1984 and V for Vendetta Comparing and Contrasting Essay

Today’s society is predicted as living in a world George Orwell envisioned in 1984. The system Orwell invented is compared to what the United States government is capable of doing. Government control of society is an essential subject due to the current mind set of the world today. In 1984, George Orwell represents how Big Brother is compared to today’s government, showing the consequences and dangers of a government with unlimited surveillance power.

In the film V for Vendetta the viewer is welcomed to a dystopia in which the government not only controls its citizens, but removes their privacy, civil

1984, a novel by George Orwell, represents a dystopian society in which the people of Oceania are surveilled by the government almost all the time and have no freedoms. Today, citizens of the United States and other countries are watched in a similar way. Though different technological and personal ways of keeping watch on society than 1984, today’s government is also able to monitor most aspects of the people’s life. 1984 might be a dystopian society, but today’s condition seems to be moving towards that controlling state, where the citizens are surveilled by the government at all times.

     1984 and Brave New World, written by George Orwell and Aldous Huxley, respectively, are both books that reflect the authors vision of how society would end up at the course it was going at the time of the writing of the book. Both books were written more than fifty years ago, but far enough apart that society was going in a totally different direction at the time. There are many ways to compare these two books and point out the similarities. On certain, deep levels they are very much the same, while at first glance, on the surface, they are very different. One point that in some parts is the same and some very different, is the governments in each of these books method’s of control.

“1984” is a chilling dystopian novel written by George Orwell, set in the 1980’s, in London, in the continent Oceania. Oceania is ruled by the Party, and their dictator Big Brother. Big Brother controls Oceania through four ministries, Love, Truth, Peace and Plenty. Winston works in the Ministry of Truth, where he changes the dates, articles and photos of things to match up with what Big Brother is saying. Big Brother watches everyone through telescreens, which are in every room, and anyone who speaks out, or thinks to rebel, or even doesn’t get to their house at the right time, vanishes. “Big Brother is watching you” is the Party’s slogan, and is plastered all across London. In their society, the ideas of individuality, freedom and opinions

1984 and V for Vendetta both take place in a Great Britain controlled by a totalitarianistic society with non conformist characters who take on that society with a unique approach. Winston Smith uses a private rebellion between himself and Julia as his nonconformity against the Inner Party. In V for Vendetta, however, V’s take on resisting the Norsefire Party is very direct and outspoken to the public. In their own ways, they both hide their hatred for the Party. Winston himself keeps his meetings with Julia hush hush in Mr. Charrington’s room, while V’s identity is never revealed, always wearing a mask.

V for Vendetta opens similarly, immediately addressing the absence of freedom and independence coexistent in 1984. Following a montage of Evie and V, the dystopic qualities of their world are quickly revealed. Curfews set up along with roaming Fingermen emphasis the freedom that has been removed from its citizen’s as well as the implied illegal action towards something as ordinary as going to dinner with her boss. McTeigue emphasises this element of forsaken freedom and independence through the use of the Film Noir with the dark forbidden scenes portraying the danger in Evie’s actions. The use of medium and long shots was used to convey her anxiety while also revealing the scenery dotted with the sinister fingermen. Complete with the tense music playing during the scene it exposes to the audience the dystopic nature of the society present in the film.

Over seventy years after he lived and wrote, the works of English journalist and democratic socialist George Orwell, continue to fascinate, stimulate and enrage his readers concerning the structure of society and the organization of government. The controversial writer openly spoke out against the absolute power of any government, warning that a fascist government would deprive its people of their basic freedoms and liberties. Orwell’s novel, 1984, serves as a reminder of the danger of totalitarianism by depicting a future in which all citizens live under the constant surveillance of the “Big Brother.” Through the main character, Winston Smith, Orwell demonstrates the dangers of totalitarianism; writing of the consequences of absolute government in several essays and proposing socialism as an alternative. To Orwell, the role of government is to represent the common people rather than the old and the privileged.

