Winston Smith Character Analysis
AP Literature
30 August
Character Analysis of Winston Smith from 1984 Winston Smith, George Orwell’s main character from 1984, contributes greatly to the novel in many ways. While he is presented to be a simple man, Winston adds many complex ideas to the classic piece of literature. Orwell uses internal and external characteristics, symbols, and significant quotes to develop Winston’s role in 1984. Internal Characteristics are a big part of the development of a main character and ideas relating to the character. They let the reader have a better idea of the character’s personality, beliefs, and motives. One of Winston Smith’s internal characteristics is curiosity, he is curious about many different things through the whole book. Although he has an idea of what the Ministry of Truth is, he is still very curious about what goes on inside those walls. He is also curious about “the Party” and their motives. He wants to understand how and why “the Party” exercises absolute power. Winston realizes that “the Party” is preventing people from having the freedom of the mind but he does not understand why they want or need that absolute power. As the novel continues the reader is able to see just how much Winston hates “the Party” and all they do. In the process of realizing how much Winston hates the world he lives in, the reader also realizes how rebellious he is; from Winston repeatedly scrawling in his diary “down with big brother” to having a love affair with Julia to then sharing in the smuggled goods that she brings to their “secret meetings” and lastly to Winston not betraying Julia which is his final act of rebellion. Winston enjoys taking part in experiences that he knows “the Party” would not approve of. He continues to be rebellious throughout the novel partly because he has a fatalistic view. Why not rebel if one thinks their fate will turn out to be death even if they do not rebel? He is greatly paranoid about his fate and the reader can see this in the
30 August
Character Analysis of Winston Smith from 1984 Winston Smith, George Orwell’s main character from 1984, contributes greatly to the novel in many ways. While he is presented to be a simple man, Winston adds many complex ideas to the classic piece of literature. Orwell uses internal and external characteristics, symbols, and significant quotes to develop Winston’s role in 1984. Internal Characteristics are a big part of the development of a main character and ideas relating to the character. They let the reader have a better idea of the character’s personality, beliefs, and motives. One of Winston Smith’s internal characteristics is curiosity, he is curious about many different things through the whole book. Although he has an idea of what the Ministry of Truth is, he is still very curious about what goes on inside those walls. He is also curious about “the Party” and their motives. He wants to understand how and why “the Party” exercises absolute power. Winston realizes that “the Party” is preventing people from having the freedom of the mind but he does not understand why they want or need that absolute power. As the novel continues the reader is able to see just how much Winston hates “the Party” and all they do. In the process of realizing how much Winston hates the world he lives in, the reader also realizes how rebellious he is; from Winston repeatedly scrawling in his diary “down with big brother” to having a love affair with Julia to then sharing in the smuggled goods that she brings to their “secret meetings” and lastly to Winston not betraying Julia which is his final act of rebellion. Winston enjoys taking part in experiences that he knows “the Party” would not approve of. He continues to be rebellious throughout the novel partly because he has a fatalistic view. Why not rebel if one thinks their fate will turn out to be death even if they do not rebel? He is greatly paranoid about his fate and the reader can see this in the