Text Comparison
V for Vendetta and Animal Farm
1. V's mission involved killing as a means of enacting change. From the beginning, Evey was against killing. Would it have been possible for the changes to occur without killing? Link to the actions of the rebellion in Animal Farm – would peaceful change have been possible?
V’s killing in the movie feels like a necessity to enact the change he’s looking for, though not all the people he kills need to die, as some he just kills in a sort of childish revenge. To get people listening to what he had to say, V had to do something big. To get the government scared he had to let them know he wasn’t afraid to kill to get the change he wanted. No one would have believed him if he’d just gone and told people
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In V for Vendetta, the propaganda came in the form of posters around the streets, and constant news stories playing reminding the people of what is used to be like and how life is better now because of what the High Chancellor has done for the country. Prothero was the news anchor on the TV that would show the High Chancellor as some sort of hero, and that he saved the country after the terrorist attack, making it seem like what he was doing and all the laws he was enforcing were for the greater good. Keeping the status quo means keeping things the way they are, and keeping the rules and regulations traditional. Prothero would often make himself come across as angry and hurt when talking about the “terrorist” V, to try and persuade his viewers that what he was doing was wrong and should be condemned rather than celebrated.
In Animal Farm propaganda was used many times. Squealer, one of the pigs on the farm, was used as the propagandist for his talent in using his words to manipulate what people think. Squealer was an intelligent pig and he knew how to outsmart the other animals with their limited knowledge and little vocabulary, so big words confused them. Squealer would also constantly fire back at doubt with “Are you questioning our great leader Napoleon?” to make the animals fear being murdered for treason, which Napoleon enacted to install fear in the other animals and keep them
The approach towards freedom is hard to achieve against a totalitarian government, but possible to win with the people’s belief. 1984 by George Orwell and James McTeigue’s V for Vendetta portrays the same idealism of the anti-heroes, Winston and V. An anti-hero is “a protagonist who lacks the attributes that make a heroic figure, as nobility of mind and spirit, a life or attitude marked by action or purpose” (“Antihero”). Winston is not courageous, peaceful, and self-centered along the path of freedom for Oceania, whereas the anti-hero, V, is violent in his actions, impatient and careless in his pursuit to free London from the totalitarian government. As a matter of fact, V and Winston have the opposite behaviours; this is significant because it helps to compare the approach of the anti-heroes toward freedom. At the end of 1984 and V for Vendetta, the result of their approach is different from each other; Winston gives up on the liberation of Oceania, while V dies knowing that London is freed from Norsefire Party.
Through this dramatic irony Orwell is trying to picture to the audience the selfishness of the pigs, and so criticizing the selfishness of Stalin and the leaders of the Russian Revolution. The selfishness of totalitaristic leaders is also depicted in V for Vendetta. James McTeigue draws this idea into V for Vendetta through allusions to the Nazi Party and Hitler. This allusion is established throughout the film, with direct representations, such as the close up of the Nazi flag in Gordons house and through the symbolism of the finger men logo which vaguely resembles the swastika. Allusions to Hitler are also drawn straight from Sutler himself. The rhyming of Hitler and Sutler as well as during flashbacks of
In V for Vendetta, Evey Hammond is only ready to assist society in the creation stage of their revolution after undergoing her own transformation. At the beginning of the graphic novel, she is rescued through the death of her oppressors. This, just as the destruction of corrupt institutions, creates the space for freedom. V not only creates this space for both Evey and society but also calls them out of their passivity. Particularly, he challenges Evey to be stronger than her past because “[it] can't hurt [her] anymore, not unless [she] allows it” (). Furthermore, the government has turned her into a “victim” and a “statistic,” but she has the power to free herself (). It is Evey's responsibility to find such power within herself and become “forever changed” ().
In the text V for Vendetta one of the main characters, ‘V’, was a freedom fighter/anarchist. He desired freedom from the
The setting of the film, as a whole, displays Marxist ideas of capitalism. One of the foundational themes of Marxist thought is that, within a capitalist society, there will be a distinct polarization between two classes: The ruling class (bourgeoisie), and those whom they rule over (proletariats) (Korczynski, Hodson, & Edwards, 2006, p. 33). V for Vendetta takes place in a not-so-distant future version of a dystopian England.
