Symbolism In V For Vendetta

The film 'V for Vendetta' directed by James McTeigue addresses the idea of governmental authority and control in our society. One key scene where this is portrayed is in the opening, where Evey goes out to visit Gordon Deitrich after curfew. The futuristic landscape of a totalitarian England is displayed here, where the oppressive party in power have created a culture of fear to ensure the conformity of the citizens. However, in contrast, the final scene of the film where a crowd converges to watch Parliament blow up, illustrates a further idea. That when united, it is the people who have the power to change their society, through rebellion and political uprising.

V for Vendetta, associated with DC Comics, sets the film in England; during the Norsefire regime. During this oppressive regime ruled by Adam Sutler, people who were homosexual and practice religions other than Christianity were directed to concentration camps. V, being thrown in the concentration camp, was tortured and experimented. Consumed by his vengeance, V becomes an anarchist and believes that “the only verdict is vengeance.” By wearing the mask of Guy Fawkes, V seeks to get vengeance on those who have done him immoral and free England from the Norsefire regime to point out that, “people should not be afraid of their governments, governments should be afraid of their people”.

In V for Vendetta, there are many symbols that represent the fascist society. Marinetti’s reading, The Founding and Manifesto of Futurism, he writes about the “beauty” that can be seen in fascist work. Marinetti’s manifesto declares, “we affirm the world’s magnificence has been enriched by a new beauty: the beauty of speed.” In this example, the machine is a car and it is appealing because of its power. In V for Vendetta, FATE is the computer used by the leader where he can see what the people of London are doing. “You said I love you...” (p. 184) The leader has love for the computer and we can see how he almost worships the machine and talks to it. The leader makes little contact with the people of London. For example, “The mouth” who oversee propaganda and the other branches give public announcements. The leader

V for Vendetta opens similarly, immediately addressing the absence of freedom and independence coexistent in 1984. Following a montage of Evie and V, the dystopic qualities of their world are quickly revealed. Curfews set up along with roaming Fingermen emphasis the freedom that has been removed from its citizen’s as well as the implied illegal action towards something as ordinary as going to dinner with her boss. McTeigue emphasises this element of forsaken freedom and independence through the use of the Film Noir with the dark forbidden scenes portraying the danger in Evie’s actions. The use of medium and long shots was used to convey her anxiety while also revealing the scenery dotted with the sinister fingermen. Complete with the tense music playing during the scene it exposes to the audience the dystopic nature of the society present in the film.

In stating this, V was greatly influenced by Guy Fawkes, but he was not just doing it for rebellion. V’s past had a great deal to do with why he tries to overthrow the Norsefire, but he is also motivated by the people, in whom he believed he would help them take the country into their own hands and rise up against their own government. We see this as the people proceed towards the parliament building in Guy Fawkes masks, completely ignoring the army standing in their way, and watch the celebration of the parliament building being destroyed. This scene demonstrates the influence that V makes, somewhat separating himself from Guy Fawkes. Guy Fawkes never attains the collective support from the people, but V successfully turns the people against their government, helping them realize that the only way to stop the chaos is by doing something about it; in this case, rising up against their own government.

To continue, V for Vendetta was Allan Moore 's response to what he witnessed as a corrupt government under the rein of the late Margaret Thatcher. V for Vendetta is a graphic novel that demonstrates what would happen if humans fully committed themselves to the social contract, the law of nature, as illustrated by Thomas Hobbes. V for Vendetta is set in a

As we were watching this film I could tell that there were many messages that the director wanted the audience to gain from this movie. One of the messages I got from this movie is that every single person is extremely similar however racial issues hold us back from discovering that. I believe the director wanted viewers to realize that stereotypes and discrimination keeps us from learning about one another. With the way things came

