Winston is severely exhausted in Chapter 9 due to an intense period of work, stemming from a sudden and dramatic shift in Oceania's political alliances during Hate Week.
The Cause of Winston's Exhaustion
Winston's profound exhaustion is primarily a result of working an arduous 90-hour week. This grueling schedule left him feeling physically depleted, which he describes as being "gelatinous, like jelly."
The necessity for these excessive hours arose from an unprecedented event during Hate Week: Oceania abruptly altered its allies and enemies. This sudden reversal required immediate and extensive work from individuals like Winston, who were responsible for manipulating and rewriting historical records to reflect the new, official narrative.
The Sudden Shift in Alliances
The change in war allegiances was a core reason for the demanding workload. Prior to this, Oceania had always been in a state of war with Eastasia and never with Eurasia. However, without warning, the Party declared a new reality: Oceania was now, and had always been, at war with Eurasia and allied with Eastasia.
This instantaneous transformation of historical facts necessitated immense effort to erase all previous records and replace them with the new, contradictory information. This fundamental shift is summarized below:
| Aspect | Previous Official Stance | New Official Stance |
|---|---|---|
| Enemy | Eastasia | Eurasia |
| Ally | Eurasia | Eastasia |
| Historical War | Always at war with Eastasia | Always at war with Eurasia |
The immediate and comprehensive re-fabrication of history, down to every newspaper, book, and propaganda poster, explains the unprecedented demands placed on Party members like Winston, leading directly to his extreme exhaustion.
