Can Big Brother decide what is real and what is not?

In 1984, Big Brother can absolutely decide what is real and what is not. In fact, to do this, all Big Brother and the Party need to do is to control the flow of information, and as we see from the story, that is constantly happening in Oceania.

Let's take Winston's job for example. It is his responsibility to rewrite the past according to the Party's instructions. When he is told to write about...

In 1984, Big Brother can absolutely decide what is real and what is not. In fact, to do this, all Big Brother and the Party need to do is to control the flow of information, and as we see from the story, that is constantly happening in Oceania.

Let's take Winston's job for example. It is his responsibility to rewrite the past according to the Party's instructions. When he is told to write about an upcoming chocolate ration, for example, Winston is rewriting the past and changing what is real. It doesn't matter that the Party said there wouldn't be a chocolate ration; that phrase has been erased from history and is no longer real, because it doesn't exist.

Similarly, when it comes to the war in Oceania, the Party switches from having a war with Eurasia to Eastasia. As Winston says in part 2, chapter 9, the Party does not admit that a change has taken place. It doesn't have to because nobody would dare to argue otherwise. What this shows is that the Party is able to determine what is real and what is not, without explanation, because people are too afraid to disagree. They simply accept what they are told as fact.