V for Vendetta; V’s Introductory Speech and Remember Remember poem
Evey: Who are you?
V. : Who? Who is but the form following the function of what and what I am is a man in a mask.
Evey: Well I can see that.
V. : Of course you can, I’m not questioning your powers of observation, I’m merely remarking upon the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
Evey: Oh, right.
V. : But on this most auspicious of nights, permit me then, in lieu of the more commonplace soubriquet, to suggest the character of this dramatis persona. Voila! In view humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of fate. This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the “vox populi” now vacant, vanished. However, this valorous visitation of a bygone vexation stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin, van guarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition.
The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous.
Verily this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it’s my very good honour to meet you and you may call me V.
Evey: Are you like a crazy person?
V. : I’m quite sure they will say so.
Remember remember the fifth of November
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I know of no reason why gunpowder, treason
Should ever be forgot…
It should read “I know of no reason” in stead of (“I see of know reason”)2nd line from the bottom Thank you, Sorry two be so rude
I am is a man in a mask…which website did u get the idea that it is i know of no reason?
That’s how it’s said in the movie.
Thank you for noticing. It has been corrected.
my favorite scene of my favorite movie…kudos to you
What an amazing movie. My goal for the summer is to learn this entire speech. AND I WILL.
For the 5th of November bit, I used to add a little more to it.
Carrying on where the above has left off-
Guy, Guy, Gut
Stick him up on high
Stick him on a lamp post
And leave him there to die
Ladies and gentlemen, you’ll never grow fat
If you don’t stick a penny in old Guy’s hat.
Granted, it doesn’t really flow as well as the first four lines and it is really rather unpleasant, I suppose.
Thank you for taking your time to read this.
Sorry for spamming but I made an error in my previous comment. The line should not end with ‘Gut”, but rather “Guy”.
Though “Gut” does add to the rather gruesome imagery.
You are incorrect, Sir. The correct finish to the poem is as follows;
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t’was his intent
To blow up the King and Parli’ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England’s overthrow;
By God’s providence he was catch’d (or by God’s mercy*)
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring. (Holla*)
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!
eversince i watch that movie, 1812 overture is one of my favorite classics!!! everytime i listen to it, it makes me smile w/ a vile thought. ^^
that wasn’t that hard to memorize. only took a day
Awesome film, awesome character, awesome scene… Just awesome
It was quite good movie,
sigh..*quite a good movie* can’t speak nearly as well as V,
Does anyone know what it means in modern day English I heard that it reveals the entire film plot line in the speech, I only understand to “veneer of vanity”
I learned this as soon as I found it on here – *sigh* V is my loverrr, and my male form in some kind of parallel universe. Swear to God. It’s what EVERYONE of my friends say who’ve seen the movie.
The speech is basically this –
But on this most favorable of nights, permit me then, in place of the more common place sobriquet (nickname), to explain the character of this striking person (himself).
Viola! (expression)
You see before you a humble veteran performer, cast acting as both victim and villain by the changes of fate. This mask, no mere cover of looks is a mark of the “vox populi” (guy from beginning of movie), now gone, forgotten. However this courageous visitation (in the future) by a bygone annoyance (to the government – as Vox Populi was a rebel) stands animated, and has vowed to destroy these ridiculous and evil vermin, van guarding vice, (an expression of a fleet guarding something evil – the government being guarded by it’s brute force) allowing the violently vicious and greedy violation of free will!
The only justice is vengeance, a vendetta (“a private feud in which the members of the family of a murdered person seek to avenge the murder by killing the slayer or one of the slayer’s relatives”), held as a service, not in vain, for the value and accuracy of such shall one day free the patient and virtuous.
(*A chuckle from V*) Clearly this ’soup’ of words is most strange to you, so let me simply add that it is my very good honor to meet you and that you may call me V.
*Bows*
Awesome film kudos to you v
It’s scary how different “real” English really is. The writers are clearly masters at it and it was an extremely fun movie to watch. There is not a single wasted syllable in that movie. Perfection unmatched.
a beautiful alliteration, indeed.
The movie is also a metaphor for life, as is everyones fight, so is V’s; he is but a lone soldier, looking for help from those he is fighting for and encouraging them to stand up for themselves. Life is a battle, everyday we fight, not for a want or need, but for what we believe in.
