Comparing Jonas And V For Vendetta

The Dystopian Fiction genre is one of the most compelling genres of literature available to the average reader. This is because these types of stories often depict very high-stakes types of themes such as the future of humanity, the will of the individual, oppression, and the ability of individuals to come together to accomplish a singular goal. Generally these types of stories feature a totalitarian government that engages in mind-control and propaganda programs while also harshly punishing all those who oppose it. Eventually these conditions lead to a rebellion of sorts, where everyday individuals align themselves against their oppressor state to bring about its downfall. Two such examples of such stories are Lois Lowry’s The Giver, and the graphic novel V for Vendetta, which was released as a movie in 2006. The heroes of the book and movie are Jonas and V, two individuals living under …show more content…
While the actions that the two protagonists undertake are quite different, they are appropriate given the character’s own life circumstances and motivations, as well as the conditions of the society that they inhabit. The extent to which these characters are justified in their actions and whether or not they succeed should be discussed. Ultimately, V will prove to be the more successful rebel of the two, while Jonas proves to be the most moral.
Before describing the specific actions of V and Jonas, it would be helpful to describe the type of society they live in. V lives in a decidedly Orwellian type of dystopian society. In this society, the people understand that they are being oppressed by the government, and the state must frequently take action by arresting individuals and having them executed in order to remain in control. Another aspect of this society is that