1984 Part 2 Chapter 1 Quiz

In the second chapter of 1984, Winston develops some feelings toward the young dark-haired girl. At first, he is afraid that she will expose him as a traitor of Big Brother and the government, but apparently it does not seem to be the case. In an awkward encounter where the girl falls on her broken arm, she hands Winston a small note as he helps her get up after her fall. As soon as Winston reads the small note that reads “I love you”, he finds it hard to focus and concentrate on his work. “Only five nights ago he had contemplated smashing her skull in with a cobblestone; but that was of no importance. He thought of her naked, youthful body, as he had seen it in his dream.... A kind of fever seized him at the thought that he might lose her, the thought that he might lose her , the white youthful body might slip away from him!” (Orwell 92). A while ago, Winston considered murdering her because he hated her because of the possibility that she might turn him in to the government. However, he now hates her for another reason. The dark-haired girl represents his vulnerability to love. She is capable of making him experience true love. He hates her for representing his gullibility when it comes to love and emotion. The girl might be provoking him to express emotion to expose him to the government, but she might actually love him. Winston is having a difficult time during this part of the story. The risk of being caught in love is severely punishable, but emotions sometimes take control of our minds and avoid usual habits. Winston will probably take the risk and love the young girl.