Winston Smith, the protagonist in George Orwell’s 1984 struggles to face the state of Oceania and ultimately loses everything he loves and believes in. Winston is
a tragic hero
, for he is a man with a tragic flaw. Winston’s fatalism, selfishness and isolation ultimately lead him to his own destructive downfall.
What does Winston symbolize in 1984?
Winston embodies the values of a civilized society:
democracy, peace, freedom, love, and decency
. When Winston is destroyed, these things are destroyed with him, and so goes the reader’s faith that these values are undying and a natural part of being human.
What is Winston’s personality from 1984?
Character List. A minor member of the ruling Party in near-future London, Winston Smith is a
thin, frail, contemplative, intellectual, and fatalistic
thirty-nine-year-old. Winston hates the totalitarian control and enforced repression that are characteristic of his government. He harbors revolutionary dreams.
How does Winston character develop in 1984?
Throughout the novel 1984, the protagonist, Winston Smith, goes under
a wild change in personality
and actions. Winston went from being an ordinary citizen, to a rebel, and finally to a pawn. Winston went through this change because of the power of the Party and his own irrational actions.
Is Winston a strong character?
As a protagonist,
Winston is not particularly skilled, charismatic, or powerful
. He is, however, different from those around him because of his philosophical and intellectual perspective. His defining characteristic throughout the story is his growing resistance to the Party.
Does Big Brother exist in 1984?
Big Brother is a fictional character and symbol in George Orwell’s dystopian 1949 novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. He is
ostensibly the leader of Oceania
, a totalitarian state wherein the ruling party, Ingsoc, wields total power “for its own sake” over the inhabitants.
What is the irony of Winston Smith’s name?
His name is Winston Smith. His first name is
ironic because he is anything because he is anything but a winner
. It is also symbolic and flows with the theme of winning/Victory that the Party creates. Smith is one of the most common surnames.
Why is Winston not a hero?
Although Winston is the protagonist of the novel, and has some hero-like qualities, Winston is an
anti-hero because he has qualities that are contrary to the archetypal hero qualities
. Use of descriptive language to create imagery. Author tries to evoke pathos because of his ugly and tired appearance.
Who is the hero in 1984?
The book’s hero,
Winston Smith
, is a minor party functionary living in a London that is still shattered by a nuclear war that took place not long after World War II. He belongs to the Outer Party, and his job is to rewrite history in the Ministry of Truth, bringing it in line with current political thinking.
Can Winston be seen as a hero in 1984?
A hero is a figure who stands out above the rest by exceptional bravery, determination and uniqueness. In the novel 1984, the protagonist Winston, who lives in a country where nobody goes against “Big Brother” and anybody who does is punished, shows that he
possesses the qualities of a true hero
.
What is the theme of 1984?
Totalitarianism
is one of the major themes of the novel, 1984. It presents the type of government where even the head of the government is unknown to the public. This theme serves as a warning to the people because such regime unleashes propaganda to make people believe in the lies presented by the government.
What does Big Brother is watching you Signify in 1984?
‘Big Brother Is Watching You’ is a slogan that appears on posters of Big Brother throughout the novel. The phrase is a threat that is meant to keep people in line:
it reminds them that they are always under surveillance from the Party.
Who is the antagonist of 1984?
O’Brien
(known as O’Connor in the 1956 film adaptation of the novel) is a fictional character and the main antagonist in George Orwell’s 1949 novel Nineteen Eighty-Four. The protagonist Winston Smith, living in a dystopian society governed by the Party, feels strangely drawn to Inner Party member O’Brien.
Is Julia The dark haired girl?
Julia is
a dark-haired
, twenty-six-year-old employed as a machine operator in the Fiction Department at the Ministry of Truth. Looking like a zealous Party member, she wears an (ironic) Anti-Sex sash around her waist, and always participates passionately during the Two Minutes Hate.
Why does Winston love Big Brother at the end?
Through this act, Winston’s self-preservation overcomes his desire for self-expression. He has conquered his individuality and submitted once again to Party group-think. He loves Big Brother,
because he no longer has an individual will
; his will has become part of societal group-mind.
What is the most difficult for Winston to lose?
Which Right is the Most Difficult for Winston to Lose? Winston
finds it most difficult to give up the right to think
. Throughout the book he keeps a diary where he freely can write down his thoughts about the party and Big Brother.