In 1984, a society has been created in which the protagonist Winston Smith and the people that live alongside him are under the influence of Big Brother. Big Brother put simply is a tyrannical that controls every aspect of the public's lives through fear tactics and propaganda. Similarly, V for Vendetta tells the story of the protagonist Evey Hammond and her unlikely but instrumental part in bringing down the fascist government that has taken control of a futuristic Great Britain. Evey Hammond and Winston Smith play very akin roles in contribution to their government. Evey works at the British Television Network which controls the population through propaganda.
Many novels contain a character who is placed in a situation that changes their development. The best or worst of their personality can emerge, as well as their attitude towards those around them. Crucibles can be individual tests and are noticeable in most literary pieces. Commiting a sin or allowing yourself to have all the power in a community, can cause a crucible in your life, or in a fellow individual’s life. In The Scarlet Letter, The Crucible, and Animal Farm , the protagonists experience a situation that alters their perspective of themselves and others.
Although Napoleon was not a strong public speaker he was very manipulative and used propaganda to persuade others to listen to him. The most obvious example of Napoleon's manipulation and use of propaganda would be through the sheep. Whenever someone questioned Napoleon the sheep on the farm would burst into a cry of “four legs good two legs bad” and everyone would forget about their speculations ( ). Since Napoleon was not a great speaker he used Squealer as his public voice. When the animals wondered where the apples and milk went Squealer was sent to give the other animals an explanation ( ). Squealer would also change the commandments whenever the pigs would break them ( ). If Napoleon got into a tough situation he would either say “you wouldn’t want Jones back,” or he would use Snowball as a scapegoat.
Just as in Animal Farm we see Orwell express a likewise idea. The animals wanted a government without human-like behavior and they got it, post-rebellion. As the story goes on the pigs continually lie to the animals to make they believe what they want them to trust in. “The mystery of where the milk went to was soon cleared up. It was mixed everyday into the pig’s mash…
Propaganda plays a major role in the novel, Animal Farm. George Orwell displays a story of how a group of pigs run a farm. The farm revolves and runs on propaganda. Eric Hoffer’s quote on propaganda explains how the animals’ minds work in the novel. Propaganda not only tricks people, but it also messes with their mind and Squealer in Animal is the epitome of it.
The film V for Vendetta follows a character named V, an anarchist who fights back against the totalitarian government and the sycophantic rulers. The film V for Vendetta displays various elements to contribute to the theme of control. Through symbolism McTeigue uses propaganda and the Guy Forkes mask to portray control. Through setting, the use of camera angles, lighting and shadows helps to enhance the theme of control. McTeigue uses characterisation to depict the theme of control through V, Evey and the public of London.
V for Vendetta & Animal Farm 1. V's mission involved violence as a means of enacting change. From the beginning, Evey was against killing. Would it have been possible for the changes to occur without killing? Link to the actions of the rebellion in Animal Farm – would peaceful change have been possible?
V for Vendetta makes the reader ponder what is good and what is evil. Throughout the novel V is referred to as a vigilante or terrorist, seemingly at random. However he is still the protagonist and, from the reader's perspective, is a good person. The reason this was implemented was to get the reader to think about how subjective the term good and evil actually are. Moore furthers this idea by use of heavy outlines, giving the illustrations to show a very clear style.
In the film, V for Vendetta, a man called V, acted by Hugo Weaving, starts a revolt on a forgotten day, November the fifth, against those who have committed heinous wrongdoings to him and also to the people of London. The people he takes his vengeance on identify themselves as good, but they really exploit their title of power. The endless thrill that takes place in this film keeps viewers engaged in not only the actions taken place, but the purpose behind those actions. The actions of V’s character are clearly very violent and wrong, but V states in the film that, “violence can lead to justice.” The government’s broadcasting wants the people of London to consider V’s tactics to be terrible acts of terrorism because the manipulative Chancellor Adam Sutler believes them to be.
V explained to them that he “… sought to end oppression where freedom should stand,” and invited them to join him in front of parliament one year from that day, so that they could make it a day to remember. (Alan Moore. 1989) Evey had worked as a journalist at the media station that V attacked and used to broadcast his