In the movie V for Vendetta social order is maintained through the use of fear. The fascist government control of the society was established based on the threats of disease and war. The chancellor was given the power of control when people surrendered to him, instead of facing what they feared. The chancellor, knowing that the society was motivated by fear to follow him, enforced strict regulations and censoring to avoid defiance. The military and law enforcement was used to maintain order and make sure people didn't disobey the laws of the chancellor. The chancellor desired silent obedient consent from the society.An important concept for the chancellor and the government was to avoid doubt. They believed that doubt in the government would cause chaos among the citizens. The chancellor and government insisted on stricter regulations and censorship to avoid any possibility of doubt that the government was not working properly. When a famous news anchor was killed by V the government insisted on covering up the true death. This would keep people feeling safe under the control of the government. The less doubt there was, the less people questioned the motives and overbearing control of the government.
One of the slogans the chancellor and government was "Strength through unity, unity through faith." This was very fitting for the society in V for Vendetta. The chancellor stressed that through obedience the community would work for the better good of everybody. The strength they received through unity was based of faith that what the chancellor was doing was for the best. If the community maintained their faith that the chancellor would protect them and keep them safe from what they feared, the chancellor would be able to maintain power. By asking for the society's faith, the chancellor was ensuring that he would remain in power with obedient citizens. It was only until a deviant, who could not be silenced or stopped, questioned the authority and rallied the society that the government fell.
1 comment:
I agree that one of the best tools of persuasion is through fear. It is that way in which you can force people, and the people in V to submit to a rule which was fascist and absolute. It is always interesting to me to see how in times of trouble (like what england was facing before the chancellor took over), people shift towards the right. Or they shift towards the more primitive ideas of religion, "morality" and social order. With V, the government is trying to control whatever part of daily life they can because they can.
Post a Comment