V for Vendetta: Mentioned Works

Also known as:

V for Vendetta is littered with literary and cultural references. These are the ones I have identified by far.

Issue 01

01 (Page 14-15)

The multiplying villanies of nature
Do swarm upon him.

And Fortune, on his damned quarry smiling,
Showed like a rebel's whore. But all's too weak,
For brave Macbeth — well he deserves that name
Disdaining fortune with his brandished steel
Which smoked with bloody execution,
Like Valor's minion carved out his passage
Till he faced the slave,
Which ne'er shook hands, nor bade farewell to him,

Source: William Shakespeare (Macbeth Act 1 Scene 2)

02 (Page 17)

Remember, remember, the 5th of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason
Why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot.

Source: Traditional Poem

03 (Page 22)

Dancing in the Street by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas

Issue 02

04 (Page 53)

O beauty, Till now I never knew thee!

Source: William Shakespeare (Henry VIII, Act 1 Scene 4)

05 (Page 56)

Vi veri veniversum vivus vici

Alternate version: Vi veri universum vivus vici
Translation: By the power of truth, I, while living, have conquered the universe.

Source: Robert Nye (Foust)

06 (Page 61)

Bring me my Bow of burning gold:
Bring me my arrows of desire:
Bring me my Spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my Chariot of fire!

I will not cease from Mental Fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand:
Till we have built Jerusalem,
In Englands green & pleasant Land.

Source: William Blake (Jerusalem)

07 (Page 68)

Please allow me to introduce myself
I'm a man of wealth and taste

Source: Rolling Stone (Sympathy for the Devil)

08 (Page 71)

1 The Lord is my shepherd : therefore can I lack nothing.
2 He shall feed me in a green pasture : and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort.
3 He shall convert my soul : and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness, for his Name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil : for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff comfort me.

Source: Psalm 23

09 (Page 74)

10 (Page 75)

I am the devil and I am here to do the devil’s work.

Source: Rob Zombie (The Devil’s Rejects, spoken by Otis Driftwood)

Issue 03

11 (Page 87)

There is more behind and inside V. than any of us had suspected. Not who, but what is she.

Source: Thomas Pynchon (V: Chapter 2)

12 (Page 91)

"Let's dig an enormous castle!" cried Moon-Face. "Then we can all sit on the top of it when the sea comes in."

"We can't," said Silky, suddenly looking sad.

"Why not?" cried Jo in surprise. "Isn't this the land of do-as-you-please?"

"Yes," said Silky. "But it's time we went back to the faraway tree. The land will soon be moving on- And nice as it is, we don't want to live here forever."

"Gracious No." Said Jo. "Our mother and father couldn't possibly do without us…"

Source: Enid Blyton (The Magic Faraway Tree)

13 (Page 97)

Delia Surridge explains Milgram experiment

Issue 04

14 (Page 122)

The first line of This Vicious Cabaret nods to the song "There's a Broken Heart for Every Light on Broadway" by Marin Mazzie and Zach Braff.

You can also listen to This Vicious Cabaret:

Issue 08

15 (Page 264)

It will all be over by the Christmas

People used to believe that the World War I will be finished by the Christmas of 1914.

16 (Page 279)

Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,

Source: W.B. Yeats (The Second Coming)

Issue IX

17 (Page 307)

Everytime we say goodbye
I die a little

Source: Song by Ella Fitzgerald

18 (Page 311)

Evey refers to Ray Bradbury's The Scythe, a short story.

19 (Page 313)

I'm waiting for the man.

Source: Song by Velvet Underground

20 (Page 325)

So, how can you tell me you're lonely
And say for you that the sun don't shine?
Let me take you by the hand
And lead you through the streets of London
Show you something to make you change your mind

Source: Streets of London, Song by Ralph McTell