1984 Winston Smith
by George Orwell

Winston is the protagonist of the story, and the events are described through his point of view, with the reader having access to his mind (unlike he or she does with any other character). He begins the novel hating Big Brother and seeks in vain to rebel against the Party. Winston feels for much of the novel that though the Party can make him confess to anything, they can never change what's really in his heart. This is unfortunately untrue, for O'Brien succeeds in completely destroying Winston's spirit until only a real love for Big Brother remains. Winston is an easy character to relate to, and his failure to resist tyranny, even in his heart, is what makes this novel both tragic and disturbing.