V for Vendetta and 1984 Essay

“The whole climate of thought will be different. In fact there will be no thought, as we understand it now” (56). What is the power of an idea? It implies the existence of thought and awareness, both of which are anathemas to a totalitarian regime. Totalitarian governments function by maintaining tight controls on a vast array of goods, services and information. Often, truth and transparency fall victim to the desire to retain power. Ideas form the basis of plans and plans give rise to actions. Once an idea falls into the hands of a person, it is akin to a loaded gun.   Ideas are intangible and therefore, difficult to destroy. The suppression of ideas is a long and difficult process that can be achieved through years of quiet manipulation and subliminal mind control. Preventing certain behaviour can be accomplished through government rules and regulations but this will not be enough to hold a nation totally captive. In the film V for Vendetta, as well as the novel 1984 written by George Orwell, the totalitarian governments aim to restrict most, if not all, aspects of society with a myriad of rules and regulations. Big Brother targeted thoughts and the words used to formulate those thoughts, so as to deprive people of any frame of reference within which to express dissent. 1984 and V for Vendetta are examples of repressive regimes but the government in 1984 proves itself to be more adept at curbing and suppressing reformist ideology before it began. The government in 1984 understood the power of ideas. Ideas form the basis of plans and plans give rise to actions. The Norsefire regime targeted physical opposition, and thus, failed to extinguish dangerous and threatening ideas at the source, leading to its downfall.
              In the novel 1984, Big Brother prohibited religion and all its symbols in an effort to consolidate and maintain the Party’s authority. In Oceania, the practice of any religion was strictly forbidden. If there were no supreme deity who ruled... [continues]

Read full essay