George Orwells And Margaret Atwood
In George Orwell’s Animal Farm, power and control of the farm shifts from Mr. Jones to Snowball and from Snowball to Napoleon. Each, no matter how well their leadership, was corrupted by power in some way as compared to Russian leaders of the time. The most corrupt, Napoleon, uses several methods of gaining mocontrol the Handmaids in almost any way they desire.
It is clear that the theme of power and control through the depiction of it’s citizens creates a severely oppressive society. This theme is portrayed by the role of government and the patriarchal society. The government strikes fear on its citizens with the Wall and the Salvaging in the Handmaid’s Tale, the military force in V for Vendetta and the outcasting of animals that do not follow orders in Animal farm. Fear and intimidation are used in the texts and furthermore, power is shown through the patriarchal society, which includes the Commanders, the Commander’s Wives, and the Handmaids assigned to them. Overall, the Republic of Gilead institutes power and control in society, therefore forcing its residents into submission and causing them to loose control over their own lives. “Once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance coercing your conformity and soliciting your submission” (V, “V for Vendetta”). Throughout history there has been struggle of power and control between a governing body and it’s people. In the movie “V for Vendetta,” the government has ultimate control over it’s people in a dystopian future, created by a series of strategic events that could be in the near future for the United States.
Good morning/afternoon teachers and fellow students. Today I will be talking to you about Power and Control related to my three texts, Animal Farm by George Orwell, V for Vendetta directed by James McTeigue and The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. Yes it is necessary for the government to impose a certain amount of power and control on its citizens in order for a society to function properly. However, too much power and control in a society eliminates the freedom of the residents, forbidding them to live an ordinary life. In the dystopic futuristic novel, The Handmaid’s Tale demonstrates the theme of power and control through an oppressive society called the Republic of Gilead. The government establishes power and control through the use of the Wall, military control, the Salvaging, and the Particicution.
The Patriarchal society allows the Commanders to hold immense power over the citizens, while the Commander’s Wives hold the power in the household. Generally, the Handmaids do not hold very much power because they are of a lower class in the Patriarchal society. The Republic of Gilead institutes power and control in society, therefore forcing its residents into submission and leaving them completely helpless in a totalitarian regime.
Just like in George Orwell’s Animal Farm, power and control of the farm shifts from Mr. Jones to Snowball and from Snowball to Napoleon. Each, no matter how well their leadership, was corrupted by power in some way as compared to Russian leaders of the time. The most corrupt, Napoleon, uses several methods of gaining more power and luxury.
The citizens in The Handmaid’s Tale know that they are constantly under surveillance, so they try their best to conform to avoid getting caught. The patriarchal society is another factor that develops power and control. The Republic of Gilead is male dominated; the Commanders exercise authority over all the citizens. The Commander has a high status in society, as explained by Ofglen when she says, “He’s way up there… He’s at the top, and I mean the very top. At such time it’s hard to imagine it” (Atwood 262). The Commander’s Wives hold power, for “they can do almost anything to [the Handmaids]” (Atwood 344). Clearly, the Commander’s Wives are permitted to control the Handmaids in almost any way they desire.
It is clear that the theme of power and control through the depiction of it’s citizens creates a severely oppressive society. This theme is portrayed by the role of government and the patriarchal society. The government strikes fear on its citizens with the Wall and the Salvaging in the Handmaid’s Tale, the military force in V for Vendetta and the outcasting of animals that do not follow orders in Animal farm. Fear and intimidation are used in the texts and furthermore, power is shown through the patriarchal society, which includes the Commanders, the Commander’s Wives, and the Handmaids assigned to them. Overall, the Republic of Gilead institutes power and control in society, therefore forcing its residents into submission and causing them to loose control over their own lives.
