Is Winston a hero?

In order to answer this question, you have to have a definition of a "hero." In the classical sense, a hero is one who embodies the best qualities of the culture. Since the culture seems to have no good qualities, Winston cannot emulate that which does not exist. On the other hand, in any kind of dystopian novel, a hero almost always turns out to be one who goes against that which is "wrong" in the culture. Since Big Brother and his intrusion into every aspect of the lives of the people is so insidious, one could call Winston a hero, even if, in the end, he has to give in to the mind games O'Brien plays with him.