V for Vendetta Post

Alan Moore and David Lloyd’s graphic novel, V for Vendetta, depicts a time when Britain is ruled by a corrupt and totalitarian government. The “villain” in this graphic novel is a radical known simply as V. He promotes the idea of anarchy and encourages ordinary citizens to rise up against the fascist government. He is also out for revenge and carries out his vendetta by murdering people who wronged him in the past. The act of murder is unethical and wrong. It is an extreme way of presenting resistance and revolution to change society. There are other less harmful methods that can bring about change. However, V ignores other options and opts instead to slaughter those he deems immoral. These violent acts illustrate just how far V is willing to go in order to fight for what he sees as “right.”

Although I disagree with his brutal methods, I also understand why he does them. He is living in a period where those who are in control abuse their powers and corrupt society. In the beginning of the novel, Evey is caught prostituting herself by the “fingermen,” or police. They do not send her to jail or give her a trial, but they decide to kill her instead. In a world where even the police, who are supposed to protect society, are corrupt and cruel, sometimes drastic action must be taken in order to bring attention to the faults of those in power. Sometimes radical actions must take place in order to stir a revolution.

A passage where the graphic novel format seems effective is when Evey tells V about her childhood (26-29). The images really capture the difficulties and pain she felt growing up. We are able to see through her eyes the hurt in her childhood and the cruel nature of the malicious government. It makes the reader not only empathize with Evey for the many hardships she faced as a child, but with V as well. V resides in the blurred line between hero and villain, and at this point readers are still unsure where he stands. It is in this scene where we are able to see that he genuinely cares for Evey. The images illustrate his fatherly affection and protectiveness towards her. It also reveals that although he commits acts of murder, he is capable of kindness and compassion.