Contemplate for a second....

[1948-1984]

Hello this is my first question ever posted, and in my opinion it may be my best I'll ever post.

In 1984, ink and pens are illegal in Oceania. This leads me to think- if pens and ink are illegal, where did Winston obtain them? And if someone gave them to him, they must also be thinking of counterrevolutionary activities, so why didn't Winston talk to him/her? Maybe that person gave away more ink and pens, and knows who else would accept an object that's very possession is against the law, and then they would all be able to form a union-like thing against the government. :cold:

[starrwriter]

...if pens and ink are illegal, where did Winston obtain them?
In keeping with Orwell's motif in the novel, I would presume they came from an undercover member of the Thought Police who was trying to ferret out anti-government citizens. Entrapment of this kind was used extensively in Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia -- the two main inspirations for Oceania.

[1948-1984]

Oh, I did not look at it like that. Thank you for showing me an alternate way to my point. This book very confusing :D

[PHDrillSergeant]

It's true that pens and ink are illegal, but journals and diaries are, too. Since Winston obtained the journal from Mr. Charrington, we can also assume that he got the pens and ink there, too.