V for Vendetta

V for Vendetta and 1984 bear a striking resemblance in that both societies are the pinnacle of control and hopelessness. Both movies involve citizens being oppressed by a power-hungry totalitarian government, which utilizes surveillance and fear to control the population. The government portrayed in V for Vendetta uses the media to intimidate citizens into supporting them, making up disease and death outside of the “quarentine” zone as a means to keep their citizens from leaving. The methods of surveillance are also different in both societies. While The Party uses telescreens to spy on their own citizens, the government of V for Vendetta uses a PA system to “inform” their citizens of any important news. However, telescreens are used among party members in V for Vendetta as a means of communication. Each party’s slogan is meant as a means for control as well. “Strength Through Unity, Unity Through Faith” and “War is Peace, Freedom is Slavery, Ignorance is Strength” are slogans meant to explain why how the population is easily controlled by their governments. Both movies have a central figure of each government, Big Brother in 1984, and Adam Sutler in V for Vendetta.
The protagonists of both V for Vendetta and 1984 are anti-heroes. Winston is a frail, unhealthy man while V is considered a terrorist and uses violence as a means of rebellion. Both protagonists have dreams of destroying the current government in pursuit of freedom.