Why is the coral paperweight significant in 1984?

The paperweight
is something that he finds beautiful, but doesn't serve an essential purpose. In his society,
anything pleasurable is forbiddden and considered dangerous. The paperweight represents his
rebellion against this oppression and takes him back to his childhood before the Party took
over, when you could have or do something just because it brings pleasure. It also is a symbol
of his relationship with , which exists simply to share pleasure and he finds her beautiful. She
doesn't serve a 'useful' purpose like providing offspring or a lifetime
mate.