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What are some specific examples from George Orwell's 1984 that show Winston Smith is a hero?

Although he is fairly ordinary at heart, Winston Smith functions as the main hero in George Orwell's dystopian world. This fact might surprise some readers; after all, Winston succumbs to torture at the end of the novel and finishes the narrative as a devout follower of Big Brother. While his end might be tragic, Winston spends the vast majority of the novel exhibiting a quiet and inspiring heroism, so it would be mistaken to judge him solely on his miserable fate in the final pages of 1984. The clearest example of Winston's heroism occurs quite early in the novel: in the first chapter, he steals home to write his thoughts in a diary. This seemingly simple act is perhaps Winston's most heroic moment. Since Big Brother polices the minds of its citizens and punishes those who dare to think for themselves, the decision to record independent ideas in a journal is a rebellious act against the established order. As such, Winston's early decision to rebel by thinking (and writing) for himself is a clear example of his heroism.

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