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Yi, Gloria
Professor Altman
English 115 Th 4:00pm-6:45pm
6 October, 2016
I for Identity
V for Vendetta takes place in a dystopian world with a totalitarian government controlling
society, an antihero fighting for anarchy and freedom, and a normal young woman dragged into
the fight between these two forces. The characters that appear in V for Vendetta by Alan Moore
and David Lloyd endeavor to find their identity within the controlling and confining society.
Identity is defined as the condition to be ones self; it defines who we are, and what we will
become as we grow up. What becomes of those who choose not to be themselves and take on
another persona/identity? V for Vendetta delves into this question and shows how the characters
act with their own identity and another identity by taking control of the people, forcing identities
onto others, and toying with morality.
When one thinks about control, the thought that comes to mind about control is physical
or mental control forced onto someone else. For now you can have a nice chocolate insteadas
for the rest of the boxperhaps when youre Leader (Moore 225). Helen, one of the characters
in the story, manipulates her husband to gain more power for herself. Conrad, Helens husband,
who is head of surveillance in the government, has his identity stripped away by becoming a
puppet and figurehead by degradation and manipulation. Another example would be when in
history there was a young newly-crowned king; they would become a figurehead while

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commands came from the regent. Identities are ripped away from oneself, leaving behind a
puppet that is controlled. Control over identities can become an abusive and dangerous power
that can make someone into something they are not. Without knowing ones identity, it can lead
to a distraught search for a label to place upon them, whether it is a title, rank, name, role, or a
place where one belongs. Taking control of ones identity separates into two different entities,
one that is controlled, and one that used to be the said identity.
Identities are forced onto others as a means to gain insight and a new perspective. As the
novel continues, Gordon, the detective in charge of finding V, visits a concentration camp where
V was experimented on, taking LSD which allows him to experience what was inflicted to our
crusader for anarchy, V, before he became the impenetrable figure seen in the novel. The drug
has Gordon cast aside his identity and take Vs identity and has him experience the horrors and
pain that leads V being V. He understands the anti-hero and why the anti-hero is against the
totalitarian government and oppression, though he uses this new-found knowledge to go after V
and to get rid of him. The novel shows how damaged one can become just by holding onto an
identity. I know who I was when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed
several times since then (Carroll Ch.5). Alice in Wonderland gives insight to the complex
changes of ones identity, Alice is asked who she is, and she replies with the above quote,
identities are a fixed point within, creating a person that has personality and character. People
and events can influence a change in ones identity, either something major or minor happening
within someones life can make a drastic or small change within. Every day, when one goes out
to meet friends or new people is filled with guesswork, trying to figure out what anothers
personality or character is like. It is difficult to understand a human being, much less guess what
they are like.

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Morality is what one would call a conscience of knowing right vs. wrong. Evey, a young
girl who is dragged into the fight between V and the government, experiences in dangerous and
drastic situations, how she can change and become someone wholly different. V chooses to
torture her to set her free, but his morals are twisted, mainly harming Evey rather than helping
her. Evey eventually loses the mindset the government enforced on her, she becomes free and an
entirely different person. The novels characters identity changes into an incomprehensible
character doing good and evil according to their own definition. In these cases, the moral status
of particular actions, such as theft or deception, influences how people choose sides (DeScioli
477). There are labels to what one does is right or wrong: society, laws, and basic nature
determine what one does as right or wrong. Knowing what is right and wrong influences ones
character into believing, acting, and being a certain way, choosing to do wrong instead of right
even knowing the difference, can damage ones character and mind.
Identities play a major part in creating the characters and their ongoing struggle to find
themselves and to break out of their controlled situations. The novel places distinction in identity,
without knowing who one is, the anonymity can cause loss of control, forced identities, and a
distortion of morality. V for Vendetta shows that identities are essential in creating and being
ones self, without it there is an imbalance and uncertainty that has to be found and tamed.

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Works Cited
DeScioli, Peter, Kurzban, Robert. A Solution to the Mysteries of Morality Psychological
Bulletin 139.2 (2013): 477-496. PsycARTICLES. Web. 29 Sept. 2016.
Moore, Alan, et al. V for Vendetta, DC comics, Burbank CA, 1988.
Alice. "Alice in Wonderland Quotes - Alice-in-Wonderland.net." Alice-in-Wonderland.net. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2016.