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Scott Muggy
Joye Otto
WRI 121
6 August 2014
Convictions and V for Vendetta
V for Vendetta is a good example of a movie that tells a story and teaches us that we
should live and possibly die by our personal convictions. A conviction is defined as a fixed or
firm belief (Dictionary), and John Ritenbaugh describes how the Supreme Court defines
conviction as a belief that does not change under any circumstance, including death
(Ritenbaugh). History is full of people whose convictions were tested, their convictions are what
caused countries to be created or destroyed, or governments to rise or fall. It is this premise, this
definition of conviction that drives the main characters V (Hugo Weaving) and Evey Hammond
(Natalie Portman) in the 2005 movie V for Vendetta and later in the film other characters are also
driven by their own convictions.
The attempted revolution against King James and the British government in 1605 is the
backdrop for the movie, V for Vendetta. In the early 1600s, in England, a group of Catholics
decided to stop the persecution against Catholics in England by overthrowing King James. The
plan was to be carried out by a mercenary named Guy Fawkes on the fifth of November 1605,
but Fawkes was stopped before he could blow up the Parliament building with King James and
the House of Lords inside. Because of this, the fifth of November became the British national
holiday known as Guy Fawkes Day, where bonfires were set ablaze and an effigy of Guy Fawkes
was thrown on the bonfire. As the holiday continued through the years a distinctive cardboard
mask, called the Guy Fawkes mask, was created to place on an effigy to burn (Ford). Today there
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are many who believe that these traitors to King James were actually heroes, including the actor
who played V (Weaving). These heroes gave their lives for their personal conviction that the
persecution of Catholics was wrong.
V for Vendetta takes place in an alternate future, where a fascist organization, Norsefire,
is led by Supreme High Chancellor Adam Sutler (John Hurt) and rules England. Twenty years
before the movie begins Norsefire had created the most terrifying virus imaginable and killed
over 80,000 British citizens. Norsefire blamed it on extremists with the intent to spread fear and
to secure the fascist party as the ruling party in England. The virus, and cure, was created from
the blood of the storys main character, V. V spends those 20 years creating and putting his plan
for revenge into motion. His revenge includes the assassination of now high ranking government
officials (including High Chancellor Sutton) that had experimented on V when he was a prisoner,
and reminding the people of England of the freedoms they gave up in exchange for safety and
protection and inciting them to rise up and take those freedoms back. Fate causes V to cross
paths with Evey Hammond, and V does not believe in coincidence. V comes to see Evey as his
protg, to take over where he will leave off, and ultimately she will be the one to decide the fate
of England (Wachowski and Wachowski).
One of the more poignant points in the movie where its apparent conviction plays a part
in the story being told, V makes his presence known, with theatrical flair, to all of England by
using the Norsefires own propaganda tool against them. Using explosives strapped to his
midsection and a dead mans switch V takes over the television broadcast, and the constant
stream of mind numbing entertainment and propaganda suddenly stops. All over London there is
confusion because the televisions are only broadcasting static. As quickly as the propaganda
stopped an image appears that is unfamiliar to the viewers. A man sits behind a large desk with
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some paper neatly stacked directly in front of him. His arms are casually resting open,
welcomingly, on the desk, as if to say, Please come, I have been waiting for you, you have
nothing to worry about from me. The man is dressed in black, even his hair is neatly trimmed,
straight, and black, and covering the mans face is a porcelain Guy Fawkes mask. Behind the
man is a red velvet curtain with two lights subtly shining onto it in the shape of a V.
V apologizes for interrupting the repetition of their daily lives. The camera switches from
the wide welcoming shot to a tight close up of V as if V is saying, Now this is important.
There are of course those who do not want us to speak. I suspect even now, orders are being
shouted into telephones, and men with guns will soon be on their way. The camera changes
back to the wide angle showing Vs outstretched hands as he asks Why? Other than the
security force trying to break into the control room, everyones attention is on Vs speech.
Because while the truncheon may be used in lieu of conversation, words will always retain their
power. Words offer the means to meaning, and, camera returns to a close up of V accentuating
the importance of these next words, for those who will listen, the enunciation of truth. And the
truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isnt there? Now the audience is
thinking and some are agreeing, yes there is something wrong.
Capitalizing on this truth, V develops this idea into something more by reminding
everyone of the freedoms they have lost, eloquently stating Cruelty and injustice...intolerance
and oppression. And where once you had the freedom to object, to think and speak as you saw
fit, you now have censors and systems of surveillance, coercing your conformity and soliciting
your submission. England has given up much for the illusion of safety and peace for the
protection from war and disease. So who is ultimately responsible for the loss of freedom?
Truth be told...if you're looking for the guilty, in a tight camera shot from behind the right side
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of Evey making it appear that her face and the television image of V are mere inches apart. Vs
face fills the screen, making this an intimate moment with the audience, he utters the response,
You need only look into a mirror.
V points out that there were a myriad of problems which conspired to corrupt your
reason and rob you of your common sense What he does not inform the viewers of is that the
terror and disease were manufactured by the now High Chancellor Sutton to ensure his political
rise.
As Vs little chat reaches its conclusion, no longer is he able to maintain his tranquil
voice. Vs excitement bleeds in to his voice causing his voice to become higher, his speech
quicker, he has reached the end. If you see what I see, if you feel as I feel, and if you would
seek as I seek, then I ask you to stand beside me one year from tonight, outside the gates of
Parliament. And together, we shall give them a fifth of November that shall never, ever, be
forgot! V, driven by his conviction surrounding personal freedom, risks his life to reveal the
beginnings of his plan to get them back.
