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Part III Chapter 4

What is the main idea of this chapter?

Winston has no idea whether it is night or day because the lights are always left on: "He had long grown used to sleeping with a strong light on his face. It seemed to make no difference, except that one's dreams were more coherent."

What does"coherent"mean?

Winston struggles to educate himself into alignment with the "immortal collective brain" of the Party: "By what external standard could you check its judgements? Sanity was statistical. It was merely a question of learning to think as they thought."

What does"statistical"mean?

Winston begins to exercise himself in crimestop by presenting himself with "…propositions —— 'the Party says the earth is flat', 'the party says that ice is heavier than water' —— and trained himself in not seeing or not understanding the arguments that contradicted them."

What does"contradicted"mean?

After crying out Julia's name, Winston "lay back on the bed and tried to compose himself. What had he done? How many years had he added to his servitude by that moment of weakness?" What does 'servitude"mean?

Winston knows that he will be punished for bursting out with Julia's name. While he waits to hear the tramping boots coming for him, "For the first time he perceived that if you want to keep a secret you must also hide it from yourself."

What does"perceived"mean?

Before directing that Winston be taken to Room 101, O'Brien asks him to state his true feelings toward Big Brother. How does Winston answer?

O'Brien says that it is time for Winston to "take the last step". What does he say the last step is?

Were there any words that you did not know?
You can always list them here.