This chapter is a free excerpt from Quicklet on V For Vendetta.
MAIN CHARACTERS
V
The titular character of the book, V is an enigmatic terrorist and freedom fighter who disguises himself in a Guy Fawkes mask. V’s identity is never revealed, and the clues given regarding his past are vague and not entirely trustworthy. Rather, V claims to be an ideal and not a man of flesh and blood; the very embodiment of anarchy. His goal is to return freedom to London by forcing its citizens to take command of their own lives.
Also known as “Codename ‘V’” and “The Man from Room 5.” His true identity is never revealed.
Evey Hammond
A 16-year-old prostitute V rescues from the street. Evey is initially timid, meek, and fearful of the powers that be, and is content to live as V’s prisoner in his fantastical Shadow Gallery. However, after V tortures her and forces her to choose between her life or her principles, she slowly matures and becomes self-actuated. In the finale of the story, she takes on V’s persona, and continues his work.
Sometimes addressed as Eve.
OTHER IMPORTANT CHARACTERS
Detective Eric Finch
Head of Norsefire’s investigative department, The Nose. Tasked with apprehending V, Finch begins to take the case personally and battles with his loyalty to the party. He eventually shoots and kills V, and abandons the party to embrace anarchy.
Leader Adam Susan
The reclusive head of the Norsefire party. Susan sincerely believes in fascism, and believes that a singular vision is the only way to save London. He is also in love with the Fate computer system. He is assassinated at the end of the novel by Rosemary Almond.
Rosemary Almond
Wife and later widow of Derek Almond, head of the party’s brutal police force. Denied party benefits after Derek’s death at the hands of V, she is forced to become a burlesque dancer and extend sexual favours to survive. She grows to blame the party for her life, and assassinates its leader in the climax of the novel.
MINOR CHARACTERS
DominicStone
Finch’s assistant on the V case, and later becomes ad hoc leader of The Nose after his disappearance. He is recruited by Evey in the novel’s climax
Derek Almond
Former head of the Finger, Norsefire’s police, and Rosemary Almond’s abusive husband. He is killed by V.
Lewis Prothero
Broadcaster who plays the voice of the Fate computer, and formerly V’s jailer. He is eventually driven mad by V.
Bishop Anthony Lilliman
The party’s pedophilic bishop, and formerly the padre at Larkhill. He is killed by being fed a poisoned communion waffer by V.
Delia Surridge
Party pathologist, and former medical researcher at Larkhill, Delia tested a hormone cocktail on V. She is remorseful of her past, and V kills her painlessly.
Roger Dascombe
Propaganda minister for the party’s broadcast arm, The Mouth. He is accidentally killed by SWAT officers when they raid Mouth headquarters, searching for V.
Peter Creedy
Derek Almond’s replacement as the head of The Finger. An unscrupulous man, Creedy plans to stage a coup against Susan and assume leadership of Norsefire, but is betrayed and killed by Alastair Harper.
Conrad Heyer
The spineless head of the party’s surveillance division. He is married to Helen Heyer, and is killed by Alastair Harper.
Helen Heyer
Conrad’s demeaning, overbearing wife. She works to plant her husband as a puppet leader, but her plans fail and she is left to trade protection from a band of tramps for sexual favors after the fall of Norsefire.
Alastair Harper
A Scottish crime lord who is hired by Creedy to bolster security. Both Creedy and Helen pay him to support their coups. He is killed by Conrad when he discovers his wife had been sleeping with Harper.
Gordon
Evey’s lover for a brief time, and small-time crook. Evey lives with him until he is killed by Harper in a hostile takeover of his territory.
Valerie Page
A former inmate of Larkhill, imprisoned because of her homosexuality. She writes an autobiographical letter on toilet paper and shares it with the inmate next to her, V. Her letter inspires V to action.