I was thinking about how important and symbolic V’s title is within the book. But that’s honestly been analyzed to death. However, Evey’s name is also really interesting, in its spelling, phonetics, and biblical connections.

First, E is the fifth letter of the alphabet from the beginning, just as V is the 5th letter from the end and the Roman numeral for 5. (This number, 5, and its corresponding letter V, have their own set of symbolic meanings, from anarchy to transformation, but that is neither here nor now.) The two characters are very similar, sharing common oppressions, and later, experiences and ideologies. Evey’s name is, phonetically, just made of those two letters: E and V. This foreshadows Evey’s eventual taking up of V’s mask and, to a certain extent, his persona. His personality very much dominates her development and growth, in his training of her.

These two letters also seem to shadow alpha/omega dynamics: V (alpha) is a beginning, of new thought, of new ideas, and of revolution, and Evey (omega) is the end: she provides the final say and ending blow of the revolution. Or vice versa: Evey (alpha) is the younger of the two, and the new hope, while V (omega) and his death represent the end of an era of tyranny.

There’s also a connection to the biblical Adam and Eve within V for Vendetta. Evey seems to be the first female character to escape the prison of her dystopian society, and therefore representative of Eve, the first woman (and first person) to experience true knowledge. Her Adam might be V, as he is very much her counterpart and supporter, as Adam and Eve were companions. When Evey takes up his mask, they become equals.

Her Adam might also be Adam James Susan, who shares the symbolic name. Susan is the founder and leader of The Party, the controlling force in England. As Evey is the final leader of the revolution, this sets them at odds with each other. Evey strives for knowledge, while Adam struggles against it. As he says: “The freedom to die, the freedom to live in a world of chaos. Should I allow them that freedom? I think not. I think not.” In this way, Adam Susan is likened to the biblical Adam and his resistance to knowledge.

And just as Eve is caught up in a larger battle between God and Satan, Evey is caught up in a larger battle between good and evil, knowledge and ignorance, and freedom and control. She is the real pivot point of both stories, the place where the reader can relate. V says himself that he is an idea, rather than a person. But Evey is human, only transcending this at the end, when she ceases to be Evey, but rather, V.

But her time as Evey is obviously very important, as it defines her character and role in the narrative, both of which are foreshadowed in the meaning behind her name.