“I didn’t want to tell people what to think, I just wanted to tell people to think.”
That distinctive beard and moustache have endured for over 400 years – the style has become politically iconic, a symbol of opposition to the establishment. It’s interesting that an opponent to the state, essentially an anarchist who tried to overthrow a monarch, has become such an embedded character in our culture, perhaps even celebrated and held up to be the voice of the people. The author Alan Moore used Guido Fawkes in part for the inspiration of the character ‘V’ in his early 1980s comic – another time of political upheaval. Whilst the bonfires rage and the sparks fly this evening in celebration of anarchy, Moore’s quote from the time of writing ‘V’ perfectly encapsulates the importance of scrutiny and constructive opposition, “I didn’t want to tell people what to think, I just wanted to tell people to think”.
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 and his companions
Did the scheme contrive,
To blow the King and Parliament
All up alive.
Threescore barrels, laid below,
To prove old England’s overthrow.
But, by God’s providence, him they catch,
With a dark lantern, lighting a match!
A stick and a stake
For King James’s sake!
If you won’t give me one,
I’ll take two,
The better for me,
And the worse for you.
A rope, a rope, to hang the Pope,
A penn’orth of cheese to choke him,
A pint of beer to wash it down,
And a jolly good fire to burn him.
Holloa, boys! holloa, boys! make the bells ring!
Holloa, boys! holloa boys! God save the King!
Hip, hip, hooor-r-r-ray!
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