By Iuliia Gorodyska
Contrast and comparison essay
Dystopias as a remedy
for the societies: comparing Winston (“Fahrenheit 451” movie based on the book
of Ray Bradbury) and Montag (“1984” novel by James Orwell)
The film based on Ray Bradbury’s book “Fahrenheit
451” and the novel “1984” are notable examples of contemporary dystopias.
Written in the 20th century, they reflect fears and concerns about
the future of the mankind. Both “Fahrenheit 451” and “1984” describe the
negative future. They portray societies where governments attempt to control
the people. The direct aim of the authors was to warn people in the face of the
danger. Having experienced totalitarian movements, modern societies have to take
into account the stories of Winston and Montag, who are protagonists of these
pieces, and reflect on their own future. Despite being similar in their
destinies, these two characters also differ in a number of issues.
Firstly, Winston experienced ten years of
normal live before the revolution and the victory of totalitarianism. His
mother loved him, he was not obliged to take part in the catharsis of the “two
minutes of hate” or to worship the Big Brother. He still remembers his past,
nevertheless the government altered the past according to its present state
imagination. Winston never truly believed the party, and in the critical moment
he realizes himself to hate this regime.
On the other hand, Montag has always lived in
the controlled society, he has no freedom experience. He was educated in the
society where books are forbidden and where television and controlled thinking
monopolized people’s daily life. For he was indoctrinated and internalized in
the ruling ideology, he believed in the necessity of burning out the books and
do what the states dictates. He even chose the most respectful profession in
his society and hoped for promotion due to his successful work and diligence.
But as a result of an accidental meeting with a woman from the literary underground,
he started to think on his own and realized his delusions.
Secondly, both Winston and Montag rebelled
against totalitarian regimes in their societies. Winston channeled his hate
towards the party into his sexual encounters with a woman Julia. He rebelled in
the way he thought is less controlled than the others. His woman was for him a
symbol of the true life, life without totalitarian intrusion of the Big
Brother. Nevertheless, he has still visited the “two minutes of hate” and
accomplished his other duties related to his society. In the end, Winston is
not able anymore to resist tortures of the party and obeys the Big Brother.
This is his final downfall.
In contrast, Montag rebelled by reading the
books and learning them by heart to spread the knowledge to his successors. He
also falls in love with a different woman who shared his vision. Montag becomes
one of the “Book people” and this is his victory. In this special way he
diminished the power of the state in his life.
To sum up, both the film and the novel are
similar in their plot, both protagonists are those unique who create new potential
for the change in their societies. In difficult times, everyone has his right
to decide whether to stay as all others or to become as heroes of Bradbury or
Orwell. Furthermore, all people choose their own way to rebel and to be defeated
like Winston or to be successful like Montag.
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