1984

Is Winston Smith in George Orwell's 1984 a hero?

In order of doing a presentation in school, I need some opinions on whether Winston can be considered a hero and also what makes you think that. Thank you for helping me out!

Asked by
Last updated by Aslan
Answers 1
Add Yours

In the strict sense of the term "hero", I don't think Winston is one. I don't even think he is a tragic hero. Winston never set out to save the world nor did he ever have the hubris of a hero to make him tragic. Sure he wanted to join the brotherhood but this was so he could feel alive again rather than see any change in his lifetime or at all. I think Winston is "heroic" in his own awkward way. Winston ruminates about human nature in a way that one wonders even exists in Oceania. He seeks the truth and muses about life in an intellectual bubble that will only be pierced by O'Brien. As a classic hero, no I don't think so. Winston takes wild chances to merely feel alive in the darkness of this dystopia.