1984 

Notes: 
-”How is part 1 chapter one /expository chapter of 1984 an unsettling one for the readers? 

-1984 is a dystopia 
-Bright, cold day in April- It is a linguistic description . ”Bright cold”-This 
juxtaposition/contradiction right at the onset sets the mood of tension. Cold has negative
connotations-depressing, gloomy, bleak ominous. -Setting of place is very contrasting to the
setting of time- The reader would not expect a bright day in April.The tension created is quite
palpable.-juxtaposition,foreshadowing of the events is quite evident. The dystopian novel’s
bleak surroundings protagonist oppressed life his subject to the ordeal of his life- we see a
character who is already so crestfallen -winston’s bleak existence is illustrated. 
-”Clocks were striking thirteen”-has negative connotations. Opening line that isn’t just one
clock malfunctioning, but the clocks. Presumably all of them.The clocks striking thirteen is
not an aberration , but a normal way of life.Ominous note that continues throughout this
dystopian novel with the unexpected and jarring use of the number thirteen. 
- Glass door - Seems transparent but isn't hence ironical 
-”Vile wind”-”vile” means evil.Orwell subtly alerts the readers that statements of truth in
this fictional society should be called into question.Personification of the wind forces the
reader to read on.Coercive in nature, makes the reader wonder/curious why is this mood
of tension looming right at the onset, and something is brewing ,projecting and
progressing towards a world. 
- (hallway smelt of boiled cabbage) contrast to the Victory Mansions  seems  irregular
but effective creation atmosphere and tension, this poetic technique is called an
Olfactory imagery
-”Nuzzled him into his breast”-Unhappy, crestfallen-Creates a sense of quagmire in the
character. - The second line we have been introduced to the protagonist who is about to
enter Victory Mansion, but it is contrasting as his chin is nuzzled into his breast showing
he does not want to go there- poor light his being shed on the character, "nose nuzzled in
his breast" - coupling of sentences using "and" and "and" - polisindeton - technique used
to emphasize on certain aspects . 
-rugged - robust and brawny reiterates the dominance of the Big Hat Brother”brawny”-The
character that has been introduced here retreated back to the big brother. -”Swirl of gritty
dust”-brewing of tension. This the foreshadowing of events to come.The sense of
oppression which is underlined central theme is quite palpable.Symbolises that there is no
escape from the party and lack of privacy. 
-The sense is one of oppression with a central theme in this influential novel, which charts
the protagonist's efforts to rebel against the Party. a totalitarian government that all
opposition. -”The hallways smelled of boiled cabbage and old rag mats”-Olfactory imagery
which is acrid and pungent, (the author is subjected to) repulsive for the readers hence is
unsettling.This simple sentence highlights the situation the protagonist is inflicted with.The
mood achieved by this In this opening line feels off-kilter , making the reader uneasy.-
Cabbage - symbolises poverty as it is the cheapest vegetable. 
-The juxtaposition of opposing words such as simply and enormously comes as
very perplexing/baffling to the readers.An enormous face can’t be simple.
- double adjective - heavy and black, trying to show the ominous aspect, and talks about
the looming authority that Big Brother holds 
-”forty five”- the use of fricatives. This alliterative phrase brings in a sense- - A dash
between enormous, ruffed is to show that the author wants you to stop and then retreat it is
a way of amplification. amplification of the details through dashes, full stops.-There are only
two fullstops in the first para. Short sentences- “Winston made for the chairs”, - the coupling
of a long sentence with a short one highlights the prevailing/ chaos and pandemonium. -”No
use to try lift” -The sense of despondency and sadness is quite evident -The novel is in third
person narrative style, this technique employed by Orwell to create a chasm like
difference/distance between the central character, Winston and the reader because this is a
very far fetched distance. 
-”Seldom” - negative diction- hyphenated one 
- Oppressive regime continues to keep the readers gripped yet distressed 
-” Economy drive” - positive connotation coupled with “hate week” - negative connotation -
This is a contrast. 
-“The flat was seven flights up”-odd number.The oddity of the situation is highlighted yet
again. Winston was “thirty nine”- oddity again. Oddity is ground/ rooting itself in the minds of
the people and this is done deliberately. 
-“ varicose ulcer above his right ankle”- nothing about this was right. -commas asyndetic.He
is also suffering from “varicose ulcer” yet is being made to climb the stairs. These
descriptions of Winston proves that this society is run by strangers, is under the
unhealthiest of commands and nobody, especially Winston is treated correctly. 
-”Opposite the lift shaft”-something against the protagonist 
-”the poster with the enormous face gazedGazed at the 
wall”-personification.Unsettling/unnerving/ nerve racking. Readers would find
this unnerving/enormity adds to the brewing trepidation. 
“Contrived”- deliberately created rather than arising naturally or spontaneously or as to
look unrealistic and artificial again to make the scene far-fetched. 
-”Big brother is watching”-The alliterative capitalised adds to the trepidation.Big brother’s
omnipotent role is quite distressing for the readers.The sense of trepidation can be felt on
being watched under surveillance of the Big Brother.The three of surveillance and dismal
can be felt here.-The caption beneath it ran”- personification of the caption”Readers would
find this unnerving/enormity adds to the brewing piturbation . 
- “No way” - trapped inside his house 
- “Blue” - used to show he is not ready at all for what is about to come 
-”He moved over to the window:.... Had just ended”-Orwell creates a character who is
demoralised and dejected from the beginning leaving the reader confounded.Right from
the onset, we see him quite confused, despondent 
-”shut the window pane the world looked cold….sun was shining and the harsh blue sky,
there seemed to be no colour in anything”- deliberate repetition of cold showcases how
alone the protagonist is.again a contradiction which highlights the dispirited and
disheartening aspect of the exposition.The deterenamental situation of Winston is visible. 
-”Big brother is watching you”- The headings are repeated twice; they are outstanding and
emphasize the authority and presence of this establishment. Again, Orwell doesn’t go into
detail
about what his organisation symbolizes or stands for;he simply proceeds with the
descriptions.The lack of knowledge about big brother leaves the reader wanting to know
more about what control this unexplained leader has over the society.This even shows how
their was no transparency between the civilians and the government. looming threat of
people- quite tangible. 
-”in the far distance a helicopter skimmed… curving flight”.-This clever expression compares
the hovering helicopter with a bluebottle fly. The helicopter “snooping” about annoying and
harassing people just like the hovering pest. Orwell wants it to be related. -”the patrols did” -
The line immediately grabs attention and creates suspense, but Orwell leaves it here.The
reader is now left feeling insecure and leaves the reader questioning themselves through
mere confusion of what may be happening in this society-sense of chaos and pandemonium
prevails. 
-He wanted a diary and was clever enough to not show anyone, inertly he wanted to go
against the government but because of his frail nature and since he does not have any
friends he decided to not act upon it and just ended up writing a diary for decisive act -The
Big Brother indoctorning so as to condition people to 
-HIs undifactabable spirit that the audience takes notice of when he chooses to rebel
when he knows the party is undefeatable. 
-Author’s purpose- Julia is introduced later because Orwell wanted to show that it
doesn’t require a cohort of rebellions to go against the government, just one person is
enough- he manages to escape the clutches of the party. 
-Theme of oppression/ interaction 
-Thesis-Theme of oppressions, dialogue/interaction with other characters and
character delineation. 

