Anarchy, Chaos, and Revolution in V for Vendetta

Colin Stein

ENGL 3060

Mr. Daniel Larson

April 18, 2014

Anarchy, Chaos, and Revolution in V for Vendetta

Close Reading Panels:[pic 1][pic 2]

(Moore, 248)

Throughout V for Vendetta, author Alan Moore emphasizes the significant line that V draws between anarchy and chaos, and the role that each concept plays in his revolution. Whereas V lives his life according to the precepts, or lack thereof, inherent to anarchism, he vehemently condemns the blind purposelessness, impropriety, and disorder of total chaos. Both concepts, however, are associated with V’s act of revolution; anarchy and chaos initiate the uprising, and it is up to Evey and the liberated citizenry of Great Britain to either stay the course with anarchy and rebuild their society or allow it to devolve into a state of chaos. A close reading analysis of the panels above reflect V’s beliefs regarding anarchy, chaos, and revolution, and their critical relationship to one another. This paper will argue that anarchy and chaos are bound to the concept of revolution, in that the society following a revolution faces structured anarchy or an unstructured chaos. Moore reinforces this theme in the panels through his symbolism and specific diction.

        Within these two panels, David Lloyd’s animation exhibits a number of symbolic images that reinforce Moore’s theme. One such example occurs in the first panel, on the image of V. In this scene, as the slain V’s words on revolution echo in Evey’s head, his body is symmetrically split into two distinct shades of black and white. Much in the same way that Rorschach’s mask in Watchmen symbolizes an organized chaos with symmetrical, random blobs, this image of V juxtaposes the clash of color with precise symmetry, symbolizing the organized chaos inherent to V and the concept of his anarchist revolution. This suggests that chaos and anarchy are closely tied to V’s character, and therefore his revolution. Another significant piece of symbolism occurs in the second panel, as Evey descends a staircase with V’s words still ringing in her head. In this scene, the staircase is split into two sections divided by a rail, with Evey on one side and a thick black trail of V’s blood on the other side. There are two doorways at the landing, the passage on Evey’s side clear and the other passage plagued by a murky pool of blood. This dichotomous imagery symbolizes the two possible outcomes of V’s revolution: one is a clear path led by Evey and is characterized by light and clarity, while the other is a murky, blood-filled path characterized by darkness and obscurity. These two paths symbolize the revolution’s outcomes, the left symbolic of anarchism and the right symbolic of darkness and chaos. As Evey descends the left path, Moore suggests this is the path that humanity will take, a point which is also emphasized in V’s monologue through the use of personification.