Oranges and Lemons

“Oranges and lemons, say the bells of St. Clement’s!” (Page 178)

When a person looks back on their childhood, it is common for them only to have faint memories of their past rather than remembering moments with vivid detail. Instead of remembering the day they learned to walk or talk, they remember their favorite stuffed animal or tv show. With his inclusion of the nursery rhyme, “Oranges and Lemons,” Orwell draws upon the fact that sometimes the most nonsensical and seemingly unimportant parts of one’s life are, in fact, the most influential. This particular poem is frequently recited throughout the book, each time being added to with a new verse. At the end of each stanza, a different church is mentioned demonstrating, in Winston’s eyes, how the past has been completely manipulated by Big Brother seeing as how these once historical buildings are now nonexistent. One of the key reasons Orwell makes reference to “Oranges and Lemons” is because of the significance of the last line. “Here comes a candle to light you to bed / And here comes a chopper to chop off your head!” is directly related to Winston’s final day with Julia; he and Julia are essentially lured in, “lit to bed” if you will, only to be reprimanded by Big Brother, the metaphorical “chopper.”

"Oranges and Lemons Rhyme." Nursery Rhymes Lyrics, Origins and History. Web. 11 May 2010. http://www.rhymes.org.uk/oranges_and_lemons.htm.