I recently realized that in the background of the overall plot of 1984, world wars seem to be constantly going on. They have no impact on the plot whatsoever, but seem to always be there. I'm not sure how they started or how they're going, which makes me unsure why Orwell incorporates them. The Party might see them as a way to make their citizens embrace nationalism, but in my opinion there are many other ways to do this. Is Orwell simply adding to the pessimistic vibe of Oceania, or is there something more going on?
As the novel progresses, we are learning more and more about Lauren's neighborhood. Certain social dynamics are revealed that were previously hidden, which I find very interesting. There are outcasts of the neighborhood in the Dunn family, who Lauren claims are commonly known as crazy. We learn this because of the fire that Amy Dunn causes, highlighting her destructive presence. Elsewhere, Mrs. Sims' cousins have inherited her house after her suicide. They are suspicious that people robbed the house when it was empty and generally don't trust anyone despite Lauren's father's claims. This leads to Lauren disliking them, which I'm sure will lead to problems in the future. The moment anyone remotely malicious entered the neighborhood, tense conflicts arise.
I think something else is going on!
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