Winston Smith, Hero or Not?(ANSWERED)

QUESTION

Assignment Instructions

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 can’t possibly succeed.

In Winston Smith, the protagonist of 1984, Orwell creates an ordinary person, an “everyman” 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 novel’s hero, by Orwell’s definition? Is he a hero that readers can admire and emulate? Explain your position by tracing Winston’s 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.

You will hand in your completed response on the final day of this unit.

Process

You should always use a process for your writing that includes planning and drafting. To complete this assignment, you will do the following:

Review the assignment instructions and grading criteria thoroughly. The writing assignment you complete in this unit will be graded against a rubric that assesses the essay in a number of categories. These categories focus both on the essay’s contents and its clarity.

o Read the rubric on the last page of this document. Keep the criteria listed on the rubric in mind as you complete the writing assignment.

o Remember to write in standard formal English and use the third person (no personal opinions) and the present tense.

Complete a plan for your essay.
Begin drafting your paper, using your plan as a guide.
Review and revise your first draft. You should try to have another person read your work and give you feedback as part of your revision process.
Write the final draft of your project. Be sure to follow these requirements and recommendations when completing your draft:

Open a new Microsoft Word document. Type your name, your teacher’s name, your school name, and the date at the top of your document. To help your teacher know from whom the project came, save the file as:

NG403B-ENG404B_NC_03_01_1984_Literary_Essay_FirstInitial_LastName.doc

Example: ENG403B-ENG404B_NC_03_01_1984_Essay_M_Smith.doc

Type your essay in the document you create.

Time Line

You will complete this project over the course of this unit.

Task	Start	Complete
Print and review assignment instructions.	1984, Session 1	1984, Session 1
Read and take notes on the novel.	1984, Session 1	1984, Session 4
Begin planning your essay.	1984, Session 6	1984, Session 6
Begin drafting your essay.	1984, Session 7	1984, Session 7
Complete writing and begin revisions.	Unit Review	Unit Review
Submit final draft for a grade.	Unit Test	Unit Test

ANSWER

Winston Smith, Hero or Not?

Introduction

In the illustrative tale “1984” penned by George Orwell, the notion of courage is meticulously examined through the lens of the protagonist, Winston Smith. Winston embodies the quintessential “average Joe,” personifying the silenced denizens of Oceania. The paper argues the belief that Winston, according to Orwell’s perspective, personifies a gallant figure, notwithstanding his ultimate failure to dismantle the Party. The chief body of the treatise will comprise segments that corroborate this belief, adhering to a structural framework that highlights the sequence of the assertions. The treatise will culminate with a summarizing segment encapsulating the cardinal points and reasserting the belief of the treatise.

Winston’s journal is his inaugural act of valor, as it symbolizes a minor yet impactful insubordination against the Party’s influence over his cognition and conduct. Through the act of inscribing his thoughts and emotions, Winston manages to establish his individuality and convey his dissent. His journal evolves into a beacon of aspiration and resistance, even though he is the sole reader. Winston’s insubordination escalates in magnitude when he commences a romantic liaison with Julia, a fellow affiliate of the Party who reciprocates his disenchantment with the Party’s fabrications. Winston is cognizant that their liaison infringes upon the Party’s stringent regulations on personal relationships, yet he is prepared to jeopardize everything for her companionship. Winston’s engagement with Julia is another act of valor, as it signifies a more substantial insubordination against the Party’s grip over his private life (Drije, 2019). By demonstrating affection for Julia and dismissing the Party’s inflexible stipulations on personal relationships, Winston is affirming his humanity and his entitlement to love and be loved. His involvement with Julia also symbolizes defiance against the Party’s endeavors to manipulate human sentiments and aspirations. Despite the potential hazards, Winston and Julia clandestinely maintain their relationship, convening in a leased chamber above a store in the prole sector. However, their liaison is eventually exposed by the Thought Police, resulting in their arrest and transportation to the Ministry of Love for questioning and torment. Within the confines of the Ministry of Love, Winston endures harsh questioning and torment intended to shatter his resolve and coerce him into admitting to offenses he didn’t commit. However, Winston staunchly refuses to denounce Julia or yield to the Party’s directives. His opposition to the Party’s indoctrination and his refusal to forsake his principles and convictions embody yet another act of valor.

Winston’s defiance holds noteworthy political implications. By standing firm against the Party’s edicts, he undermines the Party’s sovereignty and dominance. He proclaims there exists a superior moral code, one that transcends the boundaries of the Party’s decrees or indoctrination. Yet, Winston’s deeds could also be perceived as somewhat egocentric, with his reasons for dissent against the Party predominantly originating from his personal yearning for liberty and affection rather than an aspiration to emancipate society at large. He exhibits minimal consideration for the broader consequences of his conduct, which could be construed as a lack of complete embodiment of Orwell’s notion of heroism—battling for human decency and justice.