I decided I needed to memorize this the first time I ever heard it. So perfect, so incredibly awesome. It took a few days, but I finally got it. And it’s a hell of an ice breaker.
Vox Populi is not a name, as some comments have suggested. Verily, it is a Latin phrase meaning “the voice of the people”, and more figuratively used to denote the common people’s desires and sentiments.
Not to be overly picky but V actually appraises Fate as an entity, so it should be a pro-noun.
Also; ‘vanguarding’ is either one word or for emphasise within the discourse, it should be hyphonated.
(The syntax runs much smoother with it so. It is partially a breathing and timing cue really. I mean, since the goal is to re-iterate with perfect harmony then I would assume that every slight detail matters…)
I wasn’t actually that impressed with the lexical nature of the movie, partially due to the ease in which a person can use the internet to abjugate a speech.
Giving the writer’s praise for such a blatant travesty only stands to vilify future productions…
However, the ability to act whilst regurgitating such an alliterative piece has credit duly thrust upon it.
He is a Shakespearian trained actor though…
I guess that I’m just being pretentious, but those of us who contemptuously devour books need not be impressed by such matters.
Maybe those few need to get out more.
Nah, I’m just joshing.
I loved this speech…
Very well written.
(Even if it was achieved by using the synonym’s section of an online thesaurus…)
It definitely makes up for turning The Matrix into a trilogy…
I tried my damndest to sound like a total…then and somehow achieved it without reference to a dictionary or thesaurus.
Yay me.
I did proof-read it first though.
Peace out, my favourite movie.
=)
You know I catch myself talking like that sometimes and everyone around me just has a strange look on their face.
I hate bloody translating for people, it gets dull.
Does anyone else have that problem?
Not so much surrounded by idiots but trapped by their ignorance?
I’m not saying that is their fault by any means what-so-ever…but it can get irritating.
You know you definitely read too much when you have to think of a simpler way of saying something that is inheritantly very simple anyway.
It’s like, yes, that means, “Cool, awesome dude. Right on.”
It is fun to over do it when someone’s totally smashed though.
Even if they turn to the guy next to them and say, “What a pretentious young man…” (Like anyone would say that, right?)
=)
Erm, I meant inherently…
(Way to put your foot in it, Arol.)
Did I mentioned that I’m a scriptivist or do you suppose that it is a given?
I’m going to shut up now…it’d be best.
Bye.
Arol, I thought I was the only person in existence that suffered the ignorant. Or maybe I should say “Illiterate by Choice”. Fortunately I’m a police officer so I have the opportunity to use a more extensive vocabulary every time I produce a sworn statement for legal purposes. Thankfully most lawyers are lovely vocabulary utilizers as well. I feel sorry for the people left in the mundane world of common language.
Of course you have a failing belief in people, Grant, you get to deal with the ‘dregs’ of society on an occasional benefit…
I was due to become a lawyer once upon a time, but I surrendered to my deeper desire for more creative pursuits. Music, etcetera.
My brother’s dream is that of the old pavement-tapping topic or penchant…
(He wants to be a cop.)
How are you enjoying the lexical theme portaining to your bread-and-butter?
If you come back to this page, you should message me, via MySpace, via my hyper-linked name just below this garbled discourse.
(Click on ‘Arol Thyme’ as in “Arol Thyme said…”)
If you say that you are sorely lacking mental challenge then I may be able to acquiesce (accede, concur, capitulate) to your poverty.
I imagine that we could have a rather good acquaintanceship.
I’d prefer to talk via MySpace though below you will find my e-mail address.
(arolthyme@gmail.com)
Thanks and have a nice day officer.
=)
Hey!
It deleted my “Commonality is not a crime, officer. Well not yet & you should know…” sentence.
That is so irritating.
It had some good police related punnary in it too.
(Which I addressed & now makes no sense.)
I may have also said that ignorance is a sentence in itself.
Be damned if I can remember.
I do know that I used the word cognizant.
Oh well.
=P
FSHO
Do you talk to yourself in real life too, Arol?
Actually, yes. Yes I do.
I’m the only one who understands me.
I can get a little complex.
I also get carried away.
Are you willing to offer some kind of challenge for me?
