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Winston picked his way up the lane through dappled light and shade, stepping out into pools of gold wherever the boughs parted. Under the trees to the left of him the ground was misty with bluebells. The air seemed to kiss one’s skin. It was the second of May. From somewhere deeper in the heart of the wood came the droning of ring-doves.

This passage from Book Two, Chapter 2 about the calm and scenic countryside outside of the city drives home just how grimy and uninviting the London depicted in 1984 is. Read more about this quote in Quotes by Setting: London, Oceania (the fourth quote).

‘I was a troop-leader in the Spies. I do voluntary work three evenings a week for the Junior Anti-Sex League. Hours and hours I’ve spent pasting their bloody rot all over London. I always carry one end of a banner in the processions. I always look cheerful and I never shirk anything. Always yell with the crowd, that’s what I say. It’s the only way to be safe.’

In this quote from Book Two, Chapter 2, Julia describes the clever subterfuge she employs to outwit the Party. As discussed above, Julia’s energy and vivaciousness contrast sharply with Winston’s defeatism, but here she reveals herself to be his soulmate (and ultimately his only ally) in resisting the Party. The explanation for this quote in Quotes by Character: Julia (the second quote) discusses how her deceptions are the mirror opposite of other characters in the novel pretending to be something they are not.

‘It was something in your face. I thought I’d take a chance. I’m good at spotting people who don’t belong. As soon as I saw you I knew you were against THEM.’

In this further quote by Julia in Book One, Chapter 2, she implies that her attraction to Winston is political rather than physical. Read more about this quote in Quotes by Character: Julia (the third quote).

‘Listen. The more men you’ve had, the more I love you . . . I hate purity. I hate goodness. I want everyone to be corrupt to the bones.’

In this statement by Winston to Julia in Book Two, Chapter 2, we learn that they share an appreciation of sex as an act of political resistance. You can read more about this quote in Quotes by Character: Winston (the third quote).

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