Symbolism In V For Vendetta

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Pages: 5

Symbol Analysis
Symbols play a vital role in understanding the comic book V for Vendetta by Alan Moore. The author puts great weight on the power of symbolism through the main character, V’s actions. V speaks through rhyme and riddles and leave clues with greater meanings behind for his victims to solve. His symbols are complex and are more than what meets the eye. Alan Moore’s V for Vendetta specifically used the symbols of the false portrayal of Lady Justice, the constant monitoring of the different government institutions such as the Eye, and the all powering Voice of Fate in order to show the readers how the government cleverly tricks its people into believing everything they say. Furthermore the government controls every aspect of
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She stands proudly on top of Old Bailey, a famous London government building. To the people of Norsefire she represents the fair and equal justice that is provided for all the citizens but to V shes not quite that anymore. There once was a time when V also loved Lady Justice, he actually has been a “fan of hers for quite some time” ( Moore 42 Panel 1). During a conversation between V and the inanimate object, where he was imagining what Lady Justice was say, he tells her that he has been fond of her since he was a boy. He treats her a lover who he has cared for many years. However, in this conversation he tells her what he has loved her in the past and now has found someone else to replace her. This imaginary conversation consists of his blaming her of infidelity and “had an eye for a man in uniform” ( Moore 42 Panel 7 ). V condemns her of trading in her justice for the false appearance of the government and proclaims “you are no longer MY justice, you are HIS justice” ( Moore 43 Panel 1). She is stopped in her tracks when he says he’s done with her and has found a new, better version of her by the name Anarchy. Replacing her weak and false justice for the necessary rebellion. V proclaims that Anarchy “has taught him that Justice is meaningless without Freedom” ( Moore 43 Panel 3 ). That Norsefire government has gained too much power and now is using its power to control every aspect of the citizens lives. V describes Anarchy as “honest, she makes no promises and breaks none” (Moore 43 Panel 3 ). Anarchy is everything that Lady Justice isn’t anymore. As he finishes the conversation he leaves a small chocolate box and Lady Justice explodes behind him. His imaginary conversation between V and Lady Justice shows us how exactly V felt about the Norsefire government. The government cleverly uses LAdy Justice as a statue and symbol of their wholesome legal system. Instead they are hiding behind