1984 questions 
Q Themes of dreams and fantasies (essay based) 
Intro: “Now, he had recognized himself as a dead man”, as he shielded his established
sanity with a sanguine expression of neutralism. As a trickle of his individuality seeps
through, Wiston, the protagonist of the novel, chooses to rely on his subconscious mind to
bring in the light to the theme of dreams and fantasies. This builds onto his inevitable
impulse to counteract conformity foreshadowing his doom which can be fathomed through
his dreams and fantasies. Wrapping the entirety of the crux, this theme is brilliantly brought
out by Orwell through the characterisation of Winston,symbolism and positive diction. 

Para 1: Characterisation of Winston(Julia)1.“Admiration for the gesture with which

she had thrown her clothes aside”-Winston had an “admiration for the gesture with which
she had thrown her clothes aside”.Characterisation aids in interpreting the way Winston
fantasizes about his utopia in a world where even the most negligible amount of rebellion
was considered a crime. The dream about Julia about tearing her clothes off was another
flicker of humanity that
would retreat to his natural pleasure of romance and intimacy, leading him to embrace
these values into his identity once again. This dream allows the reader to catch a
glimpse into the fabrication of the culminating catastrophe of the protagonist. 
2.The thing that is in Room 101 is the worst thing in the world- Winston was told that
“the thing that is in Room 101 is the worst thing in the world”. Wisnton, moreover anyone
denounced as a traitor of “The Party”, would find their way to this room only to face their
own existential dread.”Room 101”, the agonisingly tortuous prison existed in the Ministry of
Love and would put an end to the treacherous series of tormenting these convicts in
essence, rats in the case of Winston being his worst fear. This places the reader in the
place of the ultimate confrontation of Winston making this extremely significant. 
3.“In his walking thoughts he called it the golden country”- As he dreamt, “in his
walking thoughts, he called it the golden country”. “Golden country” was opposite to the
dystopian world that Winston currently presided in. Winston’s aspirations for a world as
heavenly as the word “golden” suggests become evident here. This dream with Julia where
Winston’s thriving hope is thrown light upon is a clear indication to his ideal land of freedom
and the enigma of his rebellion becomes transparent. This particular place allows plot
propulsion in the novel and allows the reader to peek in through Winston’s subjugated
thoughts. 

Symbolism-Mother’s dream-1.“sacrificed herself to a conception of loyalty [to him]

that was private and unalterable”- His mother “sacrificed herself to a conception of loyalty
that was private and unalterable”. Symbolism of his dreams and fantasies puts an image of
his illuminating defiance against ‘“The Party”. As Winston’s dream about his mother throws
him back into the whirlpool of winding memories, he finds himself reminiscing over snippets
of valuable information such as that “she died loving him”. Winston’s dreams of his mother
are symbolic to his compassion and natural gestures of the past, values he incorporates
while building his identity in opposition to Big Brother. This reflection of memories beyond
the time leaves the reader in the world of dreams and fantasies such as Winston himself. 2.
“His eye fell on the fragments of the glass paperweight”- Winston’s “eye fell on the
fragments of the glass paperweight”. The “paperweight” posed to act as the bubble of
privacy for Winston and Julia, furthermore, a safe space to express his insurgence for it had
existed even before the revolution. This being symbolic to an object that would remind him
of the past and stir him over and over brings about his desire to connect himself to the past
which had been ruined by the ruling party, hence, leading to his crushed ambitions when it is
shattered by the
“Thought Police”. This symbol of freedom allows the reader to gage the holding onto,
sentimental aspect of Winston and his rigid attitude to oppose “The Party”. 3.”If there is
hope, it lies in the proles”- Winston believed “if there is hope, it lies in the proles”. The
proles occupied a large proportion of the population, hence why they possessed such
power. Unguarded by “telescreens” or other means of such mass propaganda, it would
have been much easier for them to conspire against them undetected making this minority
symbolic to the last streak of faith left in the rebels. With summoning just enough power, it
was impossible to stop them from overthrowing “The Party”. This embeds a sense of
impending light in the readers. 

Para 3: Positive diction(O’brien)-1.”little knots of resistance”-Winston could only

imagine “little knots of resistance springing up here and there”. Positive diction permits the
readers to catch the concealed vision of hope through Winston’s eyes fulfilling the author’s
purpose. The dream of O’Brien makes Winston fall into his fantasy of revolt even more. The
“little knots” hints at the upcoming generations of subversives who intend on growing their
group big enough to be utterly able to defy “The Party” once and for all even though he
knows the procedure is taking too long. This allows the reader to spot Winston’s persisting
hope to a utopian world. 2. “A place where there is no darkness”- O’Brien wanted to
meet Winston in “a place where there is no darkness”. A place with “no darkness” would be
one where conviction to go against the party would be as strong and lively as ever. This
throws light on Winston’s everlasting yearning that O’Brien, who he thought was disloyal
and had heard his voice ever so only in a dream, was going to be his saviour. His conflicting
opinions that someone was going to show up despite the fear of “The Party” was what
allowed the readers to believe in his character. 3.”He loved big brother”- In spite of
everything wrong with the ruling power, “he loved Big Brother”. At the end of the novel,
Winston’s safe-conducting acts are finally conquered by the desire for self-expression.Just
like the rest, he gives into “The Party” which causes nothing but make him believe in “Big
brother” again splintering his dreams into pieces once and for all. His individual will to riot is
demolished; he assimilates into the quintessential mindset of the people of Oceania. The
readers can see all his dreams condensed into an advocacy for Big Brother leaving a note
that no one remains unexposed from The Party. 

