Orwell's message that he is trying to convey through the reeducation of Winston Smith is one of near despair for the human man. Can human nature be changed in such a way that a man will forget his longing for freedom, dignity, and integrity philosophically and psychologically? This is the question posed through out 1984, and it demonstrates that power creates reality and truth by controlling mans minds, the only existing place of reality. Man is frail and cowardly, wanting to escape freedom, but if he was just to face the truth of surrendering his independence and honor, he would achieve this. The government takes advantage of the new mood of hopelessness displayed, and takes hold of the consciousness of the people.
1984 takes place in a dictorial society, in which power creates reality and truth. "Whatever the party holds true is the truth" (pg 205), accomplishing this by manipulating the minds of their people. Anyone who is a minority, a "lunatic" who does not conform to the party, must be convinced that he is insane. By brainwashing, "doublethink" overcomes the mind loosing every trace of individuality of love, critical thought, and emotion, unconsciously. Memory is considered a disillusion and discarded as dust. "I have brought you here to cure you, to make you sane! We do not destroy our enemies, we change their thought." (pg 209). The past starting from yesterday had been abolished day in and day out in life as people it. The government created an endless present with a "flawless" falsified past.
Humility and self discipline are the acts of sanity and not submitting to these controllable acts is the price you pay. "You believe that reality is something objective and self evident. But I tell you Winston, that reality is not external. The individual mind can make mistakes, and it is impossible to see reality except looking through the eyes of the Party, whose mind is collective and immortal" (pg 205).