I could do with one.
fo shizzle me nizzle Arol
Haha, i wish i could speak aswell as V, i believe he’s the same actor as plays Agent Smith in the Matrix, and Elrond in The Lord of the Rings. Easy to see why he wears a mask then haha
Unfortunatley i do believe i lack the finer tunes of speech and vocabulary. I used to be alright, but of since University commenced for me, my ‘in mind’ dictionary seems to have dwindled, and i don’t have as much eloquence and elegance in words as i used to
T_Ledge:
“my ‘in mind’ dictionary”
Try “vocabulary”. It sounds better, and also begins with a ‘V’
This is one of the most amazingly well written paragraphs ever to grace this earth. I can’t imagine how long it took to write it. If you think about it this speech is better put together than any other speech you have likely heard.
It amazes me so much every time I read it.
Here is another translation:
Look! Standing before you, a humble, experienced stage performer, shown in abscence as both a victim and a villain by the circumstance in which you see me. This appearance, no simple ornament of vanity, is a shadow of the people’s voices, now empty, gone, as the once vital voice of truth will now respect what they once fought against. However, this proud visit of a voice from the past stands renewed, and has vowed to destroy these corrupt and infectious vermin who guard the evil and condone the violent and the violation of choice. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a vow, not without purpose, because the value and truthfulness of it shall one day vindicate the right and just. Yes, this overabundance of words turns most wordy face-to-face an introduction, and so it is my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V.
~My Attempt at Translating,or rather Summarisingthe V Speech.
~Look at me! A lowly, experienced stage performer, cast as both a victim and a villain by circumstances beyond his control (Which of the two is more determined by the light in which you see me.)
This strange face is no ornament, nor a declaration of conceit or vanity; It is a shadow, a mere whisper of the people’s voices, now lost and silent. The people who now worship what they once fought so hard against.
However, this voice from the past stands anew and has promised to destroy these corrupt, greedy, spineless men who guard the evil, condone the violent, and repeatedly stifle the right to personal choice.
The only right decision is a vow of vengeance that is held not merely in appearance, but as a true war that if pursued to the end one day will free those who stand firm and stay true to virtuous actions even in the event that all is lost.
Well… I’ve gone on far more than was necessary so let me simply say that it is an honor to meet you and you may call me V.~
By the way “Vox Populi” is latin. A rough translation is “the voice of the people” or “Peoples Voice”
The guy at the beginning of the movie is Guy Fawkes and the poem tells us of when Mr. Fawkes failed at his attempt to blow up the parliment building. It was called the Gun Powder Treason. If you google him or wikipedia him you can read about what truly happened.
It is amazing how many people make reference to this movie but miss the most important quote from it.
“People should not fear their government, the government should fear their people”.
Now wouldn’t that be a hell of a thing if it were true.
thats what america tries to be. The problem is that its really the media who the government fear, because the media controls the people.
The movie is one of the most amazing pieces of art, that I have seen this decade.
Everytime I see it I get amazed once again. Hugo Weaving is the perfect person for the character V and this movie is just simply a masterpiece!!!
vox plouli means “voice of the people” in latin. it is not the name of any body. what he is saying is that the people no longer have the right to make their voices heard, because the government is basically now a dictatorship and he does not allow them to speak their minds.
and vichyssoise is a thick French cold onion soup. he is using it as an adjective basically meaning a large amount of words (verbiage)
It’s an awesome movie.Everyone should watch this.The best parts in the movie are V’s speeches and his fighting.But out of all his speeches I like this one best.
Read the book it’s definitely different.
you and i can use our ten dollar words, we can act as pretentious as we would like. If you use your vocabulary to intimidate someone, you better be ready for some sort or counter attack, whether it be verbal or physical.
you can’t make yourself better than someone else with words. and people are much easier to speak to on a more personal level when they can understand you.
ignorance of the law is no excuse. there is my cop quip.
“The building is a simbol, as is the act of destroying it. Symbols are given power by the people. Alone, a symbol is meaningless, but with enought people blowing up a building can change the world”
You all with the smart vocabulary need to go fall into a ditch and die…naw I’m just messing with u…I freakin love this movie and it is my duty to translate the speech for the “illiterate by choice” P.S. I’m pretty sure I spelled that wrong
@ X
Vox Populi is literally translated from Latin as “voice of the public” and I’m quite certain that’s how it’s meant to be used in the speech.
ha ha i have that big speech on my profiles!! i love this speech and that poem just gets stuck in your mind for all of eternity. V is the man i am searching for…why did he have to die!?!?!??!
