Examples Of Heroism In 1984 By George Orwell

1984, the novel by George Orwell is an anti-totalitarian, cautionary tale centering around Winston Smith, a rebelling citizen of the fictional super-state of Oceania. Winston himself is a working member of the state, and as far as the ruling party of Big Brother initially knows, an ordinary member. The difference between Winston and the rest of the members is his ability to think, more specifically his ability to think against the party. Despite his resistance throughout the novel, and what could be falsely perceived as heroism, Winston Smith is less hero, more true human.
As previously mentioned, Winston certainly showed resistance throughout the book, despite the eventual collapse of his beliefs forced upon him by O’Brien at the

“The aim of the Party was not merely to prevent men and women from forming loyalties which it might not be able to control”, but also to “remove all pleasure from the sexual act” (Orwell 65). The reasoning for this boils down to keeping control. “When you make love, you’re using up energy; and afterwards you feel happy and don’t give a damn for anything’’ (Orwell 133). The party hates this because if you’re happy inside, and lack energy why would you at all be interested in keeping up the Party’s charade and getting excited for the plethora of different ways they use to control

There’s not a rule he wouldn’t break nor an act he wouldn’t commit if it meant he was one step closer to taking down The Party, one step closer to a successful rebellion. Winston’s desire however was to a fault morally. For instance, when asked in general terms, what he was “prepared to do” (Orwell 172). he answered every question except one with an immediate yes. Winston was ready to commit “murder”, “acts of sabotage”, an array of hate crimes, and even take his own life if O’Brien states it to be necessary. However, Winston’s true threshold was put to the test after O’Brien’s betrayal of leading to his capture and imprisonment at the Ministry of Love. During this torture Winston’s lack of morals, and hypocrisy is shown when he tried to claim himself to be morally superior to members of the party. In response to this O’Brien played the tape of Winston promising to commit the most heinous of acts in the name of the Brotherhood. Despite all of this torture and suffering, when asked his true feelings of the party by O’Brien, Winston remained truthful, “I hate him” (Orwell 282). O’Brien replied with telling Winston that he must love Big Brother, and the process isn’t over until he does. Then, Winston finally did the one thing he swore not to, the one degradation that hadn’t been forced onto him, betraying Julia. O’Brien used Winston’s fear of rats against him. A metal face-cage in which rats would feed on