Winston Smith's Diary: Rebellion Begins in Orwell's 1984

The Significance of April 4, 1984 in Orwell's Novel

By a strange coincidence, the first chapter of George Orwell's famous dystopian novel, 1984, begins on April 4, 1984. On this day, the hero, Winston Smith, takes the first seditious step toward independence from externally imposed structures of meaning: he starts writing a diary. When Winston begins the diary, he writes the date: April 4, 1984.

Winston Smith's Diary: An Act of Rebellion

This attempt to find his own voice symbolizes the hope of liberation, the cleansing of consciousness from imposed ideas, and the movement towards a goal, however hopeless it may seem.

The Search for Truth and Freedom

He wrote:

"Freedom is the right to say that two plus two make four. If that is granted, all else follows."

He also mused:

"If there is hope, it lies in the Proles."

Hiding from the Telescreen: Fear vs. Defiance

To write in the diary, Winston must hide from the ever-watchful telescreen by sitting in an alcove in his living room. He seems to live in constant fear of being discovered, yet he continues to write. Why?

Winston is not even sure of the exact date, further accentuating the mind control and constant surveillance endured by the people in this dystopian country. He seems to be gathering the courage to write what he truly thinks about the Party, about Big Brother, and about everything wrong with this society. Only his paralyzing fear of being caught holds him back initially.

The Crime of Self-Expression in Oceania

He describes society subjectively, perhaps so that future generations might read it and understand what was happening. He delves into his subconscious and writes without censorship about his true thoughts, expressing his pent-up anger. He writes, "DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER." Orwell emphasizes that in Oceania, freedom is a shocking and alien notion; simply writing in a diary—an act of self-expression—is an unpardonable crime, a thoughtcrime.

"DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER": A Moment of Panic

The panic that grips Winston when he realizes he has written "DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER" demonstrates his certainty in the pervasive omniscience of the Party and the efficiency of its monitoring techniques.

The Diary as a Symbol of Hope and Memory

Winston writes in the journal because he needs to feel that freedom, to momentarily forget the harsh reality of his existence. The journal represents his memory and thought processes; it's a symbol of truth, as he records events and thoughts honestly, defying the Party's control over reality and the past.