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Yi, Gloria
Eng 115
Professor Altman
29 September, 2016
Rough Draft
A dystopian world with a totalitarian government, an antihero fighting for anarchy and a
normal young woman dragged into the fight. Many characters appear in V for Vendetta by Alan
Moore and David Lloyd that 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, therefore, what becomes of those who choose not to be themselves
and take on another persona/identity? V for Vendetta delves into the issue about identities and
how it becomes used in great measure. The graphic novels characters take control of the people,
forces identities onto others, and toys with morality.
When one thinks about control, it comes to the thought of 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). This quote may not appear as much but
Helen; one of the characters in the story manipulates her husband greedy for more power.
Conrad, Helens husband, his identity of being head of surveillance is stripped away and being
someone important within the government system is turned into a puppet and figurehead by
degradation and manipulation. Through control, identity can be ripped away from ones self,

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becoming a mindless person; just going through the motions, without a thought of what one
could be doing is right, or wrong.
As the novel continues, Gordon visits where V was experimented on and takes LSD in
which he takes a glimpse of what was inflicted to our crusader for anarchy, V before he became
the figure seen in the novel. He begins to understand about V and he emerges with an
understanding of our anti-hero. identity accuracy, which is simply how accurately a perceiver
can guess a targets self-views. (Solomon, Knowledge of Identity and Reputation). The novel
goes through explaining Vs change and then shows Gordons drugged experience, where he
starts to understand why the anti-hero is against the government and oppression. People and
events can influence a change in ones identity, either something major or minor happening
within ones life can make a drastic or small change within. The novel induces such a change so
the reader can experience a tidbit of Vs life, it is difficult to understand a human being, much
less guess what they are like. Every day is filled with
Morality is what one call a conscience of knowing right vs. wrong, as ones morals of
good are stripped away. Eve experiences in dangerous and drastic measures, how she can change
and become someone wholly different., V chooses to torture her to set her free, but his morals are
twisted, harming Eve rather than helping her. Eve eventually loses the mindset the government
enforced on her, she becomes free and an entirely different person. In these cases, the moral
status of particular actions, such as theft or deception, influences how people choose
sides.(DeScioli, 477) Their identity changes into an incomprehensible character doing good
and evil according to their own definition. Knowing what is right and wrong influences ones

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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.
The novel places distinction in identity, without knowing who one is can cause turmoil
and uneasiness within. Identities play a major part in creating the characters and their ongoing
struggle to find themselves and to break out of their controlled situations. 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 tamed.

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Works Cited
Solomon, Brittany C., Vazire, Samine. Knowledge of identity and reputation: Do people have
knowledge of others perceptions?. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 111.3, 341366. PsycARTICLES. Web. 29 Sept. 2016.
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.
http://www.alice-in-wonderland.net/resources/chapters-script/alice-in-wonderland-quotes/