Theme

Conversely, Winston’s insurrection and subsequent downfall also serve as a warning narrative spotlighting the perils of autocracy and the necessity of defying it (Hughes, 2021). The fact that Winston managed to retain his defiant spirit for such an extended period, in spite of the overwhelming might of the Party, stands as a tribute to human tenacity and the significance of contending for one’s convictions, no matter how dire the circumstances may appear. Nevertheless, Winston’s opposition ultimately succumbs. After enduring weeks of torment and indoctrination, Winston is subdued, and he forsakes Julia, professing his affection for Big Brother. His love for Big Brother consumes him, and he embraces the Party’s perception of reality, betraying his personal principles and convictions. Themes George Orwell’s dystopian novel, “1984,” investigates several themes that mirror the book’s political and societal critique. One of the most conspicuous themes is the menace of totalitarianism. The narrative portrays a universe where the administration, presided over by the ubiquitous figure of Big Brother, wields total authority over its citizens’ lives. This dominance permeates the citizens’ thoughts, deeds, and even emotions, with the Party’s catchphrase, “War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength,” exemplifying the manipulation of language and propaganda to retain control and dominance.

An additional central theme in “1984” is supervision. The administration’s dominance over its citizens is upheld through relentless observation, with telescreens scrutinizing citizens’ movements and dialogues. This supervision extends to the thought police, who utilize mind-reading technology to identify and penalize even the most subtle indication of dissent or revolt.

Alongside totalitarianism and supervision, “1984” also delves into themes of power, subjugation, and rebellion. The narrative depicts a universe where the ruling faction sustains its grip on power through the oppression of individuality and independent thought. The protagonist, Winston Smith, aspires to defy this repressive system but ultimately yields to the overwhelming might of the Party, hinting at the near-impossibility of overturning such a regime.

All in all, the central motifs encompassed in “1984” function as a stark admonition of the perils of autocracy and the misuse of authority. The narrative’s depiction of a dystopian community, where the regime has absolute control over every facet of its citizens’ existence, is a prophetic narrative emphasizing the significance of safeguarding personal liberty and impeding the degradation of civic freedoms.

The conclusion elicits a wealth of controversy among the readership, with a faction arguing that Winston’s ultimate inability to topple the Party implies his non-heroic nature. Nonetheless, I contend that, by Orwell’s standards, Winston embodies heroism. While Winston may have been unsuccessful in his bid to dismantle the Party, his defiance nonetheless symbolizes a heroic endeavor. Even though he eventually capitulates to the Party’s dominance, Winston’s initial insurrectionary act, his clandestine diary, was a valorous deed that posed a substantial threat to the Party’s influence over his cognition and behaviors.

Moreover, Winston’s liaison with Julia and his opposition to the Party’s indoctrination and torment further underscore his heroism. Winston’s determination to not renounce his principles and convictions, despite confronting torture and brainwashing, showcases a bravery and ethical resilience that deserves respect.

Conclusion

To sum up, Winston may not embody a conventional hero in the sense of a character who deposes the tyrannical system and vanquishes malevolence. However, according to Orwell’s classification, Winston is indeed a hero, representing an average individual who confronts an overbearing societal structure that disregards human dignity, all while understanding his chances of success are slim.

At the commencement of the tale, Winston emerges as a character increasingly disenchanted with his environment. His role in the Ministry of Truth involves him being a reviser, where he is assigned the alteration of historical archives to comply with the Party’s edicts. However, Winston finds himself disgruntled with his role in perpetuating the Party’s fabrications. He initiates a concealed diary as a channel to articulate his genuine sentiments and thoughts, in spite of his comprehension that it’s an infraction punishable by death.

Through Winston’s actions within the tale, we comprehend the importance of standing up for personal beliefs and morals, even in the face of overwhelming tyranny and control. Despite Winston’s inability to overthrow the Party, his valiant actions carry significant merit, challenging the Party’s control and refuting the Party’s enforced reality. As observers, we can respect and aspire to emulate Winston’s audacity and moral tenacity, acknowledging that even slight acts of defiance can profoundly undermine oppressive societal constructs. The tale stands as a powerful admonition of the importance of individuality and the perils of blindly accepting the status quo. Winston’s character endures as an eternal symbol of resistance and bravery.

References

Drije, N. (2019). The Idea of Big Brother and Its Psychological Impact on Winston in George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four (Doctoral dissertation).http://archives.univ-biskra.dz/handle/123456789/14807

Hughes, I. (2021). 1984. Literary Cultures, 4(2). https://journals.ntu.ac.uk/index.php/litc/article/view/340

Orwell, G. (1984). George Orwell 1984. G Orwell.https://booksdrive.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/1984-Nineteen-Eighty-Four-A-Novel-By-George-Orwell-pdf-free-download.pdf