Winston Smith As A Hero Analysis

In order for the “Big Brother” to maintain this ideology, the ruler needs to have highly organized system and individuals to follow each and every task. In the novel, Oceania’s society has reached the level of brainwashing. In order for anyone to conquer such a vast and complicated system, the individual will need a highly-organized plan and a sophisticated mind to carry through. Winston possesses neither of these traits; therefore he was doomed to fail.

Batman, Superman, Thor, and Spider-man are all examples of heroes. A hero is a person that exhibits the traits of courageousness, braveness, and selflessness. In the novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, John the Savage is a hero. He is an outsider raised on a reservation. He comes into play later into the book that turns out to be the son of the director of the Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre. John becomes a hero throughout the book, but his life ends tragically. John the Savage is most noted as a hero in Brave New World because he does not blend into society, is an outside but turns it positive, and fights against the society’s standards.

Winston, despite his flawed nature and his cryptic thoughts, could be seen as somewhat of a hero, he got the girl, he found a flaw in the system, he attempted to join a rebellion

A hero is somebody who commits an act of remarkably bravery or who has shown an admirable quality such as great courage or strength of character. (Encarta, 2009) Joseph Campbell has come up with eight of his own characteristics of a hero. Joseph Campbell is known as a scholar of mythology. There are several people in our times that are considered a hero. Whether, these heroes are fictional or nonfiction, they all portray some kind of heroic abilities.

In George Orwell’s 1984, Winston Smith is a prime example of the oppressed fighting against the oppressor by his actions of minute resistance, giving his love to another, and joining a secret activists group.

Heroes are important in the world whether they a make believe like Spider-man or a real hero like a policeman. They provide a future, protection, hope, and they change the world every day. In Merriam-Webster dictionary, it states that a hero “is someone who shows great courage”. While George Orwell the author of 1984 tells the reader another definition of what a hero is, Orwell states that a hero is “ordinary people doing whatever they can to change social systems that do not respect human decency, even with the knowledge that they can’t possibly succeed.” However it seem that Winston the main character of this novel wanted to go against Big Brother in the beginning of the novel, Winston however is not the hero in this novel because he doesn't seem to change anything at the end of the novel, tells O'Brien to torture Julia, and At the end of the novel

In the novel, Winston is a character who lacks "hero" traits as he has more traits of an everyman than a hero. Winston is an out of shape, average man with a "varicose ulcer above his right ankle" (3). Considering the typical hero, not only does Winston lack the physical strength, he lacks the mentality as well. Throughout the novel, he consistently talks about "overthrowing the Party," but he never actually does it. Instead of overthrowing the Party, he rebels by purchasing a diary and writing sentences such as "DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER" (20) and " I don’t care down with big brother they always shoot you in the back of the neck" (21). Winston chooses to write these into his diary as he is too cowardly to say this in public. As time passes, his

Winston also shows determination throughout the novel. For example, when he was caught for having an affair with Julia, he did not give up his beliefs. O’Brien tortured Winston severely for thought crime and for the fact that he was willing to join brotherhood. However, until the very end of his pain Winston still said he hated Big Brother and that he did not like what they were doing. No matter how much pain he went through, Winston stood up for what he believed and he expressed his beliefs. When O’Brien asked

Even though Winston contributed to committing acts against the government that are quite courageous, it was all in a discrete manner. Instead of engaging in an open revolt, Winston’s sexual escapades with Julia and journal entries were in secrecy and remote locations that were never repeated twice, also in the room provided by Mr.Charrington. I interpreted Winston’s approach to act in confidence from everyone around him out of the fear of the reactions of people during the two minute hate, telescreens, hidden microphones, and brainwashed, spying neighbours outing you at the first open moment to save themselves very cowardice rather than make an open revolt. The open revolt would have spoken actions of a hero, “ordinary people doing whatever they can to change social systems that do not respect human decency, even with the knowledge that they can’t possibly succeed”. Basically even if Winston’s public revolt to get others to go against rather than conform to the Party’s laws and live in fear didn’t succeed, it would have been the effort that counts for what a hero would do to better a country, people, or even the world. The fear Winston felt and had thought of in the back of his mind that he mentioned all kept him regretting the actions he took part in.

His morals are also part of what defines him as a hero. He is constantly surrounded by people who only care about themselves and nobody else. That is not how Winston is though, he genuinely cares about others around him, and the human race as a whole, and that also is a good quality of a hero.

George Orwell’s definition of heroism is ordinary people doing whatever they can do to change the social systems that do not respect the human decency, even with the knowledge that they can’t possibly succeed. Using this basic definition, does George Orwell’s character Winston Smith, prove to be seen as a heroic figure in 1984? Winston Smith is a protagonist, an everyman, who supposedly stands for all the oppressed citizens of the Oceania. In 1984, Oceania is one of the super states, which cover all continents of America, Oceania, and the British Isles. Oceania is also one of the main locations throughout the novel, in which can also be referred to as the Airstrip one. Winston Smith’s, appearance is deceptive, in comparing to George Orwell definition, to consider him as a heroic figure. Winston Smith is a “smallish, frail figure, the meagerness of his body merely emphasized by the blue overalls which were the uniform of the party. His hair was very fair, his face naturally sanguine, his skin roughened by coarse soap and blunt razor blades and the cold of the winter that had just ended” (pg. 4). In this context, George Orwell doesn’t care about an appearance, but an appearance of the person doings, and actions.

I feel like winston was a hero because as a great character in a dramatic tragedy who is destined suffering or defeat. I feel as if Winston is best described as a tragic hero Heroic to have means having the characteristics of a hero or heroine also being very brave. Winston’s heroism is reflected against the Party. For example it could be with his relationship with Julia or it could be the purchase of the diary. Another example of a hero is when he joined the Brotherhood. So I think Winston s a hero because especially when he was fighting against an evil dictatorship even though he had no idea that it was going to end badly. People do say that heroism has no longer have much meaning but Winston as definitely a hero. A quote of Winston being a hero is “its actual appearance was frightening, and not merely the fact that he knew it to be himself. He moved closer to the glass. The creature’s face seemed to be protruded, because of its bent carriage” (Orwell, p. 271). This is an example because it shows to the readers that winston isn't scared of

A tragic hero can be described as a great or virtuous character in a dramatic tragedy who is

“We are taught that the hero’s journey is the journey from weakness to strength. But...[this is] wrong. The real hero’s journey is the journey from strength to weakness.” The real hero shows the ability to rise above challenges, even in a state of weakness, and wind up victorious. The real hero is flawed, but his courage, selflessness, and sacrifices for the greater good will rise above all. Winston Smith of 1984 is described as a “small frail figure” with a “varicose ulcer above his right ankle.” This is evidently not the image conjured when one imagines a hero, but due to the deceiving nature of appearances, we must consider his actions. What does Winston do? He writes “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER” repetitively in his diary, he engages in a

In the majority of novels with a hero, the hero or heroine is courageous, strong, and charismatic. Winston Smith who, is a weak individual, both physically and mentally, and lacks the wits to avoid detection, is an anti-hero as he betrays himself as well as his love interest and ultimately accepts defeat in this particular novel.