When there is an imbalance of power among groups, it results in fear of the more powerful group. Governments should not have complete control/power over their citizens, due to the fact that the concept of society is meant for the benefit of the people, not the government. One way to view it is that “People should not be afraid of their governments, governments should be afraid of their people”. Both “When Science Goes Silent” written by Jonathon Gatehouse, and “V for Vendetta” directed by James McTeigue, emphasize the idea of oppression by the government, and how people are made to obey, using fear. Both pieces contextualize that fear is a powerful tool, which is often used by dishonest governments, to scare the public into a sense of obedience. …show more content…
In the movie, Gordon Deitrich was kidnapped for airing the video which mocked chancellor Sutler. As Peter Creedy is kidnapping Gordon, he says “Not so funny now, is it, funny man” (“V for Vendetta - Kidnapping of Evey”0:24-0:30). Here, it is shown that the chancellor oppresses people by showing them severe consequences whenever they disobey the government. This causes people to fear the government. Although, at a deeper glance, it can be argued that the fear of the government is only an indirect fear, which is a result of a direct fear of the consequences people might face. In the article, it shows how the government threatens scientists to stay quiet. The article talks about how the scientists’ jobs were unrightfully put on the line, as it states “Close to 1,900 scientists have received layoff warning letters as part of wider cuts across the public service” (Gateman, 2013). This shows how the government is trying to stop scientists from providing people with information. This is done by hitting the scientists with large consequences, such as funding cuts, program closures, and warning
...d with fears and those fears rule us. They can make us confess to things that are not true or can make us accuse other to take blame off ourselves. The fear incited by others and our governments is a dangerous thing that we should be aware about.
Within both the Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and V for Vendetta it can be concluded that the leaders of the governments included in both are some of these people. They have their own ways more often than not unethical and violent put in place in an effort to obtain the power to which the crave so very much. Also, they have their own methods to discourage those against them whose agenda may contradict with their own, again the methods are often unethical. Both Governments operating within the book Brave New World and V for Vendetta use a plethora of different things to manipulate those lower in society than them. A constant method in both A Brave New World and V for Vendetta includes some sort of crooked or manipulated law enforcement. Also, in both the information given to the media outlets and general public by the government is usually coerced or twisted in order for the government to make themselves look better or to hide
An example of the two government’s similarities is their usage of fear. In 1984, Big Brother sees
In the stories Harrison Bergeron and V for Vendetta prejudice is shown towards the people as they are not allowed to be different but think in the same way. Although the stories are told in very different settings, the themes are much the same. The stories use pathos and logos to indicate that human beings have natural tendencies of being afraid of what they think is different or something they know little about. The social life of the people in both stories was controlled by the government bringing it apart as the society became full of people who cannot add any value to it. They were made like toys that are being controlled and told what to do and not to do. If the government plays a part in designing the social life of its citizens, then the society will be not be integrated. This is because, all people will be made equal like in the two stories and there will be no development in the society as everyone thinks the same way.
In every society, throughout all of time fear is present. It is a an evolutionary instinct thought to have kept us alive, throughout the darkest moments in human history. However as time has progressed fear has had an unintended consequences on society, including the suffusion of incomprehension. During the Salem Witch Trials and Cold War a large sense of fear overcame these societies causing tragedy and misinformation to become commonplace. It is in these societies that it is clear that fear is needed to continue a trend of ignorance. Although bias is thought to be essential to injustice, fear is crucial to the perpetuation of ignorance because it blinds reason, suppresses the truth and creates injustice.
In this day in age, it is very common to find films adapted from books. Many of those films do a very well in their adaptations, but some fall short. Since it was finished, and even before its release date, the V for Vendetta film has gained some controversy from its own author. But, although the film did not end up how Alan Moore, the author, would have wanted it, he did not contribute to the project, even so, the filmography very clearly kept with the original work and showed itself as a product of the time.
V for Vendetta is a graphic novel written by Allan Moore. It is a story full of comedy with V as the protagonist who is out to fight and destroy the government and affects innocent people. The novel was later adapted into a film and directed by James McTeigue and written by Wachowski Brothers.
Power is a very interesting thing to hold. Many good-natured men have been destroyed by power and turned away from their morals as a result. When giving a man absolute power, it’s ingrained in the human brain to take it to a new level. This ideal is present in every type of government, regardless of whether it’s a dictatorship or a government supported by autonomy. Modern day government suffers from this power hungry greed.
