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.
Sample Solution