Book 1 Chapters 7-8

This forum is for the discussion of 1984, Book 1 Chapter 7-8.

Sometimes SparkNotes gives away just a little too much. In this set of chapters Winston travels again down into the not quite forbidden area of the proles. He tries to visit with an old man and then a shop keeper. he purchases a paper weight. He contemplates renting a room from the man, but quickly changes his mind.
On his way home he sees the young woman and assumes she is following him.

We really get a sense of little the people are allowed to do, and how much of their lives are consumed with fear.

Winston longs for iformation about the times before the revolution but is afraid to seek out this info. he goes to a prole bar and tries to talk to an elderly man with little success. whether conscously or unconscously, he happens to be in the same area as the junk shop where he bought the diary. he goes in on a whim and strikes up a conversation with the owner whom he realizes, this time, is intellegent and knowledgeable. He buys a beautiful paperweight that may have been made in the 40's or 50's. he fanticizes about renting the toom upstairs from the shop. he learns a bit about the old times of London and is haunted by a nursery song that the old man tells him regarding churches in london.
When he leaves he sees the dark headed girl on the same street and becomes sure she is following him and up to no good. he considers killing he with the paper weight.

It seems that the time of freedom was not so long ago. The proles seem to think that ignorance is the way to go.

Would the proles have the energy and intelligence to revolt. I don't think so.

I thought the proles just carried on with their lives the best they could in and around whatever the party dictated. Even though the had become ignorant over the past 50 years they were stil more real than the people who worked directly for the party.