The novel 1984 and the graphic novel V for Vendetta have similar views on how society is being run. However V for Vendetta was based on 1984 since 1984 was written before V for Vendetta. Both of these novels are similar in a way like the themes and how the male protagonists are the one in charge of overturning the government.

Two classic novels, 1984 written by George Orwell and Brave New World penned by Aldous Huxley both possess similar topics and themes. In both novels societies are striving for a utopia, or a perfect society. These novels also take place in societies with versions of totalitarian governments, which is a government that rules by coercion. Not only are the topics similar, but in both novels a rebellious character is the protagonist; Winston Smith from 1984 and John the Savage in Brave New World. Another parallel in the books are the tactics that the government uses to instill fear and power over the citizens. A common theme expressed in Orwell’s novel 1984 and Huxley’s novel Brave New World is that government uses

These similarities can be divided into two groups: dogma and action on the part of the system in control. In many ways, 1984 is an account of a party which emulates a religion in its invasion and control of peoples' personal lives. These are mostly the lives of the middle class, for the upper class is in the business of holding together the system, and the proles (the lowest class) are not intelligent enough to be worthy of significant effort to control: it is unneeded.

The novel 1984 made me paranoid and suspicious of the government's power and intentions. I became aware of the potential manipulation of which the government could impose upon us. The very thing which I depend on for security and protection may be a conniving entity which feeds off of it’s own power and corruption. As I flourished in my naivety, I was unaware that the people I trusted, whom I believed to be wholly dedicated to our well-being as a society, could betray us at any moment they see fit. I gravely overlooked the potential and the power that the government has to rule us. In fact, they may have been conspiring against us this whole time, using us as pawns in their quest for ultimate authority. As a

“If you want a picture of The Future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever.” (280) These are the chilling words uttered by O’Brien to Winston Smith towards the end of George Orwell’s dystopian novel, 1984. This statement captures the brutality of Big Brother’s Party as the “boot” that strives to crush the human spirit. The crushing boot of the State is also apparent in the film V for Vendetta, in which the totalitarian Norsefire Party aims for complete domination over the bodies and minds of the State’s citizens. Both States use many similar strategies in controlling their citizens, but it is the Party in Orwell’s novel that goes much further in its desire for complete domination. While the governments in both the novel and the film control their citizens by manipulating information and promoting mass hysteria, the Party of Big Brother is the most sinister in its use of Newspeak as the ultimate tool of indoctrination.

Living in a world that continues to make advancements technologically and politically, a book written more than 50 years ago still warns the world of what could happen if government becomes too forceful. Because of George Orwell's strong hatred for totalitarianism and its life dictating qualities, readers can get a taste of the perfect "dystopia". Though the people of today have been warned and are afraid of an all controlling government, they continue to allow the concept of 1984 to become more and more real. If people continue to just watch their governments make decisions and not ask questions, they will fall victim to its power. If a man not of this time understands the terror of totalitarianism, everyone should

Convincing, cruel and constraint were the governments as both the governments controlled people, depleted all freedom form the people, had strict laws, compelling propagandas, secret police and fear. Both governments kept numerous numbers of secrets from the citizens and also there were rebellious characters present that stood up for their country and rebelled against the government. The antagonist in the book 1984 and the movie V for vendetta were the government. Both the book and movie are cautionary tales that warns the readers against the hazards totalitarianism can cause. However there are some differences present between V for Vendetta and 1984. Firstly V for Vendetta receives their freedom much easier and quicker as the people aren’t afraid to go against the government. Whereas in 1984 their freedom takes longer as people are afraid to confront the government. Secondly, 1984 manifests a sad, sensitive and gloomy future in comparative to V for Vendetta. Thirdly, V for Vendetta controls people’s actions and 1984 controls people’s thoughts and emotions. Fourthly, 1984 uses surveillance systems to keep an eye on the people however, V for Vendetta lacks surveillance systems. Fifthly, V for Vendetta beseeches spirituality in the propagandas where as 1984 uses propagandas in way in which they feel like they are being watched. Finally both governments have