V for Vendetta is widely renowned for being the movie that embraces the concept of “anarchy.” The Guy Fawkes mask that V dons are now known as the face of the concept. It represents the idea of anarchy. The hacker group, Anonymous, uses the mask as a symbol for anarchy too. But what if society has gotten it all wrong or misinterpreted it. Is V for Vendetta really about anarchy or has it become muddled through people’s differing political agendas? Is V even an anarchist, or simply an extreme anti-tyrannical idealist? Or are they one and the same? These are the questions that not many are asking.

Anarchism, defined by Britannica, is a “cluster of doctrines and attitudes centered on the belief that government is both harmful and unnecessary.” It roots from the Greek root “anarchos” which translates to meaning “without authority.” On the surface, it seems like it adds up with V’s agenda, but thinking deeper shows that V is not against any authority, but totalitarian authority.

Britannica gives a list of famous anarchists like Mikhail Bakunin, Louise Michel, Emma Goldman, among others; Guy Fawkes is not on the list, because he is not an anarchist. Sure, he was a rebel, but rebellion and anarchy are not mutual. Guy Fawkes was an extremist who intended on assassinating and overthrowing Parliament, but he wasn’t an Anarchist. V seems to follow his ideals quite devoutly, which says a lot about his intentions. V uses the mask of Fawkes intentionally. He wouldn’t have chosen it frivolously, because as both the movie and graphic novel show, he has no shortage of intelligence despite his anti-heroism. He would have chosen the mask of a true anarchist if that was his goal.

The Fawkes mask is representative of what he wants to achieve. V is more focused on revolting against the police state of the United Kingdom in which they live rather than removing all government entirely. He cares more about people’s freedom due to his past of living in concentration camps. The regime is akin to communist Russia or Nazi Germany. Revolution for the cause of freedom is his goal.

Alan Moore has stated that he intentionally wrote V as morally ambiguous, leaving the reader to decide if V is simply insane or a man fighting for a higher cause. I think people who believe the former think he’s a true anarchist, but many believe the latter. However, people still interpret it differently. We discussed in class how many use V as a symbol for their own political causes, specifically Americans with left or right-leaning views. As we discussed, I don’t think it has anything to do with left or right views but is more about thinking and choosing; not being controlled by tyrannical overlords. I don’t think V is Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, or anything in between. He stands for freedom but goes about it in an extremist way. People view this as anarchy when it isn’t. I don’t think V stands for lack of any government but is simply against a police state where freedom is nonexistent. That’s why I don’t think V is a true anarchist. Anarchy is tied to pure chaos, and while he is definitely chaotic, he does have an honorable goal. 

V’s goals show that people need to take a deeper look at characters and what they truly stand for. Anarchy isn’t the end goal. Freedom through revolution is.