1984 and V for Vendetta
1984 and V. for Vendetta: Comparative Paragraph
The famous philosopher Friedrich Nietzche once stated, “When you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.” Implying the fact that when one strives to overcome a force, there is a possibility that one may naturally be altered into being similar to the force they struggle against. In the process of analyzing this quote, one can compare the two protagonists Winston and V. from 1984 and V. for Vendetta, to comprehend which of the two is more affected by the corrupt authority around him. In numerous ways, Winston can be seen as the more affected of the two. In 1984, Winston is often willing to sacrifice others for his own pleasures and gain. In his youth, Winston devours the little amount of food his family has, sacrificing his hungry mother and sick sister, to quench his uncontrollable appetite, “At every meal she [Winston’s mother] would beseech him not to be selfish and to remember that his little sister also needed food…he was starving the other two” (Orwell 132). Later on in the novel, when Winston can no longer endure O’Brien’s tortures, he screams, “Do it to Julia! Do it to Julia! Not me!” (Orwell 227), sacrificing his lover, Julia, for his own well-being. Contrastingly, V. sacrifices himself for the good of others. When V. makes a deal with Creedy of handing over Adam Sutler, the chancellor, he already knows that Creedy is planning to kill him as well after the chancellor is dead. However, because V. is sure that the oppressive society will not improve if either Creedy or the chancellor is alive, V. forfeits his own life to kill them both. As a result of this, the people of the tyrannical society are able to enjoy their newly acquired freedom (McTeigue 2006). While V. sacrificed himself for the benefits of the citizens of London, Winston sacrificed his family and his lover for his own gains. Through this, one can perceive that Winston is affected more by the government than V. is. Another
The famous philosopher Friedrich Nietzche once stated, “When you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you.” Implying the fact that when one strives to overcome a force, there is a possibility that one may naturally be altered into being similar to the force they struggle against. In the process of analyzing this quote, one can compare the two protagonists Winston and V. from 1984 and V. for Vendetta, to comprehend which of the two is more affected by the corrupt authority around him. In numerous ways, Winston can be seen as the more affected of the two. In 1984, Winston is often willing to sacrifice others for his own pleasures and gain. In his youth, Winston devours the little amount of food his family has, sacrificing his hungry mother and sick sister, to quench his uncontrollable appetite, “At every meal she [Winston’s mother] would beseech him not to be selfish and to remember that his little sister also needed food…he was starving the other two” (Orwell 132). Later on in the novel, when Winston can no longer endure O’Brien’s tortures, he screams, “Do it to Julia! Do it to Julia! Not me!” (Orwell 227), sacrificing his lover, Julia, for his own well-being. Contrastingly, V. sacrifices himself for the good of others. When V. makes a deal with Creedy of handing over Adam Sutler, the chancellor, he already knows that Creedy is planning to kill him as well after the chancellor is dead. However, because V. is sure that the oppressive society will not improve if either Creedy or the chancellor is alive, V. forfeits his own life to kill them both. As a result of this, the people of the tyrannical society are able to enjoy their newly acquired freedom (McTeigue 2006). While V. sacrificed himself for the benefits of the citizens of London, Winston sacrificed his family and his lover for his own gains. Through this, one can perceive that Winston is affected more by the government than V. is. Another