George Orwell once defined heroism as an ordinary person doing whatever they can to change social systems that do not respect human decency, even with the knowledge that they can’t possibly succeed. In 1984, by George Orwell, Winston Smith is the protagonist of the story. He is an ordinary everyday man who represents and stands for all the oppressed citizens in Oceania and according to Orwell’s definition of heroism, the hero of the novel. Throughout the novel, Winston has a desire for the proles to rise up again the Party and to break free from the oppressive rule. He also commits crimes against the Party in a rebellious act to try and change the social system and deny the rules set by the Party. While Winston is committing these crimes
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In fact, he is a hero that inevitably does fail in the end. However he rebels throughout the book in an attempt to feel as though his rebellious actions can change the social system that has been implemented by the Party. He begins by keeping a diary. Books that did not agree with the Party or back up the Party’s ideals were not allowed. Winston though bought and wrote in the diary. Winston writes “Down with Big Brother” over and over in his diary which is a crime; thoughtcrime. “He discovered that while he sat helplessly musing he had also been writing, as though by automatic action. And it was no longer the same cramped, awkward handwriting as before. His pen had slid voluptuously over the smooth paper, printing in large neat capitals—DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER …..over and over again, filling half a page.” (Orwell 23) In his subconscious, Wilson wishes for the fall of “Big Brother”. He wants to be free. Winston continues to write about his thoughts of Big Brother, and how all hope for rebellion must come from the proles because they make up the majority of the …show more content…
Winston’s fatalism that he will be caught and punished is prominent throughout the novel. After writing in his diary, he knows that by committing Thoughtcrime, the Thought Police will come to seize him sooner or later, so it doesn't matter if he continues to write in the diary or not. “He did not do so, however, because he knew that it was useless. Whether he wrote DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER, or whether he refrained from writing it, made no difference. Whether he went on with the diary, or whether he did not go on with it, made no difference. The Thought Police would get him just the same. He had committed—would still have committed, even if he had never set pen to paper” (Orwell 24) He also knows that as he delves farther into his love affair with Julia, his chances of being caught also increases, yet he doesn't care. Winston believes that it is helpless to try and evade the inevitable so he allows himself to take greater risks like trusting O’Brien and trying to join and become associated with the anti-Party Brotherhood. Winston knows that he will not succeed and that he will be caught, tortured, and punished but he still rebels and continues to undermine the
In fact, he is a hero that inevitably does fail in the end. However he rebels throughout the book in an attempt to feel as though his rebellious actions can change the social system that has been implemented by the Party. He begins by keeping a diary. Books that did not agree with the Party or back up the Party’s ideals were not allowed. Winston though bought and wrote in the diary. Winston writes “Down with Big Brother” over and over in his diary which is a crime; thoughtcrime. “He discovered that while he sat helplessly musing he had also been writing, as though by automatic action. And it was no longer the same cramped, awkward handwriting as before. His pen had slid voluptuously over the smooth paper, printing in large neat capitals—DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER …..over and over again, filling half a page.” (Orwell 23) In his subconscious, Wilson wishes for the fall of “Big Brother”. He wants to be free. Winston continues to write about his thoughts of Big Brother, and how all hope for rebellion must come from the proles because they make up the majority of the …show more content…
Winston’s fatalism that he will be caught and punished is prominent throughout the novel. After writing in his diary, he knows that by committing Thoughtcrime, the Thought Police will come to seize him sooner or later, so it doesn't matter if he continues to write in the diary or not. “He did not do so, however, because he knew that it was useless. Whether he wrote DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER, or whether he refrained from writing it, made no difference. Whether he went on with the diary, or whether he did not go on with it, made no difference. The Thought Police would get him just the same. He had committed—would still have committed, even if he had never set pen to paper” (Orwell 24) He also knows that as he delves farther into his love affair with Julia, his chances of being caught also increases, yet he doesn't care. Winston believes that it is helpless to try and evade the inevitable so he allows himself to take greater risks like trusting O’Brien and trying to join and become associated with the anti-Party Brotherhood. Winston knows that he will not succeed and that he will be caught, tortured, and punished but he still rebels and continues to undermine the