V for Vendetta: Pre-Class Reaction

As Mike talked about this book really does make you think about the society you live in and how plausible it is that could happen in our world. There is something really creepy about the way these people have come to live. And personally the hypocrisy of the government is another thing that really irks me; hypocrisy in any case is a pet peeve of mine. In this book characters like the pedophile clergymen (as Jen mentioned) the other corrupt government officials who see the other citizens as a joke and beneath them (like Lewis Prothero, and the other men working with him, or Creedy who on page 198 hires basically a thug to do the violence for him and promises him power). All these things would repulse anyone with a sense of justice.

But I want to talk a little about the characters. In the beginning I really disliked Evey and became indifferent to her in the end. I understand the growth of her character was important to show what V did for her and she symbolizes the sheep the people have become, but I guess I just didn’t like what she stood for. V was of course an interesting character that also quiet controversial. First of I feel like he is meant to represent a Godlike figure: he is manipulating peoples’ lives, watches everyone and knows what they are doing and he passes judgment on people. His past and cryptic talk makes him a mysterious although sometimes frustrating character (much like Evey finds him). This raises the ever complex question: did he have a right to do what he did? Just like in the Moon is a Harsh Mistress and in Dune the main characters shape the world how they see it should be for others and their society (often resorting to violence). A concept that ties to this is where V discusses anarchy, chaos and fascism; he tells Evey on page 195 that anarchy is voluntary order, compared to fascism which he earlier calls falls forced order and a society that is on thin ice. I found this one of the key points in the book. Also when looking back on this page I noticed that he called her Eve not Evey. But this raises the question: what will happen to society? Will people who were used to strict control and who just now tasted chaos be able to settle down and live in voluntary order?

The last concept that I found interesting is the concept of 2 faces of anarchy…the creator and the destroyer. This once again goes back to the theme of balance (for examples Zorg’s speech on chaos in the 5th Element). It is interesting that the authors presented this balance in 2 people, V and Evey. He is ruthless and methodical in his goals while she more than once expresses the fact that she doesn’t want to kill (on page 177 she says let it grow). I found that a very nice way to tie the story together and hint as to what will happen with her, and her role in society past the point where the book ends.