Thank you for posting this. I memorized it for my drama audition, and blew everyone away with it.
I am just left hypnotised every single time I watch This masterpiece.
“People should not fear their government, the government should fear their people”. Jacks Wasted Life said this on July 2, 2008 at 2:59 am
Well i cant be bothered 2 speak like any of u so..
I agree with Jack but I would really say that one of the better quotes would be “Beneath this mask is more than flesh, it is an idea Mr.Creedy and ideas are bullet-proof.”
Not quite sure if I got that word for word but whatever…
i just wanted to say to arol that etc. is two words in latin, the first being et (and)
love the movie and the history behind it. please see the video I with type on you tube. http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=xaCVhO7F9vQ
Here is the full Guy Fawkes Poem:
Remember, remember, the 5th of November
The Gunpowder Treason and plot ;
I know of no reason why Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes,
‘Twas his intent.
To blow up the King and the Parliament.
Three score barrels of powder below.
Poor old England to overthrow.
By God’s providence he was catch’d,
With a dark lantern and burning match
Holloa boys, Holloa boys, let the bells ring
Holloa boys, Holloa boys, God save the King!
Hip hip Hoorah !
Hip hip Hoorah !
A penny loaf to feed ol’Pope,
A farthing cheese to choke him.
A pint of beer to rinse it down,
A faggot of sticks to burn him.
Burn him in a tub of tar,’
Burn him like a blazing star.
Burn his body from his head,
Then we’ll say: ol’Pope is dead.
Sorry if someone already posted this
Beautiful speech, and so well delivered. Thanks for posting it.
Remember, Remember, the fifth of November
The Gunpowder, Treason and Plot
I know no reason for the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
This sounds right, so it is right. There are two The’s you forgot. I say them silently so listen closely more often. Believe me or not I do not care for I am here to correct error’s, and error’s are what I live to correct. All I know and all I see are the mistakes of our government, so you will now see. Lives are lost, pain is brought. Wars are started and happiness is forgot.
Remember, Remember the fifth of November,
The love, hatred and all of that lot.
The man named V who will all make you see,
That he hopes you should never have forgot.
As I read over my reply and what I said, I saw a mistake in my poem as well. I wrote the “for” when I should have not. So here is the real poem.
Remember, Remember the fifth of November,
The Gunpowder, Treason and plot.
I know no reason that the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
My love, your love
The love of everyone.
Shall not be realized for
we are all done.
The Earth will shatter
and so will our hopes
we will kill our hapiness
and begin to mope.
Love is not strong
Hope is hardly there
All that is left
Is the governments Evil Stare
It needs a new leader.
One for the little people
One that lived our problems
And one that knows our pain
One who loves us all
The one who offers change.
V, I don’t know where you got this “real poem.” It was right the way You May Call Me… put it.
It’s hard to take any corrections seriously when you’re fixing “error’s” instead of errors.
Ah yes, you see I added that on myself. Yet it seems no one likes the additions I have made. So I can assume everyone does not accept my poem. Do what thou must, and I shall not stop you.
That’s Phenomenal, hope you don’t mind if I borrow it. Kudos
its was the best movie i have ever seen. the script is amzing and the effect and the way v plays his role is amazing.
[...] and http://storyspeaker.wordpress.com/2007/06/04/v-for-vendetta-v%E2%80%99s-introductory-speech-and-reme... [...]
redge's status on Saturday, 30-May-09 17:35:56 UTC - Identi.ca said this on May 30, 2009 at 5:35 pm |
Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
The Gunpowder Treason and Plot,
I know of no reason
Why the Gunpowder Treason
Should ever be forgot.
Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, t’was his intent
To blow up the King and Parli’ment.
Three-score barrels of powder below
To prove old England’s overthrow;
By God’s providence he was catch’d
With a dark lantern and burning match.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, let the bells ring.
Holloa boys, holloa boys, God save the King!
Arol you and the pig fail but v for vendetta wins. My IQ is 145, but I don’t talk down to people. Grow up! Well technically I do but that is cause I’m tall (literal translation of “talking down to people”) so you have nothing to complain about.
Have a nice day!
you arent that smart either. Rule one treat other people with respect if you want to be!!
