Physical existence and its meaning to Winston

Within 1984 Winston is able to see reality as an external thing from himself and something that is tangible in his mind. "When you delude yourself into thinking that you see something, you assume that everyone else sees the same thing as you. But I tell you, Winston, that reality is not external. Reality exists in the human mind, and nowhere else. Not in the individual mind, which can make mistakes, and in any case soon perishes: only in the mind of the Party, which is collective and immortal. Whatever the Party holds to be the truth, is truth. It is impossible to see reality except by looking through the eyes of the Party. That is the fact that you have got to relearn, Winston. It needs an act of self-destruction, an effort of the will. You must humble yourself before you can become sane." (Orwell 1984) During the interrogation O'Brian is interrogating Winston and is attempting to convince him that reality does not truly exist and that only the party has the wisdom to determine what reality is. O'Brian also makes an effort to show that Winston's understanding of his existence is something that is destroying him while making him delusional and; therefore, he must submit to the ways of the party to finally become a sane human being and a cogent member in society.