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How is Winston Smith a dynamic character in George Orwell's 1984? How does he change from beginning to end, and what do his little acts of...

Before answering this question regarding George Orwell's protagonist in his dystopian novel 1984, it's important that we define the literary term that you use in your question. A "dynamic character" is a character that develops in some capacity, experiencing growth or change in his/her perspective, values, actions, or otherwise. 


To examine Winston's growth, we must first establish his starting point. In the beginning of the novel, Winston is miserable but quietly rebellious. The grand overview of his life is dictated by his dehumanizing society, but he secretly engages in small acts of rebellion, which to the reader seem symbolic, but within the context of the society, are terrifying to contemplate. Acts like writing "Down with Big Brother" or holding onto memories that contradict Party edicts could potentially get Winston killed. 


As Winston grows, his rebellions also expand, until he engages in a forbidden act: a loving relationship with Julia. Once Winston is caught, his character changes again, beaten down by the physical and psychological torture that O'Brien and others instill upon him. 


By the end of the novel, Winston is broken and empty, plunging him past his original miserable existence into untapped depths of conformity and despair. 

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