1984 Section One, Part V Analysis (pp. 48-63)
by George Orwell

Winston lies to his "friend", Syme, and discusses hangings. This conversation serves to heighten the dystopian feeling of the novel. Syme's discussion of Newspeak allows Orwell to present information from the appendix to reader, which is useful because not all readers will read the footnote indicating the appendix. It is no coincidence the man engaging in "duckspeak" appears during the discussion of Newspeak. He is an example of the goal of the Party: to eliminate rebellion by eliminating the ability to think, and thus conceive of rebelling in the first place. Syme even says as much: " 'The Revolution will be complete when the language is perfect' " (52). The "duckspeak" man appears to Winston to have "two blank discs instead of eyes" (53); this is a metaphor for the man's lack of thinking, human spirit.

Winston has multiple premonitions of sorts about who in the canteen will be "vaporized" and who will not. Orwell breaks the motif of Winston's premonitions coming true here; Winston thinks Parsons will survive, when in fact he will be betrayed by his children for talking against Big Brother in his sleep. Unconscious gestures and speech are also addressed by Winston in this section and foreshadow Parsons's capture. Winston is, however, correct about Syme, who will be executed.

Parsons brags about his children turning in a man for wearing funny shows, setting an old woman on fire, and listening at keyholes with an "ear trumpet". These acts all foreshadow his children turning him in after listening at his keyhole and hearing him denounce Big Brother while he is asleep.

The telescreen describes a reality that directly contrasts what Winston sees around him. People accept it only because they lack awareness, or in the case of more intelligent people, because they choose to employ "doublethink" when they receive information that contrasts what is before their very eyes. O'Brien will later force Winston to see what is not there, force him to use "doublethink", by torturing him.

In this section, Winston notices Julia, though he doesn't yet know her name, watching him. These are her early attempts at trying to get his attention. Winston experiences fear in connection to her, which part of his premonition motif; she will cause Winston great suffering, but not in the manner he expects.