Comparing The Book Thief And V For Vendetta

There are numerous contextual values embedded within the novel The Book Thief by Markus Zusak and the film V for Vendetta directed by James Mcteigue. Markus Zusak was born into a modern Australian society, from German parents who lived during World War 2. As a child Zusak’s parents told him numerous stories about the brutalities innocent civilians had to endure during the war; therefore because of his personal context, he values freedom. Zusak’s value of freedom is extremely relevant to the novel as it underpins the theme of the capacity of words, and how they can be used to overcome adversity; “Trust me, though, the words were on their way, and when they arrived, Liesel would hold them in her hands like the clouds, and she would wring them

In response to the 9-11 threat, the US Government increased security measures dramatically and restricted citizen rights in order to reinforce public safety. Therefore because of this political context, James Mcteigue, director of V for Vendetta, values complete freedom, manifested through V’s action plan for blowing up Parliament to ultimately give citizens back their rights. Mcteigue’s value of freedom is fundamentally relevant to the film, as similarly to The Book Thief, it fortifies the film’s response to such a political context, through the themes of totalitarian brutality and the power of words. The importance of language is seen in V’s interruption on National Television; "We must never lose it, or sell it, or give it away. We must never let them take it from us". The cumulative listing of the phrases ‘never lose, sell it, or give it away’, in conjunction with V’s determined tone, emphasises how individuals of a fascist government are repressed and subjected to very little freedom. Thusly showcasing the importance of language to the human experience, as just like V’s intention, words can empower one to stand up for what they believe is right; “…people…can change the world”