Philosophical Viewpoints
The endless meaning of life, power, and history.
In the book 1984 by George Orwell we meet a middle aged man named Winston. Winston's whole life he lived by obeying the party, the party controlled everything he did, said, and even thought. Then one day Winston wondered what he is living for. Why does he exist ? What is the importance of his life? Is he living or just existing? Winston realizes reality doesn't exist in the mind of the individual, however reality exists in the mind of the party. Winston realizes that reality is subjective in his life. He can not step outside his life and experience objective reality. Winston is different from his peers, he thinks things that his peers don't wonder or understand. Winston fights to hold onto his human spirit, the one thing the party wants him to let go of the most. Nearly everyone around Winston exists and lives to fulfill the party's wishes and demands, however Winston rebels which makes him a easy target.
Quotes
"Until they become conscious they will never rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious." Book 1 chapter 7
In this quote Winston explains why he is different from this peers. He explains that he knows about what the party is doing and why they are doing it. Because of that, Winston rebels and tries to gain freedom. Until the rest of the citizens know about what the party is doing they will not rebel.
"Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past." Book 3 Chapter 2
Winston states this quote numerous times. The party controls the past, so they control the future. The party also controls the present, as well as the past.