...t came out, and now there are times that I believe Orwell was right. We have not been completely overrun by the government, but there are instances that we might have to fear Big Brother in our own society. Oppression is not something I have faced in my lifetime, but fear of what could be is also its own form of oppression.
Fear is a powerful tool. Throughout history, tyrants have used fear to pursue their ruthless ambitions as men fear death most of all. They threaten subjects with imprisonment, torture or being put to death. In order to eradicate any means of secondary thought, challenging their oppressive regimes violence is a tool and dictators are well equipped and not afraid to use it. History has shown this repeatedly. From Benito Mussolini to Adolf Hitler who killed and tortured countless thousands in World War 2, individuals were imprisoned without charge beaten at will cruelty became these dictators ruthless commodity.
What drives fear in people? Maybe it’s a depraved person, death, heights, or the spider on the wall. Either way, everyone is afraid of something. In the book 1984 by George Orwell, the characters fear someone whom they don’t know the existence of called Big Brother. He is the symbol of fear, torture, and persecution in the eyes of the citizens of Oceania. In the following paragraphs, Big Brother’s impact of fear on people’s lives will be discussed. Also, a great leader of Germany by the name of Adolf Hitler will also be gone over.
As each person feels alone and alienated under big brother’s watchful eye, they have no choice but to build the only relationship and bond they can, with that of their oppressor. The knowledge that the thought police watches the citizen’s every move influences the masses towards a “norm” of a constant state of fear and discipline resulting in utmost loyalty to Big Brother. Also, because people have no idea when they’re being watched, they learn to behave as if always under scrutiny. This transforms people into their own forms of a panoptic gaze, policing their own thoughts and actions from the fear of possible surveillance. Foucault refers to it as “ becoming the bearers of our own oppression”.
Power can be used for good or evil. It is a very influential force and can make people do things that they may not be accustomed to do. Power can be abused and can be used to hurt innocent people. In Lord of the Flies, Jack makes the best scarier and more daunting than he actually is and attempts to persuade the boys to go to his side because he will offer protection from the horrid monster. He puts fear in the little boys by saying that the beast will come after them so they need to be ready. While huddling with the boys, Jack exclaims, “‘Quiet!’ shouted Jack. ‘You, listen. The beast is sitting up there, whatever it is...’ ‘Hunting,’ said Jack. He remembered his age-old tremors in the forest. ‘Yes, the beast is a hunter” (Golding 126). The fear that Jack enforces in the boys about the beast allows him to gain more power. The boys look to him for protection despite how they might feel about his power and his ways. They ignore their needs and are immobilized from doing their own thing because fear inhibits them to. Prevalent in Lord of the Flies and in history, fear exemplifies how it can allow people to gain power. In the early 1930’s Germany was suffering from an economic depression and they were in desperate need for a strong figure head and a powerful leader. Hitler guaranteed that he would get Germany out of the hole they were digging and rose to power. He was a powerful leader and an even better public
However, with great power comes great responsibility, and most governments that allow too much power will crack under the pressure and implant complete security to protect their power from being taken by another leader that is not their main choice, or by the public through revolution. A sensible country will not allow its government to achieve either, as both will affect the country significantly in a negative spotlight. However, balancing freedom and security doesn’t take away all the problems, as having the same amount of freedom and security is impossible in reality and will soon tip into either side, and having more security than freedom will make citizens protest outside and inside of the area of influence by the government, and the awareness created can lead to tragic aftermath. This is why having more freedom than security while allowing the government to regulate individual actions that can adversely affect others, as total security will lead to totalitarianism and tyranny, allowing more security over freedom will generate resentment, severe riot, and, total freedom will lead to chaos and anarchy. Everyone wants power in one way or another, no matter if it is used for good, bad, or in-between.... ...
The two most comprehensive books on the Masada myth were written by Nachman Ben-Yehuda. After studying this topic at length, he published The Masada Myth and Sacrificing Truth. The former, published in 1995, is the result of his personal indignation when he came across an article designing the Sicariis as assassins ; and not as freedom fighters as he had been told so many times. This book is interested in the mythmaking process and reveals the nature of the myth, how it came to be and through which institutions. Emphasizing the decisive role of the creator of the myth, Shmaria Guttman, it also looks at how it stayed so engraved in Jewish’s memory.