V for Vendetta

Do some research on the philosophy of anarchy. It might be helpful to see how anarchists define themselves and their principles in their own words, such as in The Anarchist Library. Does V succeed in carrying out the tenets of anarchy? Are there any places where he fails?

V for Vendetta is set in a dystopian version of Britain, ruled by a fascist government called Norsefire. Do some research on real-world fascist governments. You might begin by researching the regimes of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Josef Stalin, who appear behind V during his broadcast in Book 2, Chapter 4. What resonances of historical fascist regimes do you see in Norsefire?

What tools do women have to navigate a patriarchal and misogynist system? Choose two prominent women in the text and compare how they do this. You might look at Delia’s complicity with Larkhill’s experiments, Helen or Rosemary’s assassination plots, or Evey’s philosophical transformation.

In Book 2, Chapter 4, V broadcasts to Britain, accusing them of failing in their duty to hold their government responsible. What responsibility do individual people have to confront unjust or oppressive systems? Are individuals in the text able to enact change?

Why do you think we never find out V’s identity? What does it mean that he is not tied to any specific race, sex, ethnicity, or sexual orientation?

Do some research on the Gunpowder Plot and Guy Fawkes. Why does V wear a Guy Fawkes mask? What does it symbolize?

While Evey’s adoption of anarchy was coerced, Finch’s was voluntary. Why and how did Finch’s ideology change? Is anyone able to change for the better under the right circumstances, or only certain people? Do Finch’s actions at the end of the novel make the future hopeful or bleak?

What does David Lloyd’s art contribute to the atmosphere, tone, and style of the graphic novel? Pick several places throughout the graphic novel and analyze how aspects of the illustrations provide meaning that text alone would not.