1984 7

“There was another crash. Someone had picked up the paperweight from the table and smashed is to pieces on the hearthstone.  The fragments of coral, a tiny crinkle of pink like a sugar rosebud from a cake, rolled across the mat. How small thought Winston, how small it was.” (183-184)

  

          Winston had bought this small paperweight at the antique store, a while back. Orwell wrote that he found it beautiful because of “the air it seemed to possess of belonging to an age quite different from the present one.” When it is destroyed, it represents the power of the Party over the past. Like many other things and memories from the past, the Party destroys the paperweight. This small piece of coral also could represent the human heart and soul. It is so fragile, but protected by the person to whom it belongs. But somehow the party has found a way to break that protective barrier and basically remove ones heart and soul, just like they broke the glass around the frail piece of coral. 

Photo cred:   "Dive Cairns Great Barrier Reef Australia Coral Seven Natural Wonder Marine Park."Dive Great Barrier Reef Diving Australia Tours Trips Travel North Queensland. Web. 06 Sept. 2011