How does this chapter prepare for what is to come later in the novel? Example : What image of bleakness are presented, what abuses of people's...

The opening sentence
lets the reader know the setting of the story is not the current day because our clocks do not
strike 13. The reader also is quickly aware of the bleakness of the setting when the description
of the smells refers to boiled cabbage and old rag mats.  A general air of gloom and depression
is pervasive in the introductory description and a definite sense of foreboding is present in
the revelation of the caption under the huge poster of Big Brother. ...