Objects of Thought

            Throughout George Orwell’s 1984 a common theme emerges, that piques the curiosity of certain individuals. The past. Winston is mesmerized by what it would be like to live in the past, how simple times would be, how freedom could exist, a society without control. Past is introduced in objects in the book. For example, razor blades a tool of the past that are extremely hard to come by. However, they are still useful and hard to come by since society has stopped manufacturing them. This item is merely wanted but many other items invoke thought.

              Due to the party’s brain washing Winston struggles to collect his own thoughts, he can barely remember his own childhood. The party is known as the savior of the past, to many people this is a happier time. Winston finds many objects of the past that allow him to reconnect with himself and express thought. In the beginning he has his diary where he quite literally can write how he feels and what he thinks. Not only objects hold significance to him. The Red-Armed Prole Woman represents Winston’s hope for a new future. Winston often mentions that if the proles were to retaliate against the party that free thought would exist. They have the numbers, they have the “rebellious” nature. The Red-Armed Prole Woman represents this moment.

              Nearing the end of Book 2 two objects begin to invoke thought in Winston. The crystal paper weight and the picture of St. Clements church. These two objects are more for foreshadowing as they eventually lead to Winston’s inevitable capture by the thought police, but before they gave him hope. He reminisced at how small and clear the paperweight was. It was as if he could see how clear his future could be, he just didn’t know how to reach. In the end, the crystal paper weight broke, as if his hope for the future was shattered as well.