Evey Hammond as a Revolutionary in V for Vendetta

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Alan Moore's graphic novel V for Vendetta is not only a call for revolution, but also an explanation of how such process should materialize. V, who transcends beyond a character and embodies the concept of revolution, establishes the procedure for social change. He understands that his role is to avenge and “make rubble” of injustice and corruption; however, true social reform must move beyond destruction and forge an improved society on the ruins of an oppressed past. Therefore, V adopts Evey Hammond, a young victim of the regime, as his protégée and educates her to guide society through the second stage of revolution: reconstruction. Evey's character embodies the stages of revolution, preeminently reconstruction. Through her, Moore recognizes not only the need for destruction, but also for rebirth in a transcendental revolution.

The model, Evey Hammond, assists the creation of an improved society only after undergoing activation and her own transformation. At the beginning of the graphic novel, the death of her violators rescues her from death and oppression. This, just like the destruction of corrupt institutions, creates the space for freedom. V not only creates this space for both Evey and society, but also calls them out of their passivity. Particularly, he challenges Evey to be stronger than her past because “[it] can't hurt [her] anymore, not unless [she] allows it” (Moore 29). By executing her father and enslaving her to child labour, the government turned her into a “victim” and a “statistic,” but she has the power to free herself from the regime's ideology and exploitation (29). It is Evey's responsibility to find such power within her past and identity to “become transfigured... forever” (172).

Evey's transforma...

... middle of paper ...

.... Moore suggests that revolution is a two-step open spiral. From the starting point, society has to go back and destroy the corruption. Once the injustice disappears, society can start rebuilding its values and move forward. If the staging is efficient, then there will be no more need of destruction, and society can solely focus on creation. However, to reach such a stage of reconstruction, it is not only necessary to destroy the past but also to understand the value of power, freedom and one's inevitable social and political responsibility. This understanding is a crucial defensive mechanism since oppressive regimes can only take power from those willing to give it up.

Works Cited

Moore, Alan, David Lloyd, Steve Whitaker, Siobhan Dodds, Jeannie O'Connor, Steve Craddock, Elitta Fell, and Tony Weare. V for Vendetta. New York: Vertigo/DC Comics, 2005. Print.

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