Society develops from past experience to improve on previous mistakes in order to continue to move forward. Memories are extremely valuable in this process as they serve as a reminder of what has and has not worked in the past. However, the distortion of memories and past experience through propaganda allows society to dictate the direction that it and its pupils will move forward. In doing so, a dictatorship in a fascist society can succeed. Aggressive nationalism is a result of a fascist society as the government oppresses its people into doing what it wants. This allows for a government to maintain complete control as they suppress any kind of rebellion with their dominant presence, which is often achieved through scaring the public with military force. This essentially describes the society that is found in Airstrip One in Oceania in the novel 1984 by George Orwell. The Big Brother is the dictator in the fascist dictatorship and he is the figure the government uses to spread their aggressive propaganda. Goldstein is the rebellious figure who is secretly attempting to discredit the government to shed light on the morally skewed society. The novel follows this protagonist as he is determined to expose the lack of individuality in society. In the novel 1984, the first half of the book describes the life of protagonist Winston Smith, and his job of erasing, and rewriting history to make sure his dictator, Big Brother is always correct. A second example of the significance of memories in this novel is that without memory, the Party is able to control history. By controlling the past, the Party also controls the present. A third and final example of the importance of memories is that the Party forbids its members to keep written records of their lives, and mandates that any photographs or documents be destroyed. As Orwell stated in this novel that "Those who control the present, control the past, thus controlling the future.