Furthermore, the Jerks themselves are also very strict. The name of “Physical Jerks” immediately suggests the theme of discomfort, present throughout the book, which is further supported by the way Winston “forced his shoulders painfully backward”. Even the woman’s movements were not made “gracefully”, but with “remarkable neatness and efficiency”. Again, there are no feelings anywhere but discomfort.
The use of the telescreen to watch individuals has been mentioned before, but only now is it displayed when the woman tells Winston to “Bend lower, please”. It is alarming how easily the woman can apparently see all of the people and spy on them, and this adds some tension to the scene.
The structure of this extract is equally important; throughout, Winston’s mind “slid away” to other thoughts concerning his dreams. This does show that Winston is so used to the routine that he can do it without thinking, but more importantly it reveals that Winston is unable to mindlessly follow the Party’s set schedule as they want, and as he feels other people are doing.
Another thing constantly on Winston’s mind is the need to wear a “look of grim enjoyment”, in an effort to evade the Thought Police. This is mentioned both at the beginning of the extract and more strongly at the end, when even though Winston is again in discomfort, in “a sudden hot sweat”, he must “Never show resentment!” Winston is generally very pessimistic about his future, believing he is already bound to be caught by the Thought Police, yet now he is again concerned with “a single flicker of the eyes”. Either the habit of acting completely orthodox has become involuntary, or Winston does in fact have some hope that he can survive.
