PART 2

Chapter 1

Summary

Four days later, at his work, Winston was on his way to the lavatory when he noticed a solitary figure coming towards him from the other end of the corridor.  It was the dark haired girl.  Her right arm was in a sling and just when they approached one another, she stumbled and fell.  Winston went to her aid and she said that she was alright. She held out her hand to him and he helped her up. She departed, but Winston had a piece of paper in his hand.

He returned to his work cubicle conscious of the fact that his every action was monitored. He had managed to open up the piece of paper, but did not know its contents. Did the message contain his death warrant? Was he being ordered to commit suicide? Was she a member of The Brotherhood wishing to make contact?  Eventually, after a long period of time, he read the entry on the note, which said ‘I love you’. He read it again to make sure and then disposed of it with some other papers, down the memory hole. Winston wondered how he could make contact with the girl without arousing suspicion. The only time they could be together would be in the crowded canteen, and even then only if their shifts matched.  Everyone was working hard in preparation for Hate Week, so they would have even less opportunity of meeting casually. 

A feeling of admiration came over Winston at the girl’s courage in passing this note to him. Only a few nights previously he had considered killing this girl and now he thought of her naked, and being in possession of her youthful body. He could not follow her home, because it would mean loitering outside the Ministry and this would be noticed.  He could not send her a letter, because all mail was opened – in fact very few people wrote letters except for special occasions and the Ministry already composed these messages for you. 

Eventually, after many days, Winston had the opportunity to be alone with the girl in the canteen. He sat down opposite her at the table and they spoke to one another with low voices, but did not look at one another.  They arranged to meet in Victory Square at 19 hours.

At the appointed time, the Square was full of people waiting for a convoy of Eurasian prisoners.  Winston spotted the girl and they both ran with the crowd towards the approaching convoy.  They struggled in the throng of people and were eventually side-by-side.  She gave Winston details of a rendezvous in the countryside where they could be together without being observed.

Interpretation

In an amazing transformation, the girl goes from enemy to prospective lover, and it has been the girl that has made all the running. 

In Part 1 of the book, we have seen that Winston has committed minor Thought Crimes.  He is now ready to seriously go against the Party line, and he cannot go back on this and he realizes that eventually he will be caught.  We obtain an insight into the oppressive nature of this regime and how the Party controls its citizens through fear and by draconian rules.

Until Winston read the note, he was merely existing, like a worker ant for the collective.  Now he had a reason to live, but ironically he appreciates that this newfound life might be very short. His life has no meaning and is, therefore, manic, but now this invite into a period of adventure may help his sanity.