In one of the final climatic scenes of the movie we see Eveys and a generals personal
convictions are tested on the eve of the fifth of November. The scene is split between
underground in the subway, and above ground near the Parliament building. Looking into the
darkness, security forces stationed to protect the Parliament building notice a sea of people
wearing white Guy Fawkes masks heading straight for them. High Chancellor Sutton gave orders
earlier that day to execute, on the spot, anyone out after curfew.
The sea of masks continues to grow as what seems like a never ending human wave
steadily approaches the barricades. With increasing urgency the security force tries to get orders
from any high ranking government official, but no one answers. As the sound of thousands of
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boots marching on the street echo off the neighboring buildings, gaining in volume and intensity
with each step. The General (Michael Simkins) in charge has to make a decision. If the general
follows orders he will give an order that will execute thousands of unarmed citizens. If he does
not, he risks his own execution and allows the growing crowd to pass.
The crowd above is now just feet from the first barricade where soldiers stand with their
weapons at the ready, waiting for the orders to open fire. The Generals convictions regarding
the sanctity of life are stronger than his sense of duty. He gives the order for the soldiers to stand
down just as the unyielding wave of Guy Fawkeses climbs over the barricade. From above the
square it looks like a black sea swarming towards Parliament from all directions. It seems all of
London has come to see what Vs final movement is. The crowd comes to a halt and an eerie
silence falls over the square, broken only by Big Bens first strike to signify that the fifth of
November has arrived.
Meanwhile, Underground, Evey places one last red rose next to Vs dead body on the
subway car. Visible in the background are stacks upon stacks of explosives waiting to be used.
Evey displays no emotion while she looks upon Vs bullet ridden body. Evey turns and slowly
approaches the main lever of the subway car as if she does not want this to happen. Evey pauses,
and sees a red domino brick sitting on top of the power box. It is the last domino of a long line of
events that has led to this moment. Sadness flitters briefly across her face, sadness for V who has
opened her eyes and mind to what is wrong and what could be. Evey looks at the lever, it is
nearly midnight and time to decide.
Chief Inspector Finch (Stephen Rae) who has been tracking V and Evey appears in the
Underground just outside the doors of the subway train with his pistol trained on Evey. Hold It!
Stop right there! the Chief Inspector orders. Evey stands still, as if she had not heard the
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command. Youre Evey Hammond arent you, the Chief Inspector asks. Eveys head snaps
around so she can see who this intruder is, coldly staring at the Chief Inspector. She shows no
indication of moving or answering the question.
It is then that the Chief Inspector notices Vs dead body, laid out as if he is about to
receive a Hindu Indian cremation. The Chief Inspector turns his attention back to Evey who has
not moved. Seeing the Chief Inspector gaze back at her, Eveys conviction surfaces: she stands a
little more rigid, a little taller, and her head is held higher. It is no longer a choice to be made, but
an outcome that must happen. Then it is over, declared the Chief Inspector, as if that statement
will convince Evey to surrender. Evey replies almost and grasps the lever. Tensing up the
Chief Inspector orders Evey to take her hand off the lever, and raises his pistol in preparation.
Evey turns her head, maintaining a cold expression, and states, without emotion No. Her
conviction of what the right choice is clearly communicated. Evey calmly explains to Chief
Inspector Finch why this must be done. Because the country needs more than a building right
now, it needs hope. Finch thinks for a moment and lowers his weapon.

Hearing Big Ben, Evey calmly declares its time, and pulls the lever. Little red lights
spring to life throughout the entire interior of the subway car as the detonators for the explosives
are activated. Evey calmly steps through the closing doors to stand next to Finch. They turn to
face the subway car watching the old train noisily head toward the start of the revolution, the
start of a new future. On this night many had their convictions tested and revealed to them.
Whatever happens next, Evey, Finch, the General, and many more, know their convictions and
what type of people they are.
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Personal convictions are the proverbial double edged sword, they can be good or evil
depending on who is judging the conviction. An example of this: if you could kill Hitler before
he came to power and became responsible for killing millions, would you do it? The wrinkle and
test of conviction is no one else in the world would know that millions of deaths were prevented.
History would just record it as an assassination and move on. I have been pondering this question
for over two years and an answer is still just as elusive as the day it was proposed. The famous
German Philosopher Fredrich Nietzsche said Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth
than lies (Quotes). Personal convictions can guide a persons life or rule it. In the end, after V
has died, it is Evey and her conviction in the face of possible death that determines the movies
outcome. The interchange between Evey and Chief Inspector Finch illustrates that when a life is
ruled by conviction no amount of reason, logic or discussion will change the individuals
direction.

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Works Cited
Conviction. n.d. 5 8 2014.
Conviction Quotes. n.d. 05 08 2014.
Ford, David Nash. The Gunpowder Plot: Overview. n.d. 04 08 2014.
Ritenbaugh, John. "Are Your Beliefs Preferences or Convictions?" 11 1993. Church of the Great
God. Web. 14 8 2014.
V or Vendetta. Dirs. Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski. Perf. Hugo Weaving and Natalie
Portman. Warner Bros. Pictures. 2006. Blu-ray. 04 08 2014.