V for Vendetta

What is the significance of V's mask in V for Vendetta?

In V for Vendetta, the protagonist is wearing a Guy Fawkes mask; the mask, for the most part is generic with no significant facial features other than a smile and mustache and beard. But why did Alan Moore choose a Guy Fawkes mask for the main character?

In order for us readers to relate to V, we must first understand the significance of the Guy Fawkes mask. Guy Fawkes was a man who attempted to destroy the Parliament building in England as a way to strike out against the Protestant church. Now fast forward into the Alternate universe of V for Vendetta. V's mask is his symbol of rebellion against the oppressive totalitarian government. The reasoning for V's mask is so he can conceal his identity.

There is more to the mask however. We readers want to relate to V because we would like to think that we ourselves have the courage and motivation to do what V does. In McCloud's book, he states that our species is a selfish one, plugging away our own likeness into things that really have no meaning. Behind V's mask is a face that we never see; we as readers would like to think that the face behind the mask could be our very own. V's mask is recognizeable mainly by his actions and reading from an outside view, us readers tend to sway with V, no matter how terroristic his acts can be.

But what is the significance of V's hidden identity?

Although we learn little about V, we learn enough to determine that he is a legitimate character in the story. However, he is mysterious to the point where we can see ourselves in V. Would we do what V does? Would we have the strength to do the things he did? Although we see an overview of both sides and see how corrupt the government is; if we were civilians in England in the comic book, who knows what kind of character we would be.