Summary

As John and Winston prepare their beds, John continues to make plans for the production of Antigone. Eventually, Winston joins in the planning, their conversation revealing that a fellow inmate, Simon, has told Winston that another prisoner, Sipho, is back in solitary confinement. Apparently, Winston says, Sipho complained about the food. John suggests that Winston see what happened to Sipho as a reminder that people who complain too much cause trouble for the others. He also reminds Winston to remember that there are two people in the cell, and Winston says he is glad to be reminded of that, because it is John’s “turn” (204).

John argues with him for a moment, with their conversation revealing that they tell each other stories to pass the time and keep each other entertained. John then pretends to be having a telephone conversation with a...