Conclusion-In a nutshell,wrapping the entirety of the crux, this theme is brilliantly

brought out by Orwell through the characterisation of Winston,symbolism and positive
diction. While characterisation and symbolism helps dig into the deeper meaning of his
dreams, Winston’s
hope is completely out-layed through his use of positive diction. The thematic threads of
dreams and fantasies compels the readers through Orwell’s intelligent word choice. 

Ans. “Now, he had recognized himself as a dead man”, as he shielded his established
sanity with a sanguine expression of neutralism. As a trickle of his individuality seeps
through, Wiston, the protagonist of the novel, chooses to rely on his subconscious mind to
bring in the light to the theme of dreams and fantasies. This builds onto his inevitable
impulse to counteract conformity foreshadowing his doom which can be fathomed through
his dreams and fantasies. Wrapping the entirety of the crux, this theme is brilliantly brought
out by Orwell through the characterisation of Winston,symbolism and positive diction. 
Winston had an “admiration for the gesture with which she had thrown her clothes
aside”.Characterisation aids in interpreting the way Winston fantasizes about his utopia in a
world where even the most negligible amount of rebellion was considered a crime. The
dream about Julia about tearing her clothes off was another flicker of humanity that would
retreat to his natural pleasure of romance and intimacy, leading him to embrace these
values into his identity once again. This dream allows the reader to catch a glimpse into the
fabrication of the culminating catastrophe of the protagonist.Winston was told that “the thing
that is in Room 101 is the worst thing in the world”. Wisnton, moreover anyone denounced
as a traitor of “The Party”, would find their way to this room only to face their own existential
dread.”Room 101”, the agonisingly tortuous prison existed in the Ministry of Love and would
put an end to the treacherous series of tormenting these convicts in essence, rats in the
case of Winston being his worst fear. This places the reader in the place of the ultimate
confrontation of Winston making this extremely significant.As he dreamt, “in his walking
thoughts, he called it the golden country”. “Golden country” was opposite to the dystopian
world that Winston currently presided in. Winston’s aspirations for a world as heavenly as
the word “golden” suggests become evident here. This dream with Julia where Winston’s
thriving hope is thrown light upon is a clear indication to his ideal land of freedom and the
enigma of his rebellion becomes transparent. This particular place allows plot propulsion in
the novel and allows the reader to peek in through Winston’s subjugated thoughts. 

His mother “sacrificed herself to a conception of loyalty that was private and unalterable”.
Symbolism of his dreams and fantasies puts an image of his illuminating defiance against
‘“The Party”. As Winston’s dream about his mother throws him back into the whirlpool of
winding
memories, he finds himself reminiscing over snippets of valuable information such as that
“she died loving him”. Winston’s dreams of his mother are symbolic to his compassion and
natural gestures of the past, values he incorporates while building his identity in opposition
to Big Brother. This reflection of memories beyond the time leaves the reader in the world of
dreams and fantasies such as Winston himself. Winston’s “eye fell on the fragments of the
glass paperweight”. The “paperweight” posed to act as the bubble of privacy for Winston
and Julia, furthermore, a safe space to express his insurgence for it had existed even before
the revolution. This being symbolic to an object that would remind him of the past and stir
him over and over brings about his desire to connect himself to the past which had been
ruined by the ruling party, hence, leading to his crushed ambitions when it is shattered by
the “Thought Police”. This symbol of freedom allows the reader to gage the holding onto,
sentimental aspect of Winston and his rigid attitude to oppose “The Party”.Winston believed
“if there is hope, it lies in the proles”. The proles occupied a large proportion of the
population, hence why they possessed such power. Unguarded by “telescreens” or other
means of such mass propaganda, it would have been much easier for them to conspire
against them undetected making this minority symbolic to the last streak of faith left in the
rebels. With summoning just enough power, it was impossible to stop them from
overthrowing “The Party”. This embeds a sense of impending light in the readers. 

Winston could only imagine “little knots of resistance springing up here and there”. Positive
diction permits the readers to catch the concealed vision of hope through Winston’s eyes
fulfilling the author’s purpose. The dream of O’Brien makes Winston fall into his fantasy of
revolt even more. The “little knots” hints at the upcoming generations of subversives who
intend on growing their group big enough to be utterly able to defy “The Party” once and for
all even though he knows the procedure is taking too long. This allows the reader to spot
Winston’s persisting hope to a utopian world.O’Brien wanted to meet Winston in “a place
where there is no darkness”. A place with “no darkness” would be one where conviction to
go against the party would be as strong and lively as ever. This throws light on Winston’s
everlasting yearning that O’Brien, who he thought was disloyal and had heard his voice ever
so only in a dream, was going to be his saviour. His conflicting opinions that someone was
going to show up despite the fear of “The Party” was what allowed the readers to believe in
his character.In spite of everything wrong with the ruling power, “he loved Big Brother”. At
the end of the novel, Winston’s safe-conducting acts are finally conquered by the desire for
self-expression.Just like the rest, he gives into “The Party” which causes nothing but make
him believe in “Big brother”
again splintering his dreams into pieces once and for all. His individual will to riot is
demolished; he assimilates into the quintessential mindset of the people of Oceania. The
readers can see all his dreams condensed into an advocacy for Big Brother leaving a note
that no one remains unexposed from The Party. 

In a nutshell,wrapping the entirety of the crux, this theme is brilliantly brought out by
Orwell through the characterisation of Winston,symbolism and positive diction. While
characterisation and symbolism helps dig into the deeper meaning of his dreams,
Winston’s hope is completely out-layed through his use of positive diction. The thematic
threads of dreams and fantasies compels the readers through Orwell’s intelligent word
choice. 

