Introduction

The story ‘V for Vendetta’ is a narrative set up in the UK in the near future that explores various philosophical, political and sociological issues. The story takes an idealist (in its philosophical sense) approach to the world, like the sociology of Durkheim and Weber, by arguing that ideas (rather than economics) are what drive the world. It is through ideas that the main character of the story ‘V’ is fighting against a fascist English government which works hand-in-hand with the Church to control the population.

In the 1980s, it was first written as a graphic novel by Alan Moore and drawn by David Lloyd as an allegory against the neo-liberalism of Thatcher's government. When the movie came out at the beginning of the 21st century, the allegory was still strong, but in reference to the Bush administration.

‘V’ is a terrorist fighting to raise people's consciousness about the way they are mistreated. His goal is to make people realise that they can overthrow their fascist government if they wish. The task is hard because in this dystopia, all dissident voices have been shut down, and all works of art and philosophy that could make people think against the dominant ideology are forbidden. Because they are against the law, controversial books have been hidden by ‘V’ and other characters. One of these books is the Koran, which, if found by the police, could cause the owner to be imprisoned or executed by the government. In the movie, the book is represented as a piece of philosophical and religious beauty that has become dangerous under an oppressive regime.