What does the Journal symbolize in 1984?

Winston’s diary is a book he stumbled upon where he now writes down all his thoughts. Yet, it symbolizes something much bigger. By writing his thoughts in this book Winston is committing one of the greatest crimes.

Where did Winston get the journal in 1984?

From a drawer in a little alcove hidden from the telescreen, Winston pulls out a small diary he recently purchased. He found the diary in a secondhand store in the proletarian district, where the very poor live relatively unimpeded by Party monitoring.

What does Winston copy into his diary?

Winston writes in his diary that any hope for revolution against the Party must come from the proles. He believes that the Party cannot be destroyed from within and that even the Brotherhood, a legendary revolutionary group, lacks the wherewithal to defeat the mighty Thought Police.

What do the rats symbolize in 1984?

Rats. The rats symbolize whatever deepest fear lurks inside a person’s heart. Orwell undermines the heroic gesture by saying that our deepest fears are stronger than our deepest love or deepest loyalty. In the end, we can all be broken; we can all betray our deepest ideals.

Why is writing a diary illegal in 1984?

This is a harsh punishment designed to deter anyone from keeping a diary and, therefore, from expressing themselves and their feelings—or keeping a written record. That there are no laws in Oceania gives the impression that the people are free to live as they choose.

What happens to the paperweight in 1984?

Winston buys a paperweight in an antique store in the prole district that comes to symbolize his attempt to reconnect with the past. Symbolically, when the Thought Police arrest Winston at last, the paperweight shatters on the floor.

What does Winston write about in his diary in Chapter 6?

In Chapter 6, Winston Smith confesses in his diary about a visit to an aging prostitute. Winston also thinks about his wife, Katharine, who has been out of his life for nearly eleven years. They separated because Winston could not stand Katharine’s orthodoxy to the Party or her coldness toward him.

What is Winston’s nickname for his wife?

Winston describes his estranged wife, Katherine, as possibly the most empty-headed person he’s ever met, and he mentions that she swallowed every Party doctrine without question. She was remarkably stupid, and he nicknamed her the “human soundtrack” because there was not a thought in her mind that was not a…

Why is it called Room 101?

The idea of ‘room 101’ is riveting. It was invented in George Orwell’s book, 1984. It was apparently named after a conference room at the BBC where George Orwell had to sit through tedious meetings. In recent years it has featured in a BBC2 series, ‘Room 101’ where celebrities throw away their least favourite things.

Why does Winston Smith hate rats?

Everyone has something they’re afraid of—the government in 1984 knew that rats were what Winston was particularly afraid of, which is why they used rats to terrorize him. If he had been especially afraid of spiders, they would have used spiders.