"(...) even the date of the year has become uncertain." (page 44) Can you imagine living in a world where the very date of the year is unknown. When you really think about it, it's really sad. Ask me the date of the year any time, and I'll answer it without a doubt (we are in 2015). But ask it to a citizen in this book, and they'll probably hesitate for several seconds, perhaps even minutes, before they'll come up with their best answer. But even then, it is not guaranteed that it is the correct date. In a world where anarchy rules over the society, don't be surprised to get no answer when you ask what date it is. To create a fake illusion to the population, the party will invent a heroic past to a dead soldier. (page 50) That is hard core controlling! And he "who never existed in the present, now existed in the past". (page 50) It makes me realize that I am really happy to live in a society where I don't have to doubt every piece of information I learn, where I know that my past isn't just a bunch of made up lies, and where I can easily find answers to the multiple questions I have. (page 52) Now, I am not living with these character. I am not watching the scene. It is not a movie, but merely words on a page. There is no description what so ever about the way he said this. I have no way of knowing if these words were all an act, or if he truly meant it. But whether it was an act or not, these words have traumatized me. How could one take so much pleasure in watching people die? Watching their fellow neighbours struggle as they take their last gulps of air before the final moment. How can one enjoy watching another suffer a terrible death? How can one not flinch in front of this spectacle of the devil? How could one take into account so many details of the murdering of people? It makes me wonder if this is the result of living for years and years under the ruling of a totalitarian government. Syme truly disgusts me. (page 54) And he goes on and on about the destruction of words. Syme is probably my least favourite character of this book. Scratch that, he is DEFINITELY my least favourite character. Not only does he enjoy watching people die, he also loves the "art' of destroying words. That right there is censorship of knowledge. The new edition of this dictionary censors knowledge of the past, it censors words that took years and years to create and developed. It closes a door to technology, advancing in time, the spread of ideas, and futurism. I might be repeating myself, but I found a passage on page 61 to 62 that clearly explains that gullible people believe every lie that is being told. The passage explains that it was announced that the chocolate rationc was reduced to 20 grammes a week, but the next day, it was announced that it was raised to 20 grammes a week. To these news, Winston reflects: "Was it possible that they could swallow that, after only twenty-four hours? Yes, they swallowed it. Parsons swallowed it easily, with the stupidity of an animal. The eyeless creature swallowed it fanatically, passionately, with a furious desire to track down, denounce and vaporize anyone who should suggest that last week the ration had been thirty grammes. Syme, too-in some more complex way of double think-Syme swallowed it. was he, then, alone in the possession of a memory?" Is Winston the only one who didn't swallow it??? How could believe these sort of things so easily??? Once again, it makes me wonder if this is the result of being raised in a totalitarian society.
Also, what does he mean by "being alone in the possession of a memory"? I get that he can feel lonely, like he has no one to share his secrets with, that all he can do is painfully watch as his fellow citizens burn down into this empire of lies. But he being the only one "in the possession of a memory"? As though the memory of all th other people have been WIPED OUT? ERASED COMPLETELY??? Is that even possible?
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