Part 1 - Chapter 7

Settings

The setting of this chapter is Winston's house. He lives in a flat,  in an old block near the Parson's family.  

Characters

In this chapter  there is only a character that is Winston.

Summary

The chapter starts with Winston speaking about the proles. He says that only the proles can make the revolution against the party, but they do not know their power. Winston in this chapter speaks about the life of the proles and he says that the Big Brother considers them like animals. Later Wiston takes the history book for children and he starts reading it. In particular he reads the passage that speaks about the capitalists and the age before the revolution. After that,Winston makes a consideration about the past of the Big Brother and he asks himself if the behaviour of the party is true. After this, Winston remebers that one time he had discovered the falsity of the party. In 1973 in a coffee bar he met three leaders of the revolution: Jones, Arason, and Ruthendorf while they were drinking a gin. Winston says that these leaders were condemned but they have never been punished because the party had faked the documents. Winston takes the proof of their guilt while he is  working but he immediately reduces them to ashes. In the end of the chapter Winston makes a consideration about life and the supervision of the  party.  

 Part 1 – Chapter 8

Settings

In this chapter there are many settings: the Ministry of Truth, the proles’ area, the pub, Charrigton's shop, and, in the end, Winston's flat.

Characters

The characters of the 8th chapter are Winston, that is the protagonist of thebook,  the old man to whom Wiston speaks in the pub, Mr Charrigton, the boss of the shop, and, in the end, Amena the collegue of Wiston who is a  member of the party.  

Summary

This chapter starts with Winston that is scenting the fragrance of coffe. After this, he goes out to the Ministry of Truth where Wiston works. He sees that it is a beatiful day and so he decides to go for a walk. While Winston is walking he notices that he is in a  prolet area. Here the district is described: he says that this area stinks of acid beer. In this area there are some pubs where the proles meet and where they speak about the lottery. The proles immediately look Winston askance. Wiston goes into a pub where he starts speaking with the old man  to get new information about the age before the revolution and before the Big Brother. However, the old man doesn't speak about this and Winston leaves  the pub. He goes on walking  as long as he finds the shop where he had bought his diary. Here Winston meets Mr. Charrigton, the owner of this shop. Winston  buys a big crystal and he is astonished in front of the painting of St. Clement’s church.  After that, Winston goes out  of the shop and in the street he meets Amena , his colleague, and, concerned, he goes back home. Here he starts writing on his diary  and after this in his mind appears the face of the Big Brother that says:

WAR IS PEACE

FREEDOM IS SLAVERY

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH

Personal Comments

The two chapters are very interesting and at the same time very difficult to understand as they contain a lot of different situations. These two chapters are written very well like all the book. The descriptions are very detailed and sharp. This book is beautiful because we can enter into the events that the characters live. The author is exceptional, his imagination and his fantasy have no limits. Furthemore I like this book a lot because I can figure out the reality of the story. I think it can leave a sign in me. It makes possible for me to leave the reality and go intoto a fantastic and futuristic world, even if it is a terrible and worrying one. 

Relevant quotations

   Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious.”

   “Under the spreading chestnut tree

       I sold you and you sold me:

       There lie they, and here lie we

       Under the spreading chestnut tree”.
 

   “I understand HOW: I do not understand WHY.”

   From somewhere at the bottom of a passage the smell of roasting

coffee--real coffee, not Victory Coffee--came floating out into the street.”

   “WAR IS PEACE

FREEDOM IS SLAVERY

IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH”  

By Lorenzo