This Vicious Cabaret
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This Vicious Cabaret is the title of the narrative song featured in the graphic novel V For Vendetta. Book 2 of the novel takes its name from the song. Written by author Alan Moore, the song recaps the events and characters introduced in the first book, foreshadows future events, and expresses the viewpoints of the novel's main character, "V."
[edit] Analysis
One of the elements seen in the song is V's characteristic theatricality; V speaks often of the events of the story in terms of a theatrical performance. This technique allows V to plot and manipulate people and events to produce the desired result, as though they are only story characters.
The second verse describes and derides life in fascist England. The fourth verse first references V's views on Inspector Eric Finch, the detective who is in charge of finding and stopping V, but who himself is becoming disillusioned with Norsefire, and is more concerned with keeping order then maintaining the government's hold on power ("a policeman with an honest soul that has seen whose head is on the pole").
The second part of the fourth verse is V's indictment of the Norsefire government Leader Adam Susan, describing how he has brought England under his control and yet has never had a relationship with a woman ("hands...that never brushed a lover's thigh but have gripped a nation's throat"). Susan disdains any thought of physical relationship, instead showing reverence towards the master computer Fate (V hints at this as his "lover" and suggests that Fate is not at all trustworthy). This verse makes reference to several of the segments of the government ("While his master in the dark nearby inspects the hands [The Finger] with brutal eye [The Eye]").
The sixth verse contains V's assessment of Evey Hammond, who he seems to believe shows promise as a student, but sees as unwilling to truly fight for her beliefs. This can be seen in the line of "a girl who'll push but will not shove." The reference to "The Land Of Do-As-You-Please" also suggests that V considers Evey to be living a sheltered or unexamined life, still a little girl looking for her father.
The phrase "At last! The 1998 Show!" may be a reference to the 1967-1968 comedy program At Last The 1948 Show.
During his collaboration with Alan Moore, David J recorded a version of the song
[edit] External links
| V for Vendetta | |
|---|---|
| Main Characters | V | Evey Hammond | Eric Finch | Adam Susan |
| Secondary Characters | Peter Creedy | Gordon Deitrich | Valerie Page | Roger Dascombe | Dominic Stone | Delia Surridge Lewis Prothero | Anthony James Lilliman | Brian Etheridge | Conrad Heyer |
| Miscellaneous | 2006 Film Version | Norsefire | Storm Saxon | This Vicious Cabaret |
