For Winston, his glass paperweight represents a link to a 'missing history' he does not want to forget. It is also a link to an 'imaginary future' he dreams about. In some ways, it helps him keep sane when everything around him seems beyond understanding. Maybe this is what matters most to him.
Imagine this:
- Imagine you suddenly woke up to find yourself in an apartment like Winston, with a blue uniform on, listening to a telescreen in the background. In other words, you found yourself as a character in the book itself. And there is no escape.
- Imagine that you knew the 'truth' about Big Brother's world...but you also realized that you'd be a 'thought criminal' (and killed) if you told anyone what you knew. There would never be a way to change this. Again, there is no escape. Your only choice is to find some way to let your imagination continue to live.
- Imagine you could buy or find (1) object -- like Winston's glass paperweight -- that would help you remain 'sane' and maintain 'hope' for the future.
Challenge:
- Identify what the (1) object would be. Be creative. Anything is possible.
- Explain why this (1) object would help you keep sane and maintain hope.
- 7+ sentences.
If I woke up in the same world as Winston, my paperweight would be a small urn necklace with my rats ashes in it. I would choose this object to keep me sane because it would serve as a reminder that we all end up the same; dead. No matter what you do in this life, one day everyone on this earth will inevitably die. To me this serves as a means of motivation, to do what makes me happy instead of living in a society full of sheeple. It would also serve as a reminder of my beloved pets, and that someday I will see them again as well as my friends and family. It would also be easy to conceal by tucking into a shirt or a pocket. Overall, it would be a beacon of love and comfort, and a motivator to encourage me to live my truth.
ReplyDeleteI think the one thing I’d like to have on me is a prism, like one of those glass triangles that can reflect light. It’s an odd item, but I feel like in the world of 1984, it stands out compared to many of the world’s features. From reading the book, the world that 1984 takes in seems, in its own way, dull and colorless; the sky still may be blue still and there is color around building and people, but the colors seem dulled or gray in my eyes. Considering the sun still shines, the prism would work, and reflect the light to show the true colors of the world that were lost a long time ago. I am a person who loves color, I love rainbows and I love how bright the world becomes with color. If i had to live in a duller world, literally, I think I’d go insane, because in at the very least my point of view, being around duller colors makes my world feel a bit empty, like something is missing. Being able just to see a little bit of color from long ago would let me keep a grip on myself and the truth, what happened and how great my life was back then. In a way, it’s counting my blessings.
ReplyDeleteIf I was trapped in Winston’s world, I would want to bring a piano (with connectable headphones). I know the comrades aren’t aloud to play music or express themselves, and if I were to play a piano the telescreen would hear and see, but I would use headphones, and find a place where they couldn’t see me. I would bring a piano because music is endless. I would always have something to occupy my time. Even though I am not the best at playing, I could sing and write songs. Music calms me down, and helps me remain sane. The piano would remind me of my childhood and how I used to play songs for my family and friends, in those piano concerts after only a few lessons where I played Mary Had A Little Lamb and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. The piano feels like home to me.
ReplyDeleteI would take a huge bag of weed.It would remind me of my past and give me hope.Even if i have to sit threw the bullshit of big brother at least i can be fired while doing it.It would also help me because living in that world would definitely give me depression and the weed would help me deal with it.I also believe I got everybody to smoke they would all be to lazy to go to war and big brother would fall apart.Because if you are stoned would you really be down to go to war for a state that makes sex boring.I can also bribe people with weed and get away with stuff that would get me in trouble.I would just go to the woods where Wilson met the prostitute and smoke there so big brother would never know unless it's some good weed then they'll smell it miles away.
ReplyDeleteI'm not really sure of the reason behind what's happening to me. All I know is that I'm in this strange apartment all alone unable to tell anyone anything. Since I'm stuck here I might as well look around and see what I can find. I get out of the bed I woke up in and make my way over to a dusty bookshelf with knick knacks on it. I analyze the items resting on each shelf as I come across an old polaroid with boxes of film aside it. I take the camera and film and shove them into my jacket. If I keep these with me, I'll be able to always keep visual memories with me that'll give me hope for the future or even just comfort from the past.
