The heroes of literature and history most often meet tragic ends, unless they were created by Walt Disney. These particular people are often seen as someone who stands out from the masses on a moral level and attempts to fulfill a higher calling for the common good. The problem with this type of hero is that they are destined to suffer. Two such characters exist in classic literature, Winston Smith from George Orwell's 1984 and Hamlet from William Shakespeare's "Hamlet, Prince of Denmark." Hamlet is the true classic tragic hero because he is of noble birth, possesses high moral standards, completes his assigned task to improve the world, and causes tragedy in both his life and the lives of others. the hero is one who is of noble or high birth. Hamlet himself is a prince while Winston Smith, in terms of the social hierarchy of Oceania, would be considered a simple middle-class citizen. Just because Hamlet is a prince does not mean that this title alone describes a hero, but rather that a hero can describe the title. “Hamlet's appeal comes from his youth, his intelligence, his charm, his vulnerability and above all his intellectual and emotional honesty. He is a raw nerve of the Danish court, disconcertingly likely to react instinctively rather than conditionedly” (Wells 315). Traditionally, those who are born into a world of upper-class society and rebel against that society tend to be more concerned with and sympathize with the needs of others. Those born into a lower class tend to be concerned about their own well-being and elevating their position in society. The hero's morality also plays a key role in the nature of his heroism. Hamlet holds himself to high moral and ethical standards. “We, the ...... middle of paper ......ty and Literature 40.2 (Winter 1991): 157-167. Rep. in Youth Literature Review. Ed. Jelena Krstovic. Flight. 171. Detroit: Gale, 2012. Information Resource Center. Internet. March 12, 2014. Orwell, George. 1984. New York: New American Library, 1949. Print. Scott, Mark W. ed. Shakespeare for Students Book I. Detroit: Gale Research Inc., 1992. 72-163.Shakespeare, William. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Literature and composition. Ed. Carol Jago, and. al. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin, 2011. 720-830. Print.Tiffany, Grace. “Hamlet, Reconciliation and the Just State”. Renaissance 58.2 (winter 2005): 111-133. Rep. in Shakespearean criticism. Ed. Michelle Lee. Flight. 102. Detroit: Gale, 2007. Information Resource Center. Internet. March 12, 2014. Wells, Stanley. “William Shakespeare.” British Writers Vol. 1. Ed. Ian Scott-Kilvert. New York: Charles Scribner's sons, 1979. 295-334.