 Introduction to Oceania, Winston Smith (protagonist)  Total surveillance society-telescreens/Big Brother/Ingsoc  Winston writes secretly in his journal about his distrust/disgust for government  Remembers a young woman working in his building/this woman was following him  Remembers O’Brien, a man he believes is on his side and shares something in common with him

 Winston interrupted from writing by knock at door.  Mrs. Parsons has him fix a leaky sink while Mr. Parsons (works with Winston at Ministry of Truth/avid supporter of Party) is away.  Parson’s children playfully treat Winston as a thought criminal, enacting a role as thoughtpolice.  Winston recalls a dream of O’Brien about “meeting in a place where there is no darkness”

 Winston dreams of the deaths of his mother/sister.  He believes he is somehow responsible.  He wakes with the word “Shakespeare” on his lips  Performs Physical Jerks (daily exercise routine)  Lost in memories of surviving bombs as a child, he messes up on the exercise and the telescreen director shouts at him.

 Chapter focuses on Winston’s job, the Records department at the Ministry of Truth  He is in charge of “correcting” the news media in regards to Big Brother- by doing away with the “false info” and passing the “corrected info” through to print.  Winston is tasked with rewriting an article about a fictional war hero, Captain Ogilvy. He writes a speech that Big Brother was supposed to have given commending this hero that never existed.  Winston realizes he can create a dead man, but not a living one.  Ogilvy now exists on record in the same manner as living people, due to Winston.

 Winston has lunch in the canteen with coworker/comrade Syme, who works in the Research Department. Syme is a genius of sorts, but too smart for his own good.  Winston imagines that the Party might vaporize Syme someday.  Syme and Winston discuss Syme’s work on revising the Eleventh Edition of the Newspeak dictionary. Syme tells Winston that the aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought, with the end goal of making thoughtcrime literally impossible since there soon will be no words in which to express anti-Party sentiments. In fact, no one will even be able to conceive of rebellion.

 There is a mention of the Chestnut Café where discredited party members and even rebels are said to have gathered. It is allowed, but considered taboo.  The brunette co-worker Winston fancies but hates suddenly stares at him in the canteen. Winston is so paranoid he confuses lusty looks with thoughtcrime suspicions. If this girl is a member of the Thought Police, he’s up criminal creek without an alibi paddle.

 Winston remembers an encounter with a prole.  This is an intimate meeting that exposes Winston’s desire to rebel against the government’s restriction on love and sexual behavior.  The prole is quite elderly and Winston is both disgusted and reflective on the meeting.

 Winston writes in his journal that the Proles will rebel and change society.  The Proles are the working class.  HE believes that if they become conscious of the fact that they can improve their condition, they could overturn the Party.  He remembers three men who were arrested and executed as enemies. Winston had a picture of them come through, proving they were part of the Party, but destroyed it in fear that it would reveal him as a Thought Criminal, against the government.  He remembers seeing the three in the Chestnut café, post-death, but destroys the evidence.

 “Under the spreading chestnut tree, I sold you and you sold me” (literary?)  He feels he is writing his journal for O’Brien, the only person he feels is on his side.

 Winston walks through a Prole neigborhood.  A bomb falls, normal behavior for this time period.  He meets Mr. Charrington, who sells him an antique paperweight, shows him an upstairs room. There is no telescreen.  Winston sees Julia upon leaving, scared she is following him.  Winston remembers the dream of O’Brien.