V is the iconic protagonist of Vendetta’s comic book V by Alan Moore and David Lloyd; however, he is probably best known for his 2005 film of the same name, which began publication in the 1980s in the British magazine Warrior. and then it was distributed by the famous American publishing house DC
This change of distribution and subsequent film adaptation allowed the work to reach a mass audience, although originally it was not a mainstream work, but a foreign work, that is, “Wasn’t it for anyone?. one of Hollywood giants, Warner Bros. , has adapted, softened and made the play more “digestible. “This greatly irritated Alan Moore, who called for his name removed from the credits.
- Vendetta V takes place at a time when the UK is under the reign of Margaret Thatcher.
- Whose conservative ideas and policies are radically in contrast to Alan Moore’s anarchist ideals and David Lloyd’s anti-conformism.
- Both authors were strongly influenced by their own contemporary reality.
- Because of the social and political problems of your country.
- What would the world be like if the most totalitarian governments succeeded?.
Vendetta’s V presents a dystopian future in which the most dominant and conservative fascism came to power. After a war, fear spread in British society, leading citizens to support leader Susan. In exchange for protection and stability, people have renounced all culture and freedom. .
Have works of art and books disappeared? All vestiges of past history have been removed along with those who died in the resettlement camps, because a people with no history has no references and can therefore be manipulated.
It reminds us of works such as Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, or George Orwell’s 1984. Futures without freedom, future without history in which the population seems to be asleep, while losing the most fundamental rights. oppression, V is exalted as a hero/villain who will lead to the UK upon awakening.
Similarities to our society are not uncommon: control and manipulation of the media, conformity, fear of change, wealth and privileges accumulated by power, etc. Why fight for our rights if we can buy a car? It is society that manifests itself. In a society that no longer remembers its past, it has lost its ideals and ignores equality.
V is a character whose past is not known, we do not know who he was until he was at Larkhill Camp, however, we know that he has survived all the experiences he has had with him and that, unlike the rest of the population, he still remembers his ideals, his history, his art?He came to save people, to make them react, to leave fear and to fight for what is right.
“Fear is the most powerful weapon in government. “-V of Revenge-
Is it impossible to unmask? V without giving any spoiler of the plot, both in the comics and in the film, but we will focus on the first, because it is the original work. Moore often demystifys heroes and villains, as the Joker does in Batman: The Deadly Joke. V is seen as a terrorist, as a villain at the beginning of the play, defines himself as “the black sheep”. But is V really a villain?
He is a villain to the government, to false security and to all who see the foundation of his power shaken; this is the case with the bishop or Chief Susan himself. The media, totally at the service of power, will spread fear among the population, the same fear that led fascists to conquer the United Kingdom.
V will be called a terrorist and somehow we can see him as such, as he uses violence to achieve his goal. What Moore wants to show us is that the good guys may not be that good.
If we think of political or social revolutions, those changes that have broken abruptly with the paradigm of what has already been known, such as the French Revolution, we will see that in the face of the figure of the oppressor, a peaceful revolutionary path rarely triumphs.
V wants peace, equality, but he needs violence to achieve it. Laws and justice are at the service of power, so V has no choice but to do justice for himself and disobey.
A. S. Cohan conducted a study of political theory called Introduction to Revolutionary Ideas, in which he brings together a number of issues that affect revolution and shows us how, in most cases, revolution is necessarily linked to violence.
Despite this, other scholars, such as Hannah Arendt, point out that revolution can be a problem in establishing a model for the revolutionary ideal to triumph. Vendetta’s V presents the stages of the revolution, but not its conclusion. it’s so perfect that it’s never drawn in Moore and Lloyd’s comics.
? Are the ideas bulletproof?. -V of Revenge-
Who’s behind the mask? Or, better yet, who does it belong to?The famous V-shaped mask is a portrait of the face of Guy Fawkes, a historical figure who attempted to blow up the British Parliament in 1605. Fawkes was Catholic and, in the face of Protestant oppression, decided, unsuccessfully, to do justice to himself. Moore and Lloyd saved this character, his non-compliance and his desire for equality, giving his face to V.
Guy Fawkes’ mask has become a contemporary myth, a myth created from the mass society itself, as Roland Barthes explains in his book Mythologies, is now seen in demonstrations and on social media, serving as a tool to express non-compliance. This mask invites us to overcome fear, to fight for what we consider right.
Evey is the other side of the coin; Evey is like us, she’s afraid, but V will keep her away from that fear and be free. Fear is one of the keys to the work of this government that has used it to manipulate the population. To keep alive her legacy, then, that revolution is for everyone and for all, V makes sure that Evey overcomes the barrier of fear and that it is she who, after her death, frees everyone.
Evey’s own name has some biblical reminiscences, reminds us of Eve, the first woman, everyone’s mother, who will put on her mask after V’s death and become V. Evey’s new leader is the future of the UK.
The media is taking us away from reality; however, its impact is so great that if we take advantage of them we can send a different message, V takes control of the television to send a message to the population, in this way it captures a symbol of power and oppression, its fact and its message is reinforced. The film version is a sweet version of the comic book, but its distribution was so large that it impacted mass society, creating a myth, a symbol of awakening.
V of Vengeance invites us to leave the comfort zone, unless manipulated, to overcome barriers and conquer a more just and equal world.
“The people do not have to fear their government, it is the government that should fear their people. ” – V for Vendetta-