ReplyDeleteOne object that would keep me sane if I were to be put in the setting of 1984, I think it would be print out of all my conversations with my closest people at the moment. I often get warm in my heart thinking about my mom, friend, brother, and many others. I am a person who often likes being m=by myself but love the thought that there are others around me who support and love me. I think having that feeling would get me far in the Big Brother Society. I often read back through my text to go back to a moment in time that I would like to relive again in a sense. Scrolling back through messages is like I am time traveling back in time to a place that was better. I think that if come to my print out of messages it would be like a pick me up so I can proceed on with the day. To find this particular thing that I am looking for I would obviously need to have already printed out these messages ahead of time but I think thought of having people around is powerful for me and I feel like I would survive a lot longer in that world with the messages.
ReplyDeleteI would like to have an animal with me. A life I have to protect other than mine. But there is no way to keep a cat in one corner. They do what they want. I might pick a statue of a cat or a cat toy to remind me of the animal. Cat statues are always sleek and tall. Like a representation of confidence. Cats are a symbol of rebirth and courage. It’s always something I understood. Yet I think that I would probably buy the cat statue and It will have one broke ear and that is a representation of the cats nine lives. Anyway cats are hella symbolic.
ReplyDeleteMy first initial thought was to buy a small musical item, like a kalimba (if those even existed back then). A musical instrument would allow me to keep my creative juices flowing, it’s not like a book where I read it once and I’m done. I want something that I can keep myself continuously entertained with, and that involves change, or at least something that doesn’t remain constant. Creating my own music would prove that I still have control over my own mind and individuality, provided me hope. However, anything musical would emit a sound and if I have neighbors they could hear me and most likely rat me out to the thought police. So now I’m thinking any kind of instrument would be too much of a give-away, unless I only tried to play the approved music of the Party. Something that might be a little more safe is one of those cups that have the ball attached to the string, and you have to get the ball in the cup by swinging it. I swear those things could keep me entertained for hours on end. I’m sure eventually I’d get a little bored but it’d be fun while it lasted.
ReplyDeleteI think I'd take a small radio or a ipod,something small enough to hide but also something I could listen to music on and play everyday. I wouldn't care what kind of music that it will play I just feel as if I would need music to keep sane. I listen to music every day of the hour and it makes me feel better at any mood I am in and each song makes me feel some type of emotion. Music also makes me think more, makes me be more creative, and have a border imagination.
ReplyDeleteWhile there isn't anything that would make me feel 100% at ease and keep hope within me, the object closest to doing that is the ring that Danny gave me. He left all of his rings at my house one day and I told him that wearing a certain one made me feel powerful and he told me to keep it. I usually wear it on my thumb everyday and whenever I'm feeling anxious, stressed or bored I play around with it and it distracts me enough from those feelings that I can focus on whatever is going on around me. It would also serve as a reminder of my friends who I love which would always ground me. My friends are who I go to in any time of need because they never make me feel bad or judged. Having a little reminder of them would definitely keep me hopeful and make me force myself to keep going. Also, if I hit someone hard enough it could hurt a little bit so it could give me an advantage if I ever got into a fight in this world.
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ReplyDeleteOne thing that is guaranteed to keep my sanity is beats. Beats that resonate with the ear and soul. I can sing to these sounds, and manipulate what it gives. This is something that nobody can take away from me, something that is so sacred. When my ear hears a beat , my brain instantly processes it, finds melodies, words begin to form, and leave my mouth. I create art naturally. Sometimes the words don't make any sort of sense, and that alone to me is beautiful. All art has flaws, the sound produced is so immaculate that no matter what the lyrics are im satisfied. You can make sound wherever you are. Tapping on the floor, your thighs, the walls. Beats are around everywhere! This brings me peace and hope. No matter the location, no matter the internal conflict, sound is promised everywhere. Sanity for me stems from sound.