Q- How does George Orwell make the opening scene/expository part of

1984 an unsettling one.(extract based) 
Mindmap:Intro: 
“Acerbic Diction: 
1.Bright, cold day in April- It is a linguistic description . ”Bright cold”-This
juxtaposition/contradiction right at the onset sets the mood of tension. Cold has negative
connotations-depressing, gloomy, bleak ominous. -Setting of place is very contrasting to the
setting of time- The reader would not expect a bright day in April.The tension created is quite
palpable.-juxtaposition,foreshadowing of the events is quite evident. The dystopian novel’s
bleak surroundings protagonist oppressed life his subject to the ordeal of his life- we see a
character who is already so crestfallen -winston’s bleak existence is illustrated. 
2.“Smelt of boiled cabbage and old rag mats”-”The hallways smelled of boiled cabbage
and old rag mats”-Olfactory imagery which is acrid and pungent, (the author is subjected to)
repulsive for the readers hence is unsettling.This simple sentence highlights the situation
the protagonist is inflicted with.The mood achieved by this In this opening line feels off-kilter
, making the reader uneasy.- Cabbage - symbolises poverty as it is the cheapest vegetable.
3.“One of those pictures which are so contrived that the eyes follow you about when
you move”-“Contrived”- deliberately created rather than arising naturally or spontaneously
or as to look unrealistic and artificial again to make the scene far-fetched. 
-“The flat was seven flights up”-odd number.The oddity of the situation is highlighted yet
again. Winston was “thirty nine”- oddity again. Oddity is ground/ rooting itself in the minds of
the people and this is done deliberately. 
”Seldom” - negative diction- hyphenated one 

Characterisation of Winston 
1.“In an effort to escape the vile wind”-”vile” means evil.Orwell subtly alerts the readers
that statements of truth in this fictional society should be called into
question.Personification of the wind forces the reader to read on.Coercive in nature,
makes the reader wonder/curious why is
this mood of tension looming right at the onset, and something is brewing ,projecting
and progressing towards a world. 
2. “A smallish, frail figure”- 
-“ varicose ulcer above his right ankle”- nothing about this was right. -commas
asyndetic.He is also suffering from “varicose ulcer” yet is being made to climb the stairs.
These descriptions of Winston proves that this society is run by strangers, is under the
unhealthiest of commands and nobody, especially Winston is treated correctly. 
3.“Went slowly, resting several times on the way” 
”Nuzzled him into his breast”-Unhappy, crestfallen-Creates a sense of quagmire in the
character. - The second line we have been introduced to the protagonist who is about to
enter Victory Mansion, but it is contrasting as his chin is nuzzled into his breast showing
he does not want to go there- poor light his being shed on the character, "nose nuzzled in
his breast" - coupling of sentences using "and" and "and" - polisindeton - technique used
to emphasize on certain aspects . 

Theme of Oppression: 
“The clocks were striking thirteen”-”Clocks were striking thirteen”-has negative
connotations. Opening line that isn’t just one clock malfunctioning, but the clocks.
Presumably all of them.The clocks striking thirteen is not an aberration , but a normal way of
life.Ominous note that continues throughout this dystopian novel with the unexpected and
jarring use of the number thirteen. 

“In the far distance, a helicopter skimmed down between the roofs, hovered for an
instant like a bluebottle and darted away again with a curving flight. It was the police
patrol, snooping into people’s windows”-This clever expression compares the hovering
helicopter with a bluebottle fly. The helicopter “snooping” about annoying and harassing
people just like the hovering pest. Orwell wants it to be related.”the patrols did” - The line
immediately grabs attention and creates suspense, but Orwell leaves it here.The reader is
now left feeling insecure and leaves the reader questioning themselves through mere
confusion of what may be happening in this society-sense of chaos and pandemonium
prevails. 

“BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU”-”Big brother is watching”-The alliterative

capitalised adds to the trepidation.Big brother’s omnipotent role is quite distressing for the
readers.The sense of trepidation can be felt on being watched under surveillance of the
Big Brother.The three of surveillance and dismal can be felt here.-The caption beneath it
ran”- personification of 
the caption”Readers would find this unnerving/enormity adds to the brewing piturbation . 

”Swirl of gritty dust”-brewing of tension. This the foreshadowing of events to come.The

sense of oppression which is underlined central theme is quite palpable.Symbolises that
there is no escape from the party and lack of privacy. 
- Glass door - Seems transparent but isn't hence ironical
Mind Map: 

Acerbic Diction: 

1. “Even at the best of times it was seldom working”-wreckage of “seldom”, short sentence.
Oppressive regime continues to keep the readers gripped yet distressed. 

2. “Smelt of boiled cabbage”-Olfactory imagery which is pungent and repulsive for the
readers hence is unsettling. A cheap vegetable, showing the malnourished diet of the
residents. 

3. “so contrived that the eyes follow you about when you move”-Deliberately created rather
than arising naturally or spontaneously. Created or arranged in a way that seems
 artificial and unrealistic, because this novel is far fetched. The alliterative capitalised
name adds to the sense of trepidation, the dismal setting can be sensed on being
watched by Big Brother constantly 

Characterisation of Winston: 

1. “In an effort to escape the vile wind”- Even the air surrounding the town is contaminated
to the extent that the toxicity can be sensed easily. Showing that there is no escape
from Party’s gaze, foreshadowing Winston’s ultimate fate of doom 

2. “A smallish, frail figure”-reader's question as to why he is being showcased in poor light.

Winston is an insignificant official in the Party, the totalitarian political regime that rules
all of Airstrip One—the land that used to be called England—as part of the larger state of
Oceania. Though Winston is technically a member of the ruling class, his life is still
under the Party’s oppressive political control. 

3. “Went slowly, resting several times on the way”-A middle-aged man forced to climb
the stairs. It was seven flights up yet he had to rest several times. These descriptions
of Winston show that the society is being run by strangers, is under the unhealthiest
of 
commands and nobody, especially Winston is treated correctly. it is painful for
him to trudge up the stairs because he has a varicose ulcer above his right
ankle 

Theme of Oppression: 

-The character enveloped in a quagmire 

-The sense is one of oppression. A central theme in this influential novel which charts
the protagonist’s efforts to rebel against the Party
1. “The clocks were striking thirteen”-the oddity of the situation is gaining its power and
rooting its ground in the hearts of people, usage of odd numbers. 13 has a negative
connotation, spotted throughout the novel, ominous note that continues throughout the
novel. Linguistic description contradicts right at the onset. Setting of the place is very
contrasting to the setting of time. Opening line that isn’t just one clock malfunctioning,
but the clocks. Presumably all of them. In this world, the clocks striking thirteen is not
an aberration, but a normal way of life. The mood achieved by this opening line feels
off-kitter making the readers feel uneasy 

2. “In the far distance, a helicopter skimmed down between the roofs, hovered for an
instant like a bluebottle and darted away again with a curving flight. It was the police
patrol, snooping into people’s windows”-This clever expression compares the hovering
helicopter with a bluebottle fly. The helicopter “snooping” about annoying and
harassing people just like hovering pests. Orwell wants it to be related to the readers. 

