1984- Blog #5 & 6: His Own Coral

    Winston is living in a grim and dreary world, where his monotonous actions are constantly under scrutiny. The wrong look or phrase could lead to vaporization. Winston is trapped, and the only aspect of his life where he has the slightest bit of control are his thoughts. After the revolution, the government has acquired complete control over the lives of the citizens, and Winston is left wondering about the purpose and value of his lonely life. One day, he is wandering around in the proletariat section of town when he happens upon a shop with antiques. One of the items that catches his eye is a glass paperweight with a coral center. Winston remarks that it captures his fascination because "There [is] such a depth of it, and yet it [is] almost as transparent as air" (147). The glass figure does not serve a direct purpose, and therefore the government has not been able to corrupt and disfigure its original meaning. The natural and innate beauty of the piece captures Winston's attention, just like the relationship he shares with Julia. The first free conversation they share happens in "a natural clearing, a tiny grassy knoll surrounded by tall saplings that shut it in completely" (119). The time spent with Julia in the clearing is like the coral in Winston's life. He appreciates the beauty of this setting just as he appreciates the glass artwork. The clearing allows emotion and natural desires to be expressed without the oppression of BB. At first, Julia and Winston have sex as political defiance. However, their emotions stem from political agitation to fondness and affection for one another. Winston wants to be able to share a loving, natural, and open relationship with Julia. He wants a relationship that is deep and palpable, just like the crystal paperweight.