From sound you can find happiness .
I tend to be a very creative and sentimental person so the one object I would bring with me would be a sketchbook. Though I don’t do it much I tend to draw when I’m stressed out or just bored. It keeps me occupied and gives me room to do whatever I want on paper. The idea of turning dull objects or buildings around the setting of 1984 and making them seem more light and not dilapidated. The signs and flyers of Big Brother and turning them into signs that don’t only hold the idea of fear. It can hold a resistance to Big Brother for myself since the art can’t be seen by others. Drawing things such as simple flowers or someone smiling would give me hope that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Being able to make myself happy with just a simple pencil stroke.
ReplyDeleteThe one object that I would buy is a pillow. I would buy a pillow because no one can watch or “listen in” on your dreams. If I had to hide all of the things I know while I’m awake, I can finally let everything out in my sleep. Dreaming about the things that you can’t talk about will help keep those things alive in your head, maintaining hope that they can still happen again. Also if you are forced to keep things to yourself you are likely to forget about them, if I have a pillow I can keep those memories constant in my dreams. I also feel like the constant pressure of feeling like you could be killed at any moment for no reason could be extremely exhausting, a pillow would help resolve the exhaustion by helping me get some sleep. In conclusion, there are multiple physical and mental benefits to having a good pillow in this society.
ReplyDeleteOff the top of my head there isn't really anything that makes me feel sane or calm so this question was kind of hard for me to answer at first. My initial thought was to bring a heated blanket with my squish-mallow Pearl sewed onto it. With Pearl sewed on it technically counts as one item. I think i thought of these two things first because Pearl is an octopus squish so she has little tentacles that are comforting to hold onto and the heated blanket will always keep me warm.
ReplyDeleteMore logically thinking, I might bring a mini music player with headphones attached. Now that I think, one of the only things that really keeps me sane is music, so I feel like it would be a good idea to bring something music related. I would have to hide it really well but if it was maybe a smaller music device it'll be easier. Any type of music player would be ideal, but I would prefer something with spotify so I can listen to any from my playlists.
I was also thinking of taking a pen and a notebook. I say this because if I write out my feelings and emotions, then maybe I can keep my sanity at bay in a place like that where they control everything of me. Since I won’t have anyone to talk to, because I have the potential to die if I do, then I can write out my feelings. Even though writing is illegal, I would keep writing because my chances of getting caught are not as high as me talking to someone and telling the party that I did a “thought crime,” but that’s just my opinion. Waking up in the same world as Winston would mean to me that I am either going to die soon, or I can be like Julia, keeping up a good outer persona so that they don’t need to know how I am inside. Like Winston, I would find a place in my house to write, I can rent the apartment room above Mr. Charrington’s shop, or I would find a place in the woods, where there are no microphones or cameras, and just write. Just somewhere peaceful so that I can feel like myself again.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to wake up in the life of Winston, in a dull apartment and society, and had the idea of going to a black market to get something for my apartment, then I would go to get a mini statue of an elephant. I would get an elephant because of how powerful elephants are in general. It is said that the elephants are the ones who create the jungles and that all the animals see them as king. But the people look at the Lion as the king of the jungle, which is not true at all. They are rulers that you wouldn’t first think of as rulers, hiding in plain sight yet in clear view at the same time Which makes them humble as well. This is how I would represent myself if I were Winston. which would be my reason in buying the mini statue.
ReplyDeleteIf I ended up in Winstons position, I believe I’d bring a camera. The government would like to erase everything from our memories and keep information from us by manipulating it straight from the source, but with a camera that would make me feel a little more sane.I think the biggest thing about it is this paranoia surrounding everything. With the statistics, events, and books, they try to change things and gaslight the masses into questioning their judgement, therefore making them not trust their own intelligence. This is another factor into scaring people into submitting to “big brother.” If i can avoid that from the start I think i’d be able to manage.
