Question

Respond to the following in the form of a short essay. Your essay should consist of at least five paragraphs. George Orwell once offered this definition of heroism: ordinary people doing whatever they can to change social systems that do not respect human decency, even with the knowledge that they cant possibly succeed. In Winston Smith, the protagonist of 1984, Orwell creates an ordinary person, an œeveryman who stands for all the oppressed citizens of Oceania. Yet, as the novel closes, Winston cries as his love for Big Brother overwhelms him. Is Winston the novels hero, by Orwells definition? Is he a hero that readers can admire and emulate? Explain your position by tracing Winstons actions throughout the novel and considering the results of those actions. Cite specific examples from the novel in your response. Use the notes you take and the questions you answer in the Student Guide to help you formulate your response

Answer 1

Winston Smith from Orwell's 1984 begins as a heroic character who seeks truth and resists oppressive systems, aligning with Orwell's definition of heroism. However, his story ends tragically as he succumbs to the system, leading readers to question the nature of heroism when faced with insurmountable oppression.

Step-by-step explanation:

George Orwell's character Winston Smith in 1984 challenges the traditional notion of heroism. To most people, a hero is a person of extraordinary courage and action, but Orwell's definition focuses on the ordinary individuals' resistance to oppressive social systems, even when success is unlikely. Throughout the novel, Winston exhibits characteristics of heroism as defined by Orwell by questioning the Party's reality, seeking truth, and clinging to his humanity through acts of rebellion such as his affair with Julia and the creation of a diary. However, as the story unfolds, Winston's actions, while initially heroic, ultimately lead to his psychological destruction at the hands of the Party, as evident in his eventual love for Big Brother.

While Winston begins as a heroic figure, his journey is one of tragic defeat rather than triumph. He is an emblem of resistance, demonstrating that heroism is not solely about the outcome but the fight against injustice. As readers, we see Winston's struggle against a totalitarian regime as an act reflecting Orwell's definition of heroism.

However, the novel raises the question of whether or not Winston can truly be a hero if his efforts are doomed to failure from the start and if he ultimately succumbs to the pressures of the system he despises. Winston's story is thus both a cautionary tale and a provocative interrogation of the very nature of heroism. While we may not admire the end result of Winston's journey, we can recognize the heroism in his initial acts of defiance and in his capacity to dream of a better world, thus providing a complex reflection on what it means to be a hero in a world that crushes dissent.