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1984 Vs V For Vendetta Analysis

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While similar in tone and mood, George Orwell’s 1984 and James McTeigue’s adaptation of Alan Moore’s V for Vendetta begin to diverge from one another with each piece’s ultimate goal. Orwell believes that once society shows signs of dystopia, it is damned forever, without any hope of redemption. Moore’s message disagrees with this, by arguing for the power in numbers against corrupt figureheads. Both set in a dystopian, totalitarian society, there seems to be little hope for London and Oceania in their respective smog-saturated and Big Brother-blazoned nations. The only hope for these dystopias lies in Winston and V, who arrive to stand up to a fascist regime and woo some unsuspecting manic-pixie dream girls while they’re at it. In 1984, Orwell …show more content…

1984, in being a more intense warning, is completely devoid of music, stark colors, or any pleasantries; Winston describes the lingering smell of cabbage as familiar and permanent. Perhaps a shortcoming of the medium, 1984 does not have visuals or audio that brings the reader back to the present. This only intensifies Orwell’s pessimistic outlook on society, and reinforces McTeigue’s arguable optimism. In V for Vendetta, delicious visuals of food, charming music, and warm lighting in V’s shadow gallery greets the viewer. McTeigue also depicts several colorless scenes, particularly in government buildings, though these occasional muted scenes can not compared to the overwhelming cold nature of 1984. McTeigue’s sporadic use of color reminds us of his message of hope, of the possibility for a return to a democratic, conventional society. In contrast, Orwell’s complete omission of color creates a figurative cloud over Oceania’s head, with no hope for sunlight. Any reminders of the present day in 1984 only serve to alienate readers. When Julia brings illegal chocolate to Winston or unlawfully paints her face with makeup, her actions are contrasted with a bleak room in which Winston and Julia are hiding away. In V for Vendetta, there are less strict laws, but when Evey eats real butter for the first time in years, it isn’t depressing as she sits back in a black and white setting, it is comforting and homely because her surroundings in the shadow gallery are also warmly lit. The lighting in both works is strategic. Orwell paints the entire world in gray, and sees no hope in anyone or anything, while McTeigue only paints parliament in gray, seeing hope everywhere else. The lighting in 1984 and V for Vendetta is actually an important factor in considering Orwell and McTeigue’s individual messages, but superficial visuals are

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