Last Stanza; Danielle Sison

"Oranges and lemons, say the bells of St. Clements..." (178)

What is significant about this poem for this story? Winston seemed to be in dire need to know the last stanza, but why?

As soon as I noticed Winston fustratingly searched for the poem, I foreshadowed his death. I believed that as soon as Winston found the last line to the poem, he will die. In theory, the poem could represent the forgotten past, a piece of history that survived the era of Big Brother. And when Winston finds the last line to this poem, he will complete his total separation from Big Brother. The day he entered O'Brien's home, Winston found the last part of the poem. Although, he did not die right away, he was declared dead. Because that was the day, he exposed his opposition against Big Brother.

It's a Dead Language; Danielle Sison

"You think, I dare say,that our chief job is inventing new words. But not a bit of it!" We're destroying words..." (51)

The author notes the reader that Oceania is being destroyed, not transformed. When a language is created, it is replaced by new words of new sounds. Language defines society, it what differentiates one society from another. But the author takes the time to emphasize that the effect of Big Brother is destroying society. When Newpeak, the destruction of words/language, begins to replace Oldpeak, it slowly destroys the world before the era of Big Brother and Oceania.

Julia; Danielle Sison

Julia is a rebellious youth. Her sexuality is in defiance of Big Brother. She also is in within some skill that differentiate herself from others. She is smart, described as cunning, with mapping knowledge of Oceana. She is always in charge within the relationship between Winston and her. The fact that she is independent and takes charge defies the roles of men and women, where men must be the provider. In 1984, this is extremeley bold. Her past is not normal either, she had relations with a 60 year old when she was 16, very uncommon.

"Once when he happened in some connection to mention the war against Eurasioa, she startled him by saying casually that in her opinion the war was not happening. The rocket bombs which fell daily on London were proably fired by the Government of Oceania itself," (153)
- When I read this excerpt, I found it to be unorthodox and "out of the box." This possibility never occured to me.