3. “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU”-These headings were repeated twice, they are
outstanding and emphasize the authority and presence of this establishment. Again
Orwell doesn’t go into detail about what the organization symbolizes or stands for; he
simply proceeds with this description. The lack of knowledge of Big Brother leaves the
 readers wanting to know more about what control this unexplained leader has over
society. 

Introducing a “bright cold day in April” George Orwell instantly casts the veil of negativity on
the setting of the dystopian novel: 1984. Being a polemic text it reaches out and revolts
against the existence of totalitarian governments, casting them in an abhorrent light as they
are proven to be pernicious to the societal structure that go on to exist till date. Reeling in a
subtle overview of the protagonist of the novel: Winston, the harsh climatic conditions
foreshadowing the Party’s oppression and close surveillance upon him, reiterating the
deprivation of privacy and individualism. The expository scene of 1984 has been made an
unsettling one as Orwell employs Acerbic Diction, Characterisation of Winston and Theme
of Oppression. Aming to unnerve the readers, reverberate anxiety, and lend a sense of
anticipation thus impelling the readers to read on. 

QHow does Orwell portray Winston in the novel 1984? 

Mindmap: Intro: “His chin nuzzled into his chest” and Winston seized to take another
breath as he found his way into the building.The dystopian novel’s bleak surroundings puts
Winston, the protagonist of the poem, in a place where his oppressed life becomes his
subject to the ordeal of his life. 

Opening chapter of the novel 1984 gives the readers an insight of the protagonist and
hero of the book- Winston Smith. Winston is depicted as a frail, weak, agile and old
character with the
fear of getting caught constantly overpowering his every thought. It foreshadows his ultimate
doom and also proves that a person does not need to be young and healthy to lead a
revolution. Winston marks the date of his own destruction as soon as his thoughts become
his own and small streaks of individuality appear in his personality. 

The story revolves around the actions of an individual being themselves, which is
punishable by death in the city of Oceania. A place constantly at war, with “the party”
controlling them through their hate for the other supercontinents. Right from the onset, the
readers feel sympathy for Winston 

Foreshadowing, imagery-, symbolism- paper weight, characterization of

winston Characterisation diction and symbolisation 
characterisatio/ delineation, theme of dreams and fantasies, 

Helping quotes 
Part 1 
1-”Began writing in sheer panic”- it shows that he was sure he was going to get caught,
setting pen to paper marked his demise 
2- “already uncertain it had happened. Such incidents never had any sequel. All they did
was to keep alive in him the belief, or hope, that others besides himself were the enemies
of the party. Perhaps the rumours of the vast underground conspiracies were in spite of the
endless arrests 
and confession and executions, to be sure that the Brotherhood was not simply a myth”-
filling himself with false hope, thinking there might be better days. Something that may or
may not have happened, he chose to believe the first and cling onto that speck. 
3- “he began thinking of the things that would happen to him after the Thought Police took
him away 
“Nobody spoke of such things, yet everyone knew of them 
“Grovelling on the floor and screaming for mercy, the crack of broken bones, the smashed
teeth, and bloody clots of hair” 
“She was a bold looking girl, of about twenty- seven, with thick hair, a freckled face, and
swift, athletic movements.” 
“O’Brien was a large, burly man with a thick neck and a coarse, humorous, brutal
face.” “Much more it was because of a secretly held belief- or perhaps not even a
belief, merely a hope- that O’Brien’s political orthodoxy was not perfect.” 
“And even contained Newspeak words, more Newspeak words indeed, than any Party
member would normally use in real life. 
“He was an object of hatred” 
“The horrible thing about the Two Minuted Hate was not that one was obliged to act a part,
but, on the contrary, that it was impossible to avoid joining in.” 
“Seemed to flow through the whole group of people like an electric current, turning one
even against one’s will into a grimacing, screaming lunatic. And yet the rage that one felt
was an abstract, undirected emotion which could be switched from one object to another
like the flame of a blowlamp. Thus, at one moment Winston’s hatred was not turned
against Goldstein at all, but, on the contrary, against Big Brother, the Party, and the
Thought Police”
“At those moments his secret loathing of Big Brother changed into adoration, and Big
Brother seemed to tower up, an invincible, fearless protector 
“Full of power and mysterious calm”- after the Two Minute Hate, the face of big brother
emerges, soothing the people, making them believe them believe that he is the actual
saviour who will protect them from the “brotherhood”. He is the one who will not let them get
in harm’s way, hence he comes at the end, bringing a mysterious peace along with him to
calm the people down. It also gives them the power to channel the people’s rage at his will.
“He could not help feeling a twinge of panic”- after he wrote DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER
multiple times in his notebook 
“Thoughtcrime”- people were so controlled, they were afraid of the thoughts that might
enter their head, because of one urthodox belief, and you land yourself in twenty five
years of labour camps or death. 
“His face, from long habit, was probably expressionless” 
“Victory mansions were old flats” 
“Bad news coming”- the party gave good news followed by bad news to not make people
realise what had really happened. Instead, they spoke about the bad news and then were
completely patriotic. 
“Always the eyes watching you and the voice enveloping you. Asleep or awake, working
or eating, indoors or out of doors, in the bath or in bed- no escape. Nothing was your own
except the few cubic centimeters inside your skull”- no privacy 
“He was already dead- he reflected” 
“The aim of newspeak is to narrow the range of thought? In the end we shall make
thoughtcrime literally impossible because there will be no words in which to express it.” “The
party did not permit divorce, but it rather encouraged separation in cases when there were
no children” 
“It was assumed that when he was not working, eating or sleeping he would be taking
part in some kind of communal recreation: to do anything that suggested a taste for
solitude, even to go for a walk by yourself, was always slightly dangerous. 
“Whether he himself was a lunatic. Perhaps a lunatic was simply a minority of
one” “To mark the paper was a decisive act” 
“Anything old, and for that matter anything beautiful, was always vaguely suspect.” 
Part 2 
"she outlined the route that he had to follow" 
“It's the golden country-almost” 

Part 3 
“Concealed lamps flooded it with cold light, and there was a steady humming sound
which he supposed had something to do with the air supply.” 
“He was also hungry, with a gnawing, unwholesome kind of hunger. It might be twenty
four hours since he had eaten, it might be thirty six”. 
“Since he was arrested he had not been fed”. 
“If you made unexpected movements they yelled at you from the telescreen. But the
craving for food was growing up on him”.
“In the end the temptation to find out overcame his fear; he slipped a hand into his
pocket. ‘Smith!’ yelled a voice from the telescreen. ‘6079 Smith W.! Hands out of pockets
in the cells!” 

