Part 1, Chapter 5 Summary

Winston heads to lunch. The lunchroom is deep under ground with low ceilings. Today the room is crowded and noisy. Winston runs into Syme, who works in the Research Department. Syme was hoping to get an extra razor blade from Winston since he'd run out. Winston lied and told him he didn't have any. Razor blades were one of the many items that were short in supply by the Party. At any particular time, there was any number of necessary items that Party members went without. There was always the option of attempting a search on the free market but it was usually to no avail.

They sat down together to eat their regulation lunch that consisted of a bowl of pinkish-gray stew, a small piece of bread, a nugget of cheese, and a cup of Victory coffee served without milk...