Blog post #8

"Oceania was at war with Eastasia. Oceania had always been at war with Eastasia" (Orwell, 182).

This quote is interesting because of the action that surrounds it. We've been informed that history (especially war allies or enemies) are changed every so often in the world of 1984. But until now we haven't seen the actual process that occurs when one of these drastic historical changes is made. The change comes in a simple slip of paper, placed into a speaker's hand during Hate Week. This small slip of paper sets of a chain reaction in Winston's department. The workers have one week to completely erase any record implying a war with Eurasia. Because of this, Winston is forced to take 18 hour shifts, altering every last word. The idea that a small slip of paper delivered in such an unplanned fashion can lead to that large of a disruption is astonishing. It's similar to the idea that when a butterfly beats its wings, a hurricane appears on the other side of the world.