Goldstein: Real or not?

[small_m1]

In the book, Winston gets caught reading 'The Book', written by Emmanuel Goldstein, and then realizes it was a setup. I'm confused if Goldstein is indeed a real person, or just a figure of rebellion and The brotherhood, almost the 'enemy' of Big Brother?

[soccergirl6]

The entire Brotherhood plan that was set up for Winston and Julia by O'Brien was a trap. The thought police went to the extremities of letting them get an apartment, getting The Book, and meeting with O'Brien to catch just two people. Winston thinks to himself in the book, of how small and insignificant he is, and of how he really doesn't pose much of a threat. The government was so insane that they would do everything to catch people.

[The Atheist]

In the book, Winston gets caught reading 'The Book', written by Emmanuel Goldstein, and then realizes it was a setup. I'm confused if Goldstein is indeed a real person, or just a figure of rebellion and The brotherhood, almost the 'enemy' of Big Brother?

All make-believe.

It's used to facilitate dissidents exposing their fears, dreams and links to other dissidents, if any.

[kevinthediltz]

Goldstein is as real as Big Brother.

Big Brother: God
Goldstein: Satan.

Eh Atheist?

[The Atheist]

Pretty much.

I think the story's been the same since man realised there was a difference between day and night.

:D

[AngelSong]

Goldstein was probably real at the beginning of the revolution, and he was a power against the Party, but he was deafeated.

I think he is just like Snowball in Animal Farm. He wanted the animals to be equal, and he went against Napolean(like big brother), who was becoming just like the humans (but worse) Napolean and his group got rid of Snowball. Eventually Snowball had so many lies told about him that he became an evil force (like goldstein) that could be blamed for everything that went wrong.

Since the same author wrote both books, I don't think this is too far fetched an idea.

[AngelSong]

I think goldstein was real at some time. If you have read Animal farm I think he was probably like Snowball the pig.

[Scmc872]

I believe that at one point during his time in the Ministry of Peace, it is revealed to Winston by O'brian that Goldstein was real and that both of them helped to write "the book."

You can infer what you will, but my understanding is that Goldstein was probably a Party member in the early stages of Oceania's development. Him and a few others (including O'Brian) formulated their plan for their country in the form of this book.

Goldstein may have actually rebelled against the Party, or he is still alive working for the Party. Either way, the Goldstein that the Party portraits is an imaginary person meant to be a figure for Party Members to direct their hate towards. His character also acts as a figurehead for "The Brotherhood," which I don't believe actually exists, but is meant to be a beacon of hope used to lure thought criminals directly to the Thought Police.