ReplyDeleteAn object i would bring have with me to keep me sane is a rose pedal. I dont want the full rose flower because I feel as though the stem of the rose will bring me pain and would not give me comfort. Having the rose pedal would symbolize hope and freedom from the world around me. I would have everyone that is significant in my life hold it for like three seconds so i feel like i have all my loved ones presence around me. It would also remind me of my self. it is like even though i lost a part of my own self ( the full rose), I can still be on my own and feel a sense of love from the ones i need it from. While everything else is withering in existence, I am can feel like im staying strong full of nutrients and passion in one pedal.
ReplyDeleteHaving one object to keep on me, keeping me sane would be nearly impossible. I own too many objects that I have an emotional attachment to that would easily be confiscated. I feel that once I choose one object I would long for the other, wishing I took the other instead. I am so indecisive that realistically, I wouldn't take anything. I would keep going back and forth with objects I would take and eventually run out of time. So basically I would take myself because I can't choose one thing. I might take my one crystal, clear quartz, knowing and understanding the powers/properties it holds it would hopefully keep me sane.
ReplyDeleteIf I woke up in the 1984 universe and I could have one item with me, I would bring a few small photos. It would allow me to remember happier times so I wouldn’t always be miserable. I know that even now, when I’m sad I like to look back at old photos of happier times and it always cheers me up. I could fold them up and put them in my overalls and when I get the time to hide from the telescreens I can just look at them. I would keep photos of the people I care about most and they would all be happy pictures. SInce I’m kinda 100% stuck there and there’s technically not really any hope, I can at least have something to keep me happy, if not hopeful. It would however, keep me sane because I’ll know that things weren’t always terrible and awful before i was in this universe.
ReplyDeleteMy music teacher had serious anxiety and nobody really knew why, until this day when I looked at her “famous” paperweight that’d she always used to put on top of her stack of paper, even if there was no fan or air ventilation on. To my curiosity, I had picked it up and examined it. I don’t remember it too well, but I recall there being sand and a heart placed in the middle with some sea shells scattered about. I asked her about it and she said that the sand in it was from when she went on a vacation somewhere before her daughter had accidentally been killed by a helicopter mishap while playing on the playground with her kindergarten friends, who were too, killed. She said that having it made her feel like her daughter was always with her and that it would’ve made her proud to be a teacher. With this prompt, I feel like having something memorable and something that you think represent some kind of importance should or can be held in a paperweight to give us enlightenment.
ReplyDeleteIf I were to wake up and find myself trapped in this story I would want to have a mini picture book. I feel like having these photos would help take me back to happier days, I know that during certain times I go through my photos on my phone and they make me feel so much better. I would want just a small book or wallet full of photos of the people I love, my family and friends, that I could carry around with me in my pocket and hide from the telescreens… If I lost all else I could at least have my memories...
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ReplyDeleteIf I was in the dystopia; which is Winston’s world, my paperweight would definitely be a sketchbook with a pen. The sketchbooks of today vary in sizes, but most would be too big to sneak into my apartment. The size of the sketchbook could be as big as Winston’s journal since he was able to sneak that into his apartment. From what I’ve heard, cartoons still exist at this time period and cartoons always give me a lot of motivation and entertainment to relax. I’m definitely not a writer like Winston, but in a way we are both artists of our respective mediums. I may not be the best artist, but art represents a sense of energy among my very silent and distant persona. It literally lets me see my imagination outside of my head and even if I forget, I can go back and stare at the illusions previously drawn so the memories slowly come back. Art takes time, energy, practice and effort; so as it develops each day, it's like I’m also developing myself physically.
ReplyDeleteMy paper weight would be a mini sketchbook. Something that I could carry around with me secretly The paper weight for winston is a grounding mechanism to "keep him sane" in the crazy time hes living in. For me art is an outlet that allows me to stay grounded. When I feel stressed about school and or life I go to my sketchbook. If I was living in the same dystopia I would even more so depend on my sketch book, possibly drawing and sketching things against big brother. I feel like my sketchbook would be like winstons book, something that I would have to hide.Which is why I would have it be smaller that usual
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