It’s a title with a strong letter used as somewhat like a alliteration to exaggerate the ideas within this film, ‘V for Vendetta’, directed by James McTeigue, this defines what the true meaning of injustice which seems to be over exaggerated through action, sci-fi and thriller scenes. ‘V for Vendetta’ is a type of film where in a future, where there was a British tyranny or corruption in the government, a shadowy freedom fighter plots to overthrow it with the help of a young woman. This film shows the message of the best advice is to stop fighting it and embrace the fact that you have been given an opportunity if you chose to view it with a different set of eyes. And yet there will be many who miss this opportunity as they feel a false sense of security operating in the belief systems that harbor fear, anger and hate rather than letting go to face the very emotions that enslave them.This film uses fancy quotes or catch phrases, with a strong act of violence in acting around the main character(s), especially the protagonist ‘V’ and to the eventuality, ‘Evey’ at the end of the story. Special effects and the fanatical costume visuals (with the famous Guy Fawkes mask) all is used intently to make the audience with a tint of exhilarance, to make them think, what does this mean? What is the idea that V is trying to show in injustice? Through elements found in the film I’ve found that,......

History has a tendency to repeat itself.  One of humanity’s most popular ways of getting its point across is through violence.  When words are no longer enough to argue a point, human casualties not only directly solve the problem, but symbolically send a message to all those affected as well.  Just as the American colonies fought against the British for Freedom when their voice was no longer heard, and just as the Islamic extremists used terrorism to send an evil message to America, both V and Chancellor Sutler used violence to gain a voice in a world of chaos.

Many symbols are used in V for vendetta one of these is V’s mask, also known as the Guy Fawkes mask. This mask is now one of the most popular symbols ever, it is seen everywhere: in the 80’s the comic book series ‘V for vendetta’, then in the film adaptation in 2005 and now it’s a popular symbol with the cyber terrorist group ‘Anonymous’. In the film adaptation of ‘V for vendetta’ the mask is used to conceal the true identity of the protagonist V. During one of the last scenes of the film, V is choking Mr. Creedy and he says to him “Beneath this mask there is more than flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea, Mr. Creedy, and ideas are bulletproof.”. This clearly shows us that V doesn’t want to be remember as a man, as men die, but he wants to be remembered as an idea, as ideas can last forever.

Symbols are used to signify values and ideas, carrying meaning beyond that which appears to be described. Political symbols, in particular, represent the ideals that define a society, and as such, are compelling forces. Some such symbols can be used to instill fear in people and subdue them to allow corrupt regimes to continue to asserting their dominance in a society and maintain control. In the face of such injustice and oppression, other political symbols can, arguably, carry an even greater value, as they can give strength to the marginalized, giving them an emblem under which they can express their ideals. Simple objects can hold such power since the ideas they symbolize are timeless, transcending a single

In the film V for Vendetta, the director, James McTeigue uses symbolism, costume and dialogue to emphasise the idea of everybody having a right to individuality, and the right - and duty – to resist forced conformism.

V for Vendetta is a movie that immediately grasps the viewers attention. It has a tendency to seem twisted and dark. However, after examining the film more closely the themes began to emerge and started to make sense. V for Vendetta seems to align with Plato’s ideals making V’s actions seems less terroristic and begin to shape up to be that of a vigilante.

Symbols play a key role in establishing the stories of Winston and V. 1984’s chant for the Brotherhood is the “Oranges and Lemons” English nursery rhyme refers to the bells of churches in London that extends on by people who matter to Winston; and everyone who betrays him. Mr. Charrington gives him the first piece, but is revealed to be a part of the Thought Police, Julia, who betrays him at the end of it all before her mental death, and O’Brian, who instead of his savior becomes his torturer. The Fifth of November is also a rhyme that’s based off real events, referencing Guy Fawkes’s failed plan to blow up the English Parliament on November 5th, 1605. Both rhymes are tied into Great Britain and a passion that varies between the protagonists, providing them with their only link to the past. Television is also a main symbol for the government’s control- both the telescreens in 1984 and the telly in V for Vendetta broadcast only the Party’s views and bias. Gordon, a side character in V for Vendetta, airs his uncensored skit on television as an unintentional way of oppressing the glorification of Chancellor Sutler, before being killed and dragged away from his own home.

2a) Describe the differences between the fascist Norsefire government’s and V’s anarchist view of a “healthy country.” How do Norsefire and V define the role of the government and the role of the citizen differently?