Through out the book telescreens are repeating words telling society how to act. On page 66 in chapter seven a voice from a telescreen said, "Under the spreading chestnut tree I sold you and you sold me: There lie they, and here lie we under the spreading chestnut tree." Winston was in the cafe when the man on the telescreen came on. Men in the corner sto
od motionless and not speaking. Winston was brought a gin by his waiter when the telescreens came on. The page uses syntax because it shows short choppy sentences to show Winston's confusion and everything running through his mind. The quote is important to Winston because it shows how the government can come in at any moment and see what you're doing or tell you how to act. Also the three men standing in the corner never moved and were arrested after the telescreen turned on. The three men had engaged in fresh conspiracies and later admitted to other crimes. As the telescreen changed, the music changed, a yellow note appeared, and a voice on the screen repeated the quote, Rutherford was crying. When I first read the is quote I thought about how the government is taking over society and not letting people have their own thoughts or freedom. It is easy for them to watch what you are doing and inform society on whats wrong and right.
od motionless and not speaking. Winston was brought a gin by his waiter when the telescreens came on. The page uses syntax because it shows short choppy sentences to show Winston's confusion and everything running through his mind. The quote is important to Winston because it shows how the government can come in at any moment and see what you're doing or tell you how to act. Also the three men standing in the corner never moved and were arrested after the telescreen turned on. The three men had engaged in fresh conspiracies and later admitted to other crimes. As the telescreen changed, the music changed, a yellow note appeared, and a voice on the screen repeated the quote, Rutherford was crying. When I first read the is quote I thought about how the government is taking over society and not letting people have their own thoughts or freedom. It is easy for them to watch what you are doing and inform society on whats wrong and right. 
I think that the quite Alexis used is symbolic of how the government is over-veiwing everything. The growing chesnut tree that everyone is living under is symbolic of the survailance of Big Brother
ReplyDeletespreading Chest Nuts...the original title was the last man in Europe..as the chestnuts multiply man fades away..it's all English slang.. the whole book..
DeleteGood point Bruce and nice passage choice Alexis. This is an interesting and significant moment in the book. Can you explain it a bit more clearly who the three men are and why Winston is confused in this passage?
ReplyDeleteGender confusion, women's lib, …..spreading Chest Nuts tree
DeleteThe meaning that crossed my mind is that the song is a cynical jab at love. Romantic love is forbidden only love of Big Brother is allowed.
ReplyDeleteThe lovers, Julia and Winston, betrayed (sold) each other out and recall that Julia knew that she would under torture.
There is a conflict between self-preservation and protection of the beloved which is magnified under torture.
This conflict between love and self-preservation is cynically addressed in the song. The Achilles heel of the prole solidarity (required to overthrow Big Brother) is self interest, the turning of people against one another. Love, betrayal, etc., are part of the human condition.
The romantic love, that was to conquer Big Brother, is cynically mocked by the song.
The proles sell each other out as well. Human nature is used to divide and conquer the proles.