1984

Editor’s notes: 1984 has a disjointed narrative structure. At times, Winston’s attention is pulled from the main story, by flashes of his torture and interrogation, or a sudden awareness of the events being discussed by the Host, Man, Father, Mother, and Martin.

All alone and hopefully unwatched, Winston dares to do the most dangerous act in society: start a diary. He knows that this will likely end in his death; there is always a chance that the Thought Police are watching, and thoughtcrime is the most grievous criminal act to commit. Still, he finds himself pushing forward in his mission, penning the date—”April 4th, 1984?”, for he cannot be sure if the year even is 1984. His nose begins to drip blood on the paper, which Winston hurriedly wipes away. Diaries are a rare thing in Winston’s world; he purchased it from Charrington, an antiques dealer. He ponders the essential question: how to communicate with the future, when his words will either be ignored if the world is unchanged,