Chapter 4

Summary

Winston decides to rent the room above Mr. Charrington’s shop where he had previously obtained his diary. Despite a voice telling him this was folly, he need to have private time with Julia was more compelling. They would probably be caught within a few weeks nevertheless he was willing to take the risk. 

He will always remember their first time together in that room.  She had brought items bought on the black market with her including real sugar (not the saccharine stuff), but the real prize was coffee.  This they enjoyed with their bread and strawberry jelly – a great feast. 

The main source of items for racketeers are the servants of Inner Party members, who enjoy the luxuries of sugar, coffee, real chocolate and bread. 

Julia went on to say that she was going to get a dress to wear in the room instead of her overalls. She was already wearing make-up, which made her even more attractive.  This was going to be their love-nest and it was the first time that Winston took off all his clothes with Julia. They enjoyed the luxury of a double bed, which only the proles now used.

Winston woke up to the noise of a rat in the room, which had crept in through a hole in the wall.  He hates these animals and it was Julia who chased it back, and stuffed up the hole.  She comforted Winston.

Julia was fascinated by Winston’s coral paperweight. He described it as a little piece of history that Big Brother couldn’t alter.  It is a message from 100 years ago, if only we knew how to read it.   Julia also asked about the picture on the wall and Winston said it was the church of St. Clement’s Dane, and he recited the rhyme that Mr. Charrington had taught him. To his surprise, Julia continued, “You owe me 3 farthings, say the bells of St. Martin’s, When will you pay me, say the bells of Old Bailey.”  Julia explained that her grandfather had taught her this rhyme. She wondered what a lemon was, and Winston said he knew what an orange was, and it was probably similar.

Winston thought that their room was like the paperweight, and they were the coral that was inside, and they hoped they could be fixed there for eternity.

Interpretation

Julia is more in tune with the ways of the Party than Winston. She believes that it was the Party that invented the war machines, and that they have always been at war with Eurasia.

The renting of the room is the start of a type of domesticity for the couple, and they already pretend that his is the real world and that what goes on outside is just a bad dream. Julia seems quite content to fall into the role of the homemaker and provider of luxuries, which is a departure for her, and clearly this relationship with Winston is more important than those previously. 

Winston would still like to take his rebellion a stage further, but as yet does not have the means to carry out this action.