Handout answers 
Q - How is Winston Smith portrayed as an anti-hero and how does this relate to
his rebellion in the novel as a whole 

In the opening chapter of Nineteen Eighty-Four, the reader is given a description of Winston
Smith; our "hero" is described as vulnerable, frail, weak and fearful. However, Winston's
function is crucial. As a trickle of his individuality seeps through, there is promise of only
failure if he should take any measures to counteract conformity. Winston's defeat may be
implicit in the opening of the book, but he is not yet defeated. 

The reader feels sympathy for Winston. Without Winston as a focus, the novel would lose
most of its power. Nineteen Eighty-Four is the story of Winston's revolt against 'The Party'.
The story begins with a description of the slavish life of Oceania's citizens. The surprise is
that Winston lives a very similar life to ours, as today we are fighting a dictatorship regime,
with a war, in Iraq. These oppressed people are brainwashed to not even question 'The
Party' but Winston slowly regains his memory, and he remembers how the capitalist world
slowly changed into this robotic society. 

The reader feels sympathy for Winston. Without Winston as a focus, the novel would lose
most of its power. Nineteen Eighty-Four is the story of Winston's revolt against 'The Party'.
The story begins with a description of the slavish life of Oceania's citizens. The surprise is
that Winston lives a very similar life to ours, as today we are fighting a dictatorship regime,
with a war, in Iraq.These oppressed people are brainwashed to not even question 'The
Party' but Winston slowly regains his memory, and he remembers how the capitalist world
slowly changed into this robotic society. 

Even the language spoken in Oceania prevented people from speaking their minds and
almost succeeded in taking away their individuality completely, as Newspeak would turn the
people into clones. This is shown when Symes talks about Newspeak, and says, 

"Duckspeak, to quack like a duck. It is one of those interesting words that have
contradictory meanings. Applied to an opponent, it is abuse; applied to someone you 

agree with, it is praise." 

The orthodox people felt guilty about having thoughts or feelings, which shows the complete
control Big Brother had. This is illustrated in the way that Winston had to hide his diary from
the telescreen. Winston's first act of rebellion is momentous. To mark the paper was a
decisive act. The passage in which he does this reveals the nature of his rebellion. The fact
that Winston should want to keep a diary is significant. For Winston to keep track of history
is dangerous, and a political act. At his stage, however, Winston's rebellion is instinctive and
personal, an
expression of individuality. He was afraid, as he knew the consequences. People were
made to think the did not have the right to feel or think individual thoughts, and the fact that
they are forced to think in the way Big Brother wanted them to do so. Winston had no
chance of overcoming such power, showing Winston could never succeed in a rebellion
against such force. Anyone thinking something that the party did not approve of would be
committing thoughtcrime. This was a crime punishable by twenty-five years in a forced
labour camp or death. This is a particularly terrifying thought as the labour camp was an
idea used by Hitler and Stalin who used these camps during the Second World War, as
Orwell and other people living in 1948 experienced. Winston did not know what he was up
against. He was far too unquestioning to be a hero, and was naive and trusting right up until
the end, both of the novel and his torture. His unquestioning nature is shown in part3,
chapter 3, when O'Brien talks to Winston about 'the book.' O'Brien tells Winston he wrote
the book that "it is all nonsense." Winston still does not question him. It was clear Winston
would never succeed when O'Brien was torturing him and said, 

"There is no way in which the Party can be overthrown. The rule of the Party is forever.
Make that the starting point of your thoughts." 

Apart from his thoughtful nature, Winston's main attribute was his rebelliousness. Winston
hates the Party passionately and wants to test the limits of its power; he commits
innumerable crimes throughout the novel, ranging from writing "DOWN WITH BIG
BROTHER" in his diary, to having an illegal love affair with Julia, to getting himself secretly
indoctrinated into the anti-Party Brotherhood. The effort Winston puts into his attempt to
achieve freedom and independence ultimately underscores the Party's devastating power.
By the end of the novel, Winston's rebellion is revealed as playing into O'Brien's campaign
of physical and psychological torture, transforming Winston into a loyal subject of Big
Brother.One reason for Winston's rebellion, and eventual downfall, is his sense of fatalism-
his intense paranoia about the Party and his overriding belief that the Party will eventually
catch and punish him. As soon as he writes "DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER" in his diary,
Winston is positive that the Thought Police will quickly capture him for committing a thought
crime. Thinking that he is helpless to evade his doom, Winston allows himself to take
unnecessary risks, such as trusting O'Brien and renting the room above Mr. Charrington's
shop. Deep down, he knows that these risks will increase his chances of being caught by
the Party; he even admits this to O'Brien while in prison. But because he believes that he
will be caught no matter what he does, he convinces himself that he must continue to rebel.
Winston lives in a world in which legitimate optimism is impossible; lacking any real hope,
he gives himself false hope, fully aware that he is doing so. Critic Jenni Clader writes,
"Winston's awareness is crucial because it articulates and individualizes his rebellion." To
me, this is shown when Winston is reading 'the book' in Mr. Charrington's shop and Julia is
asleep. It shows that Winston is on his own in his attempt to rebel. This is highlighted by the
fact that we really do see Julia in Part two of the novel. 

Winston is a contrast to other characters in the novel. In the opening chapter, we can
compare his physical appearance with that of Big Brother. Big Brother is strong and
powerful, compared
with Winston, frail and powerless. He is also contrasted with O'Brien, who is also of
strong physical appearance, and then again with Julia. This is only an ironic preparation
for his final defeat. His physical inadequacy is always in evidence. 

Another example of Winston as an anti-hero is during the two minute hate, "within thirty
seconds, any pretence was always unnecessary." This shows The Party's ability to
manipulate the worst in human nature, so with this power, the Party is surely
undefeatable. If Winston had been allowed to command more respect at the outset his
defeat could be seen as heroic. He never thinks in heroic terms. Initially, he wants
normality, or something that he thinks was once normal. Mr. Charrington's room is the
attempt to achieve normality. 

