Orwell, George — Nineteen eighty-four [163]

‘Smith!’ screamed the shrewish voice from the telescreen. ‘6079 Smith W! Yes, you! Bend lower, please! You can do better than that. You’re not trying. Lower, please! That’s better, comrade. Now stand at ease, the whole squad, and watch me.’ … A sudden hot sweat had broken out all over Winston’s body. His face remained completely inscrutable. Never show dismay! Never show resentment! A single flicker of the eyes could give you away. — Orwell, George, Nineteen eighty-four, 163

Note

The telescreen’s reach is total: even a faltering exercise routine is a punishable lapse, and naming him by number ‘6079 Smith W’ collapses person into filing code mid-scream. The reflex ‘a single flicker of the eyes could give you away’ shows how completely surveillance has been internalized as self-censorship of the face.