It is the first chapter of a graphic novel called V for vendetta, which is a prevailing book written by Alan Moore. The story is set in the near-future of England, with the fascist governor rule the nation like a military base under the claim of “for your protection”. In the first chapter, a young woman named Evey break the curfew and work as prostitute for the first time but she encounter finger-men police who want to rape and murder her. Then V, a man conceals his identity under a musk, saves Evey with tear gas and shows her his organized explosion of the House of Parliament caused by bomb and fireworks.
The layout of the graphic novel is asymmetric, and the frames are of same width but not of same length, making the comic full of varieties but not disordered. And panorama is used to make readers feel that they are at the scenes when fireworks are set off. Moore uses three shapes of speech balloon to distinguish broadcasting, the protagonist V and others. Speech balloons with pointed edges, which are used for government’s broadcasting, make readers feel tense and oppressed. The color of this graphic novel is dark and gloomy, creating a repressive and suffocating atmosphere. And there is no other smile on other characters’ face except the smile on V’s mask.
Labeling and allusion are the main devices adopted by authors. The protagonist “V” represents anarchists who fight for freedom through violence and destruction. The government is labeled as fascism and oppresses its people. Therefore, the conflict between “V” and the government can be deemed as the conflict between fascism and anarchism (Kennedy, 2013, para.13). Also, when “V” makes his debut from the shadows, he quotes “The multiplying villainies of nature do swarm upon him” which is borrowed from one of William Shakespeare’s most famous dramas the Macbeth. And by virtue of Macbeth’s aesthetic and literary background, Moore is able to represent some key themes without lengthy explanations to achieve the same effect. (Evans, 2010, para.5)
Whether “V”’s destructive actions are right or wrong is for us readers to decide. Though it is a graphic novel with imaginary plots, it can still be of great significance and power, because Moore inspires readers to think what kind of government do individuals want and fight for their rights.
Reference:
Brittany Kennedy (2013), Alan Moore's "V for Vendetta" Analysis. Retrieved from http://hubpages.com/hub/V-for-Vendetta-Book-Report
Orvis Evans (2010), The Thematic Significance of Intertextual Allusions in V for Vendetta: Implication for Critical Analysis. Retrieved from http://teachmix.com/filmwriting/content/thematic-significance-intertextual-allusions-v-vendetta-implication-critical-analysis