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V for Vendetta is a dystopian film about a masked man, only known as V, who wreaks havoc on the oppressive government presiding over London. Throughout the film, V makes several speeches to appeal to the people of London, while Chancellor Sutler makes speeches in an attempt to paint V as a terrorist and a common enemy of all citizens. While V and Chancellor utilize ethos and pathos to connect to the people, V’s speech is far superior in persuasion. Chancellor Sutler’s speech is a last ditch effort to retain control of the masses. He attempts to appeal to the masses by repeatedly using the words “we” and “our”. He is trying to unite his citizens against V. He commences his speech with “My fellow Englishmen” (Sutler 1), using ethos to make his subjects trust him by depicting himself as part of the masses. He continues on to state “that which we stand for, and all we hold dear, faces a grave and terrible threat” (Sutler 1). He is trying to invoke sentiment and passion to his listeners. However, his simple repetition fails to truly bond himself with the audience. While he gives “[his] most solemn vow” (Sutler 7), V undermines his oath by addressing how he has not upheld his previous promises. …show more content…
V’s speech is drastically different from Sutler’s in terms of effectiveness.
V reminds the people how Sutler “promised you order, he promised you peace” (V 23) but has failed to keep his promises. He uses rhetoric to make the citizens of London think about how their country got to the state it is currently in. He states “if you’re looking for the guilty you need only look into a mirror” (V 19). He openly blames them, but follows it with his understanding of “I know why you did it. I know you were afraid” (V 20), to show that he recognizes why they created a scapegoat. V’s speech makes him sympathetic to the citizens by recognizing their strife, but also forces them to realize that they are only powerless if they allow themselves to
be. V appeals more to the citizens of London as he makes them feel passion towards the realities of their society. “Someone’s death or the end of some awful bloody struggle” (V 5) and “Men with guns” (V 9) serves to invoke fear into their minds. V uses “words” multiple times throughout his speech to emphasize his point that words are the ultimate weapons. They will either divide the nation or unite it. The government fears words because they threaten its tyrannical nature, and without censorship, they are unable to maintain absolute control. V’s goal in attacking the Bailey and later Parliament is to remind the people that words are the greatest threat to society as they spread and can evolve into perspectives. V for Vendetta is about a masked anarchist who seeks to overthrow the oppressive government of Great Britain. Chancellor Sutler’s speech fails to unite the people because the Chancellor is only capable of silencing them. V, however, appeals to the people not only by placing them on the same level and claiming understanding, but by showing them that they must responsibility for their actions.
V’s plan or main goal in this movie is to bring freedom and justice to a cruel and corrupt society. He feels that citizens of the country are not allowed freedoms and rights which should be a must. Similarly in Civics class, we had discussed that in a democracy, citizens are assured that the government will protect interests in the form of rights (a freedom that is being protected, such as right to speech) and freedoms (power to act without unfair interference by an individual or state). So we can understand that...
The book Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and the movie V for Vendetta both take place in a dystopian future. Each one very different, but similar dystopian societies with many similar aspects such as luring citizens into false happiness, censoring citizens from different forms of literature, and characters who can really see behind the government’s façade and tell what is wrong with society. Similarity between the two ranges from meek things such as a similar setting with both societies residing in London, or more intricate things like similarities between the governments. Since the beginning of mankind humans have long since craved for a feeling of belonging and to be a part of something. Over the long history of mankind this same feeling has led to the growth of civilizations and societies. Eventually leading up to modern day societies with governments such as republics, dictatorships, and democracies. Each with its own different ways of
Through the quotations he deploys, imagery he enacts and authoritative tone he embodies, Spies very deliberately takes control of the Courtroom showcasing that no matter the circumstances the collective will prevail. Spies recognizes that the trial is his condemnation so subsequently he seizes the opportunity to condemn the State of their fate as a result of their injustices. Through his willingness to sacrifice his own life to propel his convictions Spies not only makes a statement to the Court but further strengthens the concept of class-consciousness within the masses. Furthermore, signifying that there indeed “will be a time when our [their] silence will be more powerful than the voices you [the State]strangle today.”
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.
