are forced and not based on true love just like Winston's relationship with Katherine. They really have nothing in common, and do not enjoy each others company.
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