In the novel “1984” written by George Orwell in 1949, there is a protagonist named Winston
Smith, who is forced to live in a totalitarian regime governed by the Party and its
omnipresent leader, Big Brother. The Party exercises absolute control over every aspect of
life, erasing individual thought, free will, and freedom of speech.
Winston, however, harbors a deep sense of rebellion against the Party’s obsessive rule. This
rebellion consists, but is not limited to, forming thoughts against the Party’s principles and
foundational regulations, such as wishing for the downfall of Big Brother (p. 23, ll. 24-26),
and keeping a secret diary where he reflects upon his dissenting thoughts (p. 11, l. 20).
These acts, though seemingly miniscule and insignificant in the face of Party’s overwhelming
control, are important details entailing Winston’s desire for self-actualization and escapism.
Even though these are the usual traits of idealism, where a person values their own ideas
over the material reality which constricts them; Winston is acutely aware of the fact that his
path is of inevitable defeat. No matter how much he tries to run away, he cannot hide from
an all-seeing eye of the Party. His psyche is consumed by pessimistic fatalism, a direct result
of the Party’s long-standing suppression. Unable to generate any hope within himself, he
ultimately surrenders to an idea of potential arrest by the Thought Police (p. 25, ll. 6-7).
Another apparent trait of Winston is his profound loneliness. His constant paranoia and
pervasive fear leave him incapable of forming genuine relationships. Additionally, his
betrayal towards the Party has deepened his trust issues, further isolating him from society
in general. Nevertheless, this led him to introspection, which is prominent with his diary
entries (p. 25, ll. 25-26), that in return resulted with him developing his own sense of justice
where he found salvation in his utopia, a time where thinking is free (p. 35, II.23-28).
Strengthening his own resolve, he fully accepts death and advances a step further (p. 36, II.
1-4), metamorphosing into a parasite within a system, an error.
This unique state is possible for Winston due to him possessing memories of times before
the Party’s reign. He remembers that Airstrip One was once called England (p. 41, ll. 11-12),
the name “Shakespeare” (p. 39, l. 29) or a suprise air raid from his childhood (p. 41, II
18-19). All of these are reflections of his rebellious soul, as he tries to collect them even
through his post-traumatic stress. But yet again, he chose or either forced to depend on the
culprit for his trauma, resembling a stockholm syndrome case. His expressions being devoid
of any emotion (p. 25, l. 10) and overall lacking any positive emotions such as love (p. 38, ll.
24-26), indicates his commitment and subjection to the Party. That is why, as he pushes
through these ordeals and continuously breaks free from the shackles that confine his
identity, he embodies an image of bravery and courage.
To sum up, Winston Smith is a fitting protagonist for a dystopian setting, where an inhumane
and punishing regime plays an antagonistic role. His rebellion and commitment driven by
fear, his struggles with amnesia and the desire to recall, and his blend of fatalism and hope
for the future create rich, interwoven layers in his character. This aligns with the classical
archetype of the Fool. The Fool is expected to abandon their past and embark on a new
journey, encountering forces that seek to constrain them. In carving an impossible or even
nonexistent path, the Fool aims to escape their predetermined fate and achieve their desired
outcome.