I….don’t know about all your poems, though I do like them, and I write poetry of my own but I’ve never attempted to alter this one though it is a personal favorite of mine, because I’m, personally, not entirely sure I remember what it was, exactly. But, I do know that that speech and scene was my favorite in the movie, and, actually, given all the movies I can ever remember seeing, my favorite all-time scene from Any film, really.
(by the way Arol, I love the way you talk, that is so much better than anyone I know, who abbreviate everything, and can’t pronounce the word Vendetta to save their ass)
(actually, they probably cannot say V either)
And…by the way, all of you. Arguing on a website about something as dumb as you are is just a waste of time. Think of something better to do, or say, or think, maybe? Please? For your own dignity and pride, if you even Have any?
There. I ranted a little, too.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA wowww, these comments are friggin hilarious…
This speech is so gorgeous. I used it as a graded college piece, and got the highest marks in the class. Its so beautifully written and Hugo delivered it so well, thank you for posting it. =)
(to the above): You have a somewhat unorthadox sense of humour.
Arol,
Thou art inept and inane in your insolence. An ignominious ignoramus, indubitably indulging in the inglorious inducement of idolatry in the indigent, inferior, and ignorant ignoble.
I have this movie on my PC and I’ve listened over and over to the above speech. I’m of the unshakable view that ‘vivified’
viv·i·fy \’vi-və-”fī\ vt, -fied -fy·ing [ME vivifien to nourish, fr. AF vivifier to give life to, fr. LL vivificare, fr. L vivificus enlivening, fr. vivus alive — more at quick] (14c)
1 : to endow with life or renewed life : animate ‹rains that ~ the barren hills›
2 : to impart vitality or vividness to ‹concentrating this union of quality and meaning in a way which vivifies both —John Dewey› quicken
— viv·i·fi·ca·tion \”vi-və-fə-’kā-shən\ n
— viv·i·fi·er \’vi-və-”fī(-ə)r\ n
is actually ‘vilified’
vil·i·fy \’vi-lə-”fī\ vt, -fied -fy·ing [ME vilifien, fr. LL vilificare, fr. L vilis cheap, vile] (15c)
1 : to lower in estimation or importance
2 : to utter slanderous and abusive statements against : defame malign
— vil·i·fi·er \-”fī(-ə)r\ n
Quite a difference I think!
actually in the “remember” poem, it’s really
Remember remember the fifth of November
“The Gunpowder Treason & Plot.”
I know of no reason “The Gunpowder Treason”
Should ever be forgot…
the event in which Guy Fawkes tried to blow up the Parliament Building was literally called “The Gunpowder Treason & Plot.” so when V tells the poem, he’s saying there’s no reason the event (named “The Gunpowder Treason & Plot”) should be forgotten.
ahhh arol, i cry for you truly, I consider myself to be an eloquant and able minded person, but i’d rather have 1 hug from one of my ‘ignorant’ friends, than 1000 of your high brow words. Indeed, it is no suprise to find you trawling for friends online… put it this way, if you were really as intelligent as you would have us believe, that would be reflected in your lifes decisions, and you would have been able to position yourself in the real world, with an education, professional and social network to suit your demands. Alas, (i feel) you hide behind the illusion of intelligence, and thus you require an online relationship so that you can control the flow of information, and thus the visage (sorry had to throw a v word in this rant haha) you have constructed of yourself.
Eloquance is not the making of a man, it is the intention behind our words on which we are judged by our peers and superiors.
That said, V is an awesome character, and this speech was excellent in both its timing and delivery. On the all time greats list for sure, and thank you to the poster for posting here for all those who don’t have time to pause rewind etc for ourselves
It is i see no reason….
I know of no reason is wrong… through out the years people have changed the poem into what they think is correct.
But the real one is i see no reason
Plz consider my opinion to change it..
=)
Dauntless… I cannot see how you can come here, claiming to be “an eloquant and able minded person”, critisising others, when your comments are riddled with spelling and grammatical errors. Perhaps you should concentrate on your own shortcomings before bringing undue attention to those of other people’s.
remember, remember the 5th of november…it’s today
Remember, remember the 5th of November… It’s not too late!
Sorry, but I really love Evey’s reply.
“Are you like a crazy person?” She is unflustered and simply repsonds. I think it is brilliant.
The speech is amazing and I love it but Evey’s response is priceless.
And it is vivified (returned to life).