In 1984, children are exposed to depravation by government ideals, and are taught to expose all insurgence. In Vendetta, children are born into a media-corrupted world, unknowing of deprivation by lacking exposure. These negate the modern belief that children learn beliefs and ideas unbiasedly. Without communication, relationships in 1984 are restricted, thereby maturation is controlled. To mature, Winston used a diary, visited illegal places and engaged in an illegal relationship to grow his confidence in his experiences. In Vendetta, people do not mature intellectually, attributable to controlled communication. V matures his character through illegal practices; by murdering for liberation, and engaging in a relationship with Evey Hammond. In 1984, relationships between people are forced for procreation, or are amicable to government ideals. Winston's desperation for emotion and connection lead him to engage with Julia, who assists Winston’s psychological insurgency. V serendipitously encountered Evey, who dependently aids V’s emotional understanding of a civilian's perspective of his actions. Both females helped mature the protagonists’ critical life experiences, analogously with modern human values to support and love others. The evaluative question, ‘what is the good life?’ is evaluated in 1984, with Winston’s perspective being nonsynthetic food, freedom, real history and the ability of expression. Similarly in Vendetta, V convincingly claimed that society too often, “Appreciate the comforts of everyday routine, the security of the familiar, the tranquility of repetition”, thus indicating ignorance of governmental corruption. 1984 Londoners are ashen ascribable to the permanent presence of dust, providing an atmosphere of inevitability, where dust asphyxiates Winston's spirit. Working 60 hour weeks and earning little
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
The dystopian novel “1984” and the movie “V for Vendetta”, share a variety of differences and similarities. Both have a totalitarian government in which they have absolute power over politics, religion and human rights. Extensive speech, critical thinking, thoughtful writing, and voice of opinion has either been restricted or limited in 1984’s Oceania and V for Vendetta’s future London. The protagonists in both novels and films have “resisted” their government. However, the methods used to employ their “rebellion” are quite different.
In the novel 1984 and the film “V for Vendetta”, the protagonist for both stories are captured while performing various acts of rebellion against the totalitarian government, of which is controlling their city. In punishment, the government tortures them with harsh, inhumane methods that are similar to those used in dictatorships during the 1900s like the USSR under Stalin’s rule. However, both protagonists are tortured by different sides, and by people from completely opposite ends of the political ladder: one a government agent, the other a rebel. Although the themes disclosed in relation to the purpose and meanings of torture are similar, the overall message and final opinion that is expressed and conveyed to the recipients are complete opposites.
Overall, the V for Vendetta film does represent the graphic novel very well. Even though it is not exactly the same as Alan Moore wanted, it is a product of its time and Alan Moore’s help. And even so, the film was still similar to the original graphic novel because of its
In general, rebellion is considered as an act of disobeying laws and norms in society, and existence refers to something or someone that is living or present in the actual universe. Albert Camus once said, “In order to exist, man must rebel, but rebellion must respect the limits that it discovers in itself – limits where minds meet, and in meeting, begin to exist.” What rebellion has to do with existence? It is true that rebellion is an action of disobeying the norms. However, there are reasons for humans to violate such norms, and the reasons could be because they are unable to conform to these norms, or even worse they are completely excluded from society (by the norms). As result of these limitations and exclusions,
Rhetorical Analysis V For Vendetta The Speech Precis: The character V, in his speech to the citizens of London, suggests that words are the most powerful weapon one can possess, and the truth can be deep under the surface to reveal even greater power. He supports his claim by referencing historical events, relating himself to his audience, and even blames the people for the problems he is addressing, creating a sense of responsibility. V's purpose is to frighten, motivate, and inform the citizens so that they too will see that their world is corrupt, and cannot be tolerated any longer. He adopts a calm, yet firm tone to emphasize the gravity of what he is saying, while also trying to not act like
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.
History cannot be ignored when reading V for Vendetta, which is why cultural poetic criticism goes along with V for Vendetta very well. Alan Moore’s history, the state of 1980s England, and the decades leading up to it shaped the ideologies in the novel and it was those ideologies which became the driving force behind V for Vendetta. Under Marxist Criticism, Marxists generally view literature "not as works created in accordance with timeless artistic criteria, but as 'products' of the economic and ideological determinants specific to that era" (Abrams 149). Moore first came into contact with the middle class and better educated people when he started to attend Northampton Grammar School.
V’s vendetta against the government is legitimised after the audience discovers that V was tortured and experimented on by the government. When V obliterates the Old Bailey no resulting human causalities are shown in order to minimise the explosion’s negative impacts. After V’s offensives on the Old Bailey and Jordan Tower, the audience is immediately shown the government propaganda response to the attack which the audience knows to be false, distracting the audience from resenting the atrociousness of V’s acts and instead turning their anger towards the government for lying. As previously mentioned, Prothero and Lilliman are made to be villains resulting in the audience having little for compassion for them when they are murdered by V. The one person who was remorseful for her actions, Daisy, is killed painlessly with an injection and has her apology accepted by V, illustrating that V only uses violence on those who do not recognise the fault of their actions resulting in his methods appearing to be fair. In order to advance their agenda by striking fear in the population giving them an excuse to increase control, the government blamed a virus, that they purposefully released and had the only cure, on terrorists. Similarly, the government performed human experiments on civilians whose only crime was not conforming, to eradicate any threats to their dominance. The film intentionally portrays the gravity of the human experiments and biological attack as greater than V’s killing of those who have done serious wrong, and his destroying of empty buildings. Moreover, the gravity of the government’s actions is increased by causing the audience to again negatively associate them with the Nazis, who too performed human experiments and,
Explore the characters. Are they believable and round, or flat and one-dimensional? Does the major character ( the protagonist) change? What causes the change?