1984 Qoute Significance Ch. 1.7,8 - 2/23

"Was the Party's hold upon the past less strong, he wondered, because a piece of evidence which existed no longer had once existed?" (79)

This quote is significant because it shows Winston's grasp of the truth and the Party's real power. The Party's hold would be less strong because of lack of proof. Since there was no proof the past was any different than what the Party said, then the Party, according to History did not do a thing. If, however, there was proof, and what the Party said was different, it would show how the strong the party is. Their hold on the past is so great that they can change it from what it was originally. Without proof of what history once was, the true extent of the Party's influence cannot be seen. For instance, if you went out into the world and saw only caterpillars and butterflies, you would think the tw are totally separate species. If you look at a caterpillar and observe it, you see that it morphs into a butterfly, all the more effective to your grasp of it because you knew it was a caterpillar before it was a butterfly. It is a paradox, since the one thing that could cripple the Party is also the reason it isn't as strong.

Anodyne-[Noun] A medicine or anything that relieves or allays distress or pain
Cumbersome-[Adjective] Burdensome; troublesome. Unwieldy; clumsy.