In "1984," Winston engages an old man in a pub, seeking to learn if life was better before the Party's rise. Winston's quest for historical truth and connection with the past reveals the Party's control over information and memory in the dystopian narrative.
In George Orwell's "1984," during Winston's conversation with the old man in the pub, Winston is trying to get the old man to answer the question of whether life was better or worse before the revolution that led to the rise of the Party. Winston seeks insights into the past, hoping to understand the historical truth and the impact of the Party's rule on society. The exchange underscores Winston's curiosity about the suppressed history and his desire for a genuine connection with the past, a sentiment forbidden by the Party's control over information and memory.