[maxbond]

I'd forgotten that part, and I certainly offer no defence of Winston's willingness to commit violence (as it's deplorable, agreed).

I would say that his persecution is absolutely real. There's the scene where he's talking to his loudmouthed friend in the cafeteria and he's like, "This guy talks to much, one day he's just not gunnuh be here. Oh well." The converse being, Winston is reserved at work because he knows he'll be disappeared too if he speaks his mind.

When he does start to express himself it all comes tumbling out. I'm not sure he actually would be willing to throw acid on a child. I think he's just trying to say whatever it is that will get him employed at a revolutionary, because he's desperate to do something.

What I thought you had been referring to was how the whole thing was a bit of a setup from the start (the love nest was bugged, etc).