V for Vendetta: Book 3, Chapter 10 Summary & Analysis

At the beginning of this chapter we’re again reminded of the importance of symbols. This observation coincides with Evey’s realization that symbols are more powerful than individual people.

The relationship between Finch and Dominic isn’t entirely adversarial or entirely friendly. They have great respect and trust for one another, but ultimately, it’s Finch, not Dominic, who fully recognizes the corruption of Norsefire. Whether or not Dominic will follow suit and begin thinking for himself remains to be seen.

Here, we see the weakness of Norsefire’s bigotry and sexism. Instead of seizing power herself, Helen is forced to work with two intermediaries: Harper and her husband Conrad. These men are weak and violent, and here, they defeat each other instead of working together. Ultimately, Norsefire’s own greatest enemy is itself: its violence, its bigotry, and its ignorance.

Throughout the graphic novel, we’ve seen the Norsefire officials receive ironic comeuppances. Perhaps the most ironic is Conrad’s. Having spent his entire life watching other people, Conrad is forced to die watching himself bleed out. Helen’s indictment of her husband might as well be an indictment of the entire Norsefire government: it’s obsessed with controlling other people, dominating them by watching, listening, ordering, etc. Here, in the twilight of Norsefire’s power, Helen deals out a punishment V would have been proud of.

Here, it’s suggested, Evey has taken on the role of V. It’s a little mysterious that Evey can speak as V, since she’s a woman, and V is (presumably at least) a man. It’s certainly possible that V has been a woman all along (though this would contradict the evidence of Delia, Prothero, etc.). Perhaps the broader point here is that Evey’s embrace of V’s symbols has made her totally anonymous: she has no gender, no age, no sexuality—she is a symbol for the people.

The narrative is coming full circle in a highly satisfying way. Just as Evey began the graphic novel as a young, frightened child, Dominic is now being taken in by the “new V.”

Evey finally understands what V meant by a Viking funeral—a funeral in which the body is sent away (usually on a boat) and burned. This suggests that Evey has come to think like V, and, more generally, that she’s matured both mentally and physically.

One interesting question that this chapter raises is whether or not Evey has embraced V’s violent methods along with his identity. While it’s true that Evey has just blown up Downing Street, she made sure to announce the bombing in advance, making the explosion a symbolic defeat for Norsefire but giving people a chance to escape the building. It could be argued, of course, that in bombing a building Evey has decided to use violence. Moore wants us to resolve this matter for ourselves.

Here at last, we see Evey embracing the role of V as well as the clothes and mask. She will educate her new pupil, just as the former V educated her. One fascinating possibility that this raises is that the former V wasn’t the real “man in room V” at all: perhaps he, too, was once a naïve young man (or woman) who learned to use knowledge and violence to achieve his ends.

The final section of V for Vendetta essentially places the future of England in Eric Finch’s hands. If Finch agrees to align with Helen, they could perhaps succeed in restoring order to England and reestablishing a tyrannical regime. Yet Finch refuses to do so: he’s long since given up on the concept of authority altogether. Moore thus ends his graphic novel on a highly uncertain note. We don’t know what kind of regime, if any, will arise following the destruction of Norsefire: perhaps people will return to a democracy, or perhaps a new tyrant will emerge. One clue is that Evey is still playing the part of V: this suggests that there is still “work to be done” when it comes to anarchy and freedom. Freedom, as we’ve seen many times, isn’t simply a matter of doing as one pleases. It requires discipline, training, and hard work. Perhaps Evey will continue to be V, passing on important lessons of anarchism and freedom to others—or continue the physical fight against a new tyrant.