Big Brother, Real?

[truedatt]

Is big brother just a made up figure, and if so y?

[The Atheist]

Almost certainly a fake. O'Brien lets out that BB must live forever. That's only possible if he doesn't exist to start with.

[lexington]

It helps show power. If something never dies, then it is almost the ultimate power. And I disagree. Big Brother is real. Its not one person, its the whole Inner Party.

[The Atheist]

And I disagree. Big Brother is real. Its not one person, its the whole Inner Party.

That doesn't make sense. I agree that BB is all of the Inner Party, but if so, he cannot be an actual person.

[David40]

Almost certainly a fake...

I would guess that BB is a real person but an aging dictator. He is shown in the many pictures of BB to be about 45 years old; almost certainly that was his age when he was in his prime as a leader of the revolution. He is much older than he is portrayed but the revolution was still recent enough that he would likely not be dead yet.

I think the real point is that whether he is physically alive or dead makes no difference. After he dies--if indeed that hasn't already happened--the Inner Party will keep the image of BB alive forever. The image of BB is far more important than the real person that image may relate to.

Think Fidel Castro. I'm sure in Cuba they still like to portray Castro as the young firebrand who took Havana by storm back in 1959 or so, even though Castro--although still alive--clearly is now very aged and is no longer capable of living up to his image.

BB, the man, is probably still alive but the image has long since eclipsed the man in importance.

[bazarov]

I would guess that BB is a real person but an aging dictator. He is shown in the many pictures of BB to be about 45 years old; almost certainly that was his age when he was in his prime as a leader of the revolution. He is much older than he is portrayed but the revolution was still recent enough that he would likely not be dead yet.



I think the real point is that whether he is physically alive or dead makes no difference. After he dies--if indeed that hasn't already happened--the Inner Party will keep the image of BB alive forever. The image of BB is far more important than the real person that image may relate to.

This statements are somehow contradictory.
So who will be new BB? Some Inner Party member? Will his picture replace picture of old BB? Or after BB dies, no one will replace him?

BB does not exist; that's why his picture doesn't change. It's just a personification of something proles cannot understand.


Think Fidel Castro. I'm sure in Cuba they still like to portray Castro as the young firebrand who took Havana by storm back in 1959 or so, even though Castro--although still alive--clearly is now very aged and is no longer capable of living up to his image.

No, they don't.
They can see him on TV and mass celebrations with gray beard and almost dead, picture's 50 years old would not have any purpose.

[David40]

This statements are somehow contradictory.
So who will be new BB? Some Inner Party member? Will his picture replace picture of old BB? Or after BB dies, no one will replace him?


Any of the above is possible. It is reasonably certain that the Inner Party will always find it convenient to personify its power in some human image. But the specific image used--as well as even the name 'BB'--can be maintained for years or decades by the Inner Party and it can also be changed in short order, much as the alliances with Eastasia/Eurasia can be changed at any time.

However, it is a reasonable guess that the human ego is always strong and that there are a few members of the Inner Party with enough power to indulge that ego. Therefore the image of BB was probably originally based on a real person manifesting their ego. Assuming a normal lifespan, assuming that we have accurate information about the amount of time since the revolution, it is reasonable to guess that person is still alive.



No, they don't.
They can see him on TV and mass celebrations with gray beard and almost dead, picture's 50 years old would not have any purpose.

I thought there were still lots of images of Fidel Castro to be found in Havana showing him in his more vigorous days.

It is true that they aren't hiding the fact that he is now quite elderly and ill, though.

[Chava]

Ofcourse there are, but Castro is also noted as not wanting images of him all over the place. He has much more encouraged the symbol of che guevara, i remember there being only few actual castro art pieces.
Although, why shouldn't they, when a figure becomes a symbol of something they are bound to be objectified. just think of che guevara.

[jorgis]

big brother is an idea, hence the ability to live on forever.

[Gerbs]

It doesn't matter if BB is alive or dead. BB is more a political figure for the party much like the Queen of England is. BB gives a face to The Party and someone to worship. Leader worship is one of the many things Orwell talked about. It is harder to worship a group of people besides just one. Overall BB give the people of Oceania someone to look up to and someone to fear if they show any signs of unorthodoxy.

[The Atheist]

It doesn't matter if BB is alive or dead.

Your other points are good - you've described BB's exact quality - he is an icon.

As to his state of being however, it's essential that he lives forever. Nobody will ever be aware that he's been alive for thousands of years - they will just know that he's been alive for all of their own lives. Just as the huge majority of people alive who have been born while Queen Elizabeth II has been Q of E.

BB's date of birth won't be evailable for anyone to know, so he can live forever quite easily.

[weallwantout]

Big Brother is their god, and the party members, including Winston himself, work to keep his image "alive" and in power.

[shadman]

If Big Brother dies, than it shows that there is a flaw in their system. He's supposed to be all powerful. Big Brother, i think is just an image, something that the citizens are forced to look up to.

[Scheherazade]

Is big brother just a made up figure, and if so y?Nope, I have got one.