Summary
This quote is the opening line from George Orwell's dystopian novel "1984." It serves to create a sense of disorientation and establish the oppressive and unorthodox nature of the fictional world. By stating that the clocks were striking thirteen, which is beyond the usual twelve-hour system, Orwell instantly signals that something is fundamentally wrong and out of order in the society depicted in the novel. This sets the tone for the book's exploration of totalitarianism and the manipulation of truth.