Orwell often describes Winston's bodily parts, his varicose ulcer, his entrails and bowel
movements. It is often repulsive. This is not the impression of a hero. Winston is relatively
old to be a hero and overthrowing the Party. At thirty nine years old, he is somewhat older
than one would imagine a hero to be. When we see Winston with Julia, Julia always takes
the lead, giving instructions, organizing. This is anti-heroic, for a person younger than him
and of the "inferior sex" to be in control. When they are together, Winston has "the sense of
his own inferiority heavy upon him." 

During his torture, Winston is referred to as a child. O'Brien calls him a "learner." O'Brien
became a friend to Winston suddenly, showing Winston to be too trusting. "Winston hung to
O'Brien like a baby" although he had caused him pain, Winston was still trusting and
believing in the Brotherhood. Winston could never be a hero, "He had understood it all,
weighed it all, and it made no difference; all was justified by the ultimate purpose." O'Brien is
everything Winston is not, physically and mentally. 

George Orwell, a socialist, always wrote about subjects concerning politics. In Nineteen
Eighty Four, we are told of a totalitarian government ruling a vast power. This story shows
how the propaganda used to justify the war with Oceania and Eastasia is effectively used to
brainwash a whole nation into hatred of another nation. Because Big Brother could control
anyone, and anything, as represented so many times, it was clear from the outset that
Winston could not overthrow the party and was not to be a hero. Orwell's predictions of the
future are particularly relevant to present day. The dictatorship described is similar to the
regime currently in the media in Iraq, as is the war relevant. 

Winston, the hero with no heroic qualities, longed only for truth. But living in a social
system where privacy does not exist and where holders of unorthodox ideas are
brainwashed or killed, there is no hope for him. His brief love affair ends in arrest by the
Thought Police and after nine months of torture, he is released, Winston makes his final
submission of his own accord. The fact that the period of time is nine months shows the
rebirth of Winston after his education, the same length of time a mother carries a baby for.
As Winston was reborn, his previous individuality is gone.
We are shown what Winston is reduced to in part 3 of the novel. It is in this section that we
see an aspect of torture. O'Brien is pulling Winston's teeth out. It makes the reader cringe
to read it. The reader gets a description of Winston's physical appearance. He is almost a
skeleton. O'Brien tells Winston how much he has been reduced, 

"Look at the dirt between your toes. Look at that disgusting running sore on your leg. Do
you know you stink like a goat?" 
This is not heroic imagery. He is "the last man" according to O'Brien and by the end of the
chapter, Winston has realized what a terrible state he is in, and wept. O'Brien even
managed to convince Winston that he did it to himself. 

Remembering the past is central to Winston's rebellion, but he seems to be the only one.
His role in the novel can be considered in different lights: Is he the hero in his secret battle
against Big Brother, or simply a sentimental man with a death wish. Winston lacks the
intelligence or physical ability to use his knowledge against the Party. The trust that
Winston places in O'Brien and Mr. Charrington leads to his tortured demise. However, it is
Winston's ability to trust that makes him human and heroic in a world built on deceit. No
matter how hard Winston tried, in the end, 

"Nothing in the world was as bad a physical pain. In the face of pain, there are no heroes,
no heroes he thought over and over as he writhed on the floor, clutching uselessly at his
disabled left arm." 

Theme of Dreams and Fantasies in 1984 

There is a recurring theme in the novel 1984, by George Orwell. The main character,
Winston Smith is often fantasizing about his utopia, and dreaming about past events. In a
world where everyone is controlled and everything is decided for you, Winston relies on
his subconscious mind to maintain his sanity. 

Winston works rewriting the past in a department for the Party. His memories of the past are
usually the opposite of the Party's version of the past. Winston is very confused about
whether or not he is losing his mind. His dreams reveal the reality of the Party and the truth
of the past, enabling him to trust his own instinct of what is right and wrong, keeping it clear
in his mind what the past was really like. In one dream Winston envisioned his mother and
his baby sister sinking into a well or lowering off the side of a ship - he wasn't quite sure. He
felt as if they were being sucked towards death. He knew they were sacrificing their lives for
his own. Winston realizes "...that his mothers dhree of them. Winston, of course, demanded
the whole piece. His mother responded by telling him not to be greedy. She gave him the
majority of the piece and the rest to his little sister, but he stole it from her. She started to
cry while Winston ran away with the chocolate. His mother held his baby sister in her arms,
trying to console her. It did not produce more chocolate, but it was only natural for her to do
it. His mother was an unusual woman, yet intelligent, noble and pure, "her feelings were her
own, and could not be altered
from the outside" (136). He realized that in those times if you loved someone, you loved
them from the bottom of your heart, no matter what. If you had nothing else to give, you
gave love. Contrasting this with today, Winston recognized that the Party persuades you to
think that impulses and feelings are unimportant, ultimately robbing you of your power.
Whatever happens really makes no difference, in the end you are vanished. What mattered
then were individual relationships, nowved that this was the reality of the past, he thought it
was a false memory. He could no longer distinguish between fact and fiction; he now
believed the only love that existed was that for Big Brother. He did not want to admit that his
memories of the past were the truth. This is the turning point for him, where he no longer
uses his memories to guide him. 

In the same respect as his dreams, Winston fantasizes to keep his hopes up. He has
fantasies about his utopia the Golden Country. The Golden Country was an old pasture with
a path, and a molehole here and there. There were elm trees that swayed faintly in the
breeze. Somewhere that couldn't be seen was a stream with willow trees. Winston dreamt of
the golden country so often that he wasn't sure if he had seen it in real life. He had pictured
Julia (at that time she was "the girl with dark hair", before they had met) coming toward him
in the field. She had thrown her clothes aside with a graceful, careless gesture. This
impressed him. Not her nudity,ely something to be grateful for. 

Furthermore, Winston had bought a glass paperweight from Mr. Charrington's Antique
shop. He found the inside very intriguing. It had a depth to it, even though it was
transparent. He thought of the outside arch as the sky and the inside as a complete little
world. He imagined he was inside, along with Julia and their apartment. The symbolism of
this paperweight indicates that Winston feels protected from the reality of the real world, the
Party. The outside glass is his protection. The inside contains his Golden Country and
perfect relationship with Julia, transparent and free of flaws. They have a stronger
emotional bond than the average relationship of those days. This is his escape from the
harsh reality. 

