Winston Smith: A Tragic Hero Essay

The relationship that was formed between Winston and Julia is another example of betrayal between the characters. After their arrest, Winston and Julia were separated and forced to betray each other. When Winston asked O’Brien what happened to Julia, he replied, “She betrayed you, Winston. Immediately-unreservedly. I have seldom seen anyone come over to us so promptly. You would hardly recognize her if you saw her...It was a perfect conversion, a textbook case" (Orwell 259). However, Winston did not betray Julia right away. Naomi Jacobs, a Professor and Interim Dean of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences wrote, “For we know—as, of course, did Orwell himself—that minds do not always break under torture, that some people suffer appalling pain and fear and yet refuse to betray their loved ones and their comrades in arms” (14). Unfortunately, it was inevitable that the

Throughout the first part of the novel, Winston struggles to find someone who shares the same cautious skepticism in regards to the government and the control they have over society. He's desperate to learn from and connect with someone, but is unable to make any form of meaningful and lasting connection. This lack

Through the beginning sections of the novel, the severity of the consequences from Julia and Winston’s affair become quite prominent after the realization that they are taking part in one of the ultimate acts of defiance to Big Brother. Because Julia and Winston are risking a lot to be with one another, the secrecy of their relationship is a key factor in the suspense that builds towards the climax of the story. The suspense greatly affects the plot of the story by

The dystopian fiction novel 1984 by George Orwell accounts the engrossing tale that is meant to mirror the future that Orwell had once envisioned as a frightening possibility. When reading the novel, individuals follow Winston Smith – the protagonist – and his attempt to fight back against the oppressive system that has assumed control over all its citizens and, by the novel’s end, readers must also witness Winston’s eventual demise as he surrenders his hatred for the Party and cries as his love for Big Brother overwhelms him. For many, this conclusion of the novel may seem disheartening as individuals wanted Winston to be the hero who rises out on top. Except, contrary to popular belief, Winston Smith is a hero in the novel, at least by George

Described as “young”, “free-spirited”, and “practical”, Julia differs from Winston in many ways. She is open about her sexuality, and sleeps with several party members before she meets Winston. Although these acts are frowned upon in the eyes of The Party, Julia doesn’t intend them that way, and tells Winston that it is only to satisfy her own desires. Julia only “..questioned the teachings of the party when they in some way touched upon her life”(153). She was too young to remember a life that contradicted The Party’s teachings, and because she believed all Party propaganda to be lies, Julia had no interest in what those teachings were anyway.

Winston does not succeed, or at least not how the reader would

Julia’s physical relationship, while it initially satisfies Winston’s desire to find someone of the same mindset, becomes obsolete

Orwell is characterized through the eyes of Winston when he realises her as ‘beautiful’. It shows his distaste for the Promiscuousness of Julia and strengthens the misogynistic scrutiny of the female sex.

Tear her face off, strip her to the bones. Not me! Julia! Not me!’” (Orwell 286.)

And then near the end of this chapter, it is said that “… Never, for any reason on earth, could you wish for an increase of pain. Of pain you could wish only one thing: that it should stop… In the face of pain there are no heroes, no heroes, he thought over and over as he writhed on the floor, clutching uselessly at his disabled arm” (213). This is clear evidence that the moment Winston is faced with physical pain/violence; his love for Julia is questioned. He starts to say he never loved Julia when he starts to think about the pain he may encounter.

This story takes place in an imaginary country called Oceania; it is one of the three large super states in the world of 1984. Oceania is a society similar to Hitler's Germany; with absolute power in the government and absolutely no individualism. Oceania is ruled by a totalitarian government, the leader of the government was Big Brother. Big brother monitors all the people by telescreens and the thought police. Telescreens watch every move that is made and there is no privacy.

“The objects of Oceanian surveillance and control are the lives, bodies, and minds of all Oceanians. The state exerts almost complete control over daily life, enforced by threats of punishment, torture, and death” (Byers 200).

In conclusion, Julia has a less complicated character when compared with Winston although the latter views the former as a sounding board. Winston has distaste for women particularly because of the party's brainwashing and sexual codes. Although they are in love, Julia does not follow the sexual codes because she breaks them whenever there is an opportunity. The hope that Julia gives to Winston is costly because they end up not only captured, but their love

Usually heroes are strong, but some readers are more used to female heroes, where in it could be argued that Julia is actually the main hero, in Orwell’s eyes, as she is brave, headstrong and until she met Winston, she was getting by quite well. Usually, in novels, the stronger character is the hero, the weaker one is sometimes the love interest but foolish Winston is weak and hopeless and is not the hero, more like the one who needs saving. Julia could effectively be the hero, as arguably, she is the one who saved Winston. She is not a fool like Winston, but she trusts him and that is her mistake. Winston Smith: It's not so much staying alive, it's staying human that's important. What counts is that we don't betray each other. J: “If you mean confessing, we're bound to do that. Everybody does. You can't help it.” W: “I don't mean confessing. Confessing isn't betrayal. I mean feelings. If they can make me change my feelings. If they can stop me from loving you, that would be real betrayal.” J: “They can't do that. It's the one thing they can't do. They can torture you, make you say anything. But they can't make you believe it. They can't get inside you. They can't get to your heart. “ It is clear that Julia, unlike Winston actually understands the plight of Big

Nevertheless, Winston still finds ways to secretly disobey the Party. One way he does this is by secretly being with Julia. Julia and Winston are a couple who live together in secret to avoid being caught by the Thought Police. Julia symbolizes rebellion against the Party. Julia and Winston secretly have sex at night for pleasure which is completely against the ideas of the Party. When Winston finds out that Julia had previous sexual encounters, he exclaims with happiness, ”Scores of times she has done it; he wished it had been hundreds-thousands. Anything that hinted at corruption filled him with wild hope” (Orwell 125). In Winston’s eyes, rebellion against the Party makes him elated. The more time Winston and Julia are in a relationship, the more Winston realizes