1984 George Orwell: What is the tone for the first chapter in Book 1 and how does Orwell establish it ?

Mood, atmosphere and tone are conveyed through a few
different literary techniques. The most straightforward way is through a description of
the setting. Often times, descriptions within the setting symbolize something. The first
paragraph of the first page in 1984 gives substantial insight. Orwell writes, "It was a
bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen." Immediately the reader
gets a sense of contradiction. April is spring, and often cloudy or rainy. But here, it
is both bright and cold. Furthermore, clocks only have twelve numbers, but the clock was
striking thirteen. 

Tone is further conveyed when, in the
same paragraph, "Winston Smith, his chin nuzzled into his breast in an effort to escape
the vile wind, slipped quickly through the glass doors of Victory Mansions, though not
quickly enough to prevent a swirl of gritty dust from entering along with him." Tone is
the author's attitude toward a subject. Winston is walking in a hunched, protective
position to protect himself from "vile wind." Notice the different attitude the reader
may believe the author has if Winston was walking through a beautiful spring day against
a gentle, caressing wind with his chin high eye and eyes gazing about. Make sense?
Because the contradictions mesh with the harsh conditions, it is likely that the
author's attitude is sorrowful or even pained. The environment does not seem ideal for
its inhabitants.

Perhaps a more tangible example of the
tone is expressed on page 18 of 1984. After writing private thoughts in his journal that
were critical about the government, the narrator tells how Winston, "could not help
feeling a twinge of panic. It was absurd, since the writing of those particular words
was not more dangerous than the initial act of opening the diary; but for a moment he
was tempted to tear out the spoiled pages and abandon the enterprise altogether."
Winston is normal citizen, yet he cannot go home and write in a journal without feeling
like he will be caught. Indeed, even the act of opening the journal with no one around
indicted him. This panicky feeling demonstrates that the author's attitude towards the
idea of a big government is one of caution. The more freedoms we submit to the
government, the more invasive (at least in Orwell's opinion) the state
becomes.