The dreams and fantasies that Winston has allow him to remain in a positive state of mind; it
is because of this that the Party does not overpower him. Winston and Julia had a
conversation about the lies of the Party. Julia learnt at school that the Party had in Winston
is definitely devoted to oppose the Party, and it is evident that he would do whatever it
takes. Although, from his dreams he has realized that his love for Julia is his firearm against
the Party and he finds strength and support in her. 

When Winston began to regain his health in the ministry of love he began to dream a great
deal. They were all surpassingly happy dreams. He would dream himself into the Golden
Country with his mother, Julia and even O'Brien. "Such thoughts as he had when he was
awake were mostly 
about his dreams" (227). Previously he had told O'Brien that he believed that even if he
gave up, the spirit of mankind could overthrow the Party. He had almost completely given
into the Party but he had not betrayed Julia. Winston did not want to give up the possibility
that the Party could be destroyed. 

Finally, at the end of the story Winston gave into the Party, but willingly. He had made a
good
effort to remain an individual but he decided it just wasn't worth the struggle. 

Patni’s sample answer 

“Winston awareness is crucial because it articulates and individualises his rebellion” shines
light upon the bleak future state that vanishes personal loyalties and manipulates memory.
George Orwell describes Winston Smith the “hero” as vulnerable, frail, weak and fearful.
The party ruthlessly controls the people of Oceania and our protagonist, Winston Smith,
embodies the values of a civilized society. His personal tendency to restrict the stifle of his
individuality and his ability to reason about his resistance, enables the reader to distinguish
the dictatorial oppressions that the party institutes. George Orwell portrays Winston Smith
as an anti-hero through symbolism, characterization and the theme of dreams and fantasies. 

Orwell conveys Winston's rebellion through characterization. Right from the beginning,
Winston knew that he would die one day but still he commited all the rebellious acts against
the party. Later in the novel, Winston realizes, “until they become conscious they will never
rebel, and until after they have rebelled they cannot become conscious,” (Orwell 70). In
other words, they can never achieve consciousness in the society they live in. It conveys that
even though Winston made reckless efforts, still it was not enough to overthrow the party.
This quote shows that Winston is possessed by the fact that he’s thinking beyond what The
Party wants him to think. He comprehends the trap that the proles are in and recognizes the
sheer control The Party has on the people. This helps readers to understand his rebellious act
better. Winston, one of the most major rebellious acts against the party, was committed to
Julia. It is against The Party’s rules to do this. While Julia is in it for the thrill of rebelling,
Winston enjoys the intimacy and experience of it, which is something The Party doesn’t
want its citizens to feel. In their first time meeting up, Winston exclaims, “Listen, the more
men you’ve had, the more I love you. Do you understand that?” (Orwell 125) Winston is not
only attracted towards Julia’s physical appearance but he is also attracted towards the
rebellious nature of the others which tells the reader how much rebellious he is from inside.
This rebellious nature of Winston helps the reader to understand Winston as an anti-hero.
Furthermore, the readers observe that Winston’s rebellion ranges broadly throughout the
novel, for instance, Winston acts of writing down “DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER”
throughout his diary. While writing, Winston was so sure that thought police will catch him
for committing “thoughtcrime” which conveys that how he hates the party that after knowing
it too that one day he will end up dead still Winston continues the act of rebellion against the
party. 
Through the use of compelling symbols Orwell illustrates Winston's rebellion. He uses
“diary” which acts upon his desire to be free as it gives him the opportunity to express his
thoughts. His ‘diary’ acts as a symbol of Winston thought crime as he utilizes to keep a
trace of his history which is a dangerous political act. Furthermore, Winston had bought a
glass paperweight from Mr. Charrington's Antique shop. He found the inside very
intriguing and thought that “the surface of the glass had been the arch of the sky, ...and the
coral was Julia's life and his own...."(154). It had a depth to it, even though it was
transparent. He imagined he was inside,
along with Julia and their apartment. The symbolism of this paperweight indicates that
Winston feels protected from the reality of the real world, the Party. The outside glass is his
protection. The inside contains his Golden Country and perfect relationship with Julia,
transparent and free of flaws. They have a stronger emotional bond than the average
relationship of those days. The "Golden Country" represents the old European pastoral
landscape - before Big Brother came to power. It's the place where Winston and Julia first
meet, and it's this place that Winston sees in his dreams. Winston foresees a peaceful and
truly free atmosphere. When he comes to this place he remembers the past, that's the
freedom he enjoyed in those days. The reader would consider it as a beautiful landscape, but
for Winston, a person who had lived free and now in a totalitarian society, it's not just
beautiful, but also a free place. 

Google Orwell uses themes of dreams and fantasies to portray Winston smith as an anti-
hero. Winston Smith is often dreaming about his utopia, and imagining about past events. He
has fantasies about his utopia, the “Golden Country”. The “Golden Country” was an old
pasture with a path, and a mole hole here and there. There were elm trees that swayed faintly
in the breeze. Somewhere that couldn't be seen was a stream with willow trees. Winston
dreamt of the golden country so often that he wasn't sure if he had seen it in real life. He had
pictured Julia coming toward him in the field (at that time she was "the girl with dark hair",
before they had met) coming toward him in the field. She had thrown her clothes aside with
a graceful, careless gesture. This impressed him. Not her nudity, something to be grateful
for. The dreams and fantasies that Winston has allow him to remain in a positive state of
mind; it is because of this that the Party does not overpower him. Winston and Julia had a
conversation about the lies of the Party. Julia learnt at school that the Party had in Winston is
definitely devoted to oppose the Party, and it is evident that he would do whatever it takes.
Although, Winston always exclaims “Listen, the more men you’ve had, the more I love you.
Do you understand that?” (125) which shows that he was not only attracted to Julia’s
physical appearance but he loved her more the more she rebelled herself. From his dreams he
has realized that his love for Julia is his firearm against the Party and he finds strength and
support in her. 

Winston the hero with no heroic qualities, longed only for the truth. But living in a social
system where privacy doesn’t exist and unorthodox ideas are brainwashed and vanished,
there was no hope for him. His role can be seen in different lights - a hero in his secret battle
against Big Brother or simply a sentimental psychopath with a death wish. Winston's
rebellion throughout the novel is unsatisfied. Through the use of characterization, symbolism
and the theme of dream and fantasies, Orwell was successful to portray Winston as an anti-
hero and highlight his act of rebellion against the party.