Similarities Between 1984 And Samson

Both works, 1984 and Samson, Judges 13-16 portray two distinct examples of anti-heroes and how these characters' heroic and unheroic traits reflect human nature. In the novel 1984 by George Orwell, Winston Smith, the protagonist of the story, is an ordinary man and an unquestioning member of society, who later rebels and stands up against the tyrannies of its regime. Samson, a biblical figure, uses his great strength to exact revenge on the Philistines. While both protagonists embody heroic characteristics by confronting their respective oppressors, Winston’s tendency to doubt himself and Samson’s lack of self-control distinguishes them. Thus, they both portray characters with flaws and mortal weaknesses that reflect vulnerabilities that can

1984 and Samson, Judges 13-16 reveal the flaws of their protagonists and the moral ambiguity of their actions by employing a first-person narrative and internal monologues, symbols, and the respective character development of Winston Smith and Samson through the narrative structure to consequently teach the reader about the vulnerabilities and complexities of the human character.

The authors of both novels purposefully present the reader with deeply flawed protagonists to shape the story by making them more appealing through their relatability and therefore point out their own mortal weaknesses that separate them from true heroes. 1984 depicts a dystopian society ruled by a tyrannical government, which watches every aspect of the citizen’s life to maintain full control over them. As part of the Outer Party, Winston Smith works in the Ministry of Truth, where he is employed to falsify history by changing old documents to fit the party’s ideology. However, his seemingly orthodox life rapidly changes as he takes his first minor steps toward a rebellion by illegally purchasing a notebook and finding a like-minded individual in Julia. To

Our complexities in character are also reflected in our actions, whose moral ambiguity raises doubts about them being good or bad. It makes the character of an anti-hero more intriguing as it reflects how our own actions often cannot be categorized into black or white, but rather lie in a gray area. The example of Winston Smith’s betrayal shows exactly that. It is revealed through the narrative structure of three chapters which show how Winston’s character changes from a seemingly heroic figure who wants to change his and other’s misery to a man who betrays his partner to survive. Winston’s betrayal of Julia displays an action of ambiguous nature, as it is unclear if this was the only way his life could have been saved and even if, if that was the right thing to do. Similarly, Samson’s revenge, which killed three thousand men and woman, is neither fully good not fully bad. It could be justified as he was serving God in freeing his folk from the enemies, however, it involved the killing of human lives, a morally unjustifiable act. This is also developed through the structure of the narrative as the author creates tension, which reveals the uncertainty of the morality and consequences of Samson’s