Is Guy Fawkes good or bad?

Question

I know V used his mask in the movie. I was wondering if he is actually a good guy or a bad guy in history?

Answer 1

Catholics were treated very badly at the time, they weren't allowed to own weapons or businesses, or worship how they liked. Guy Fawkes and his group wanted to get rid of the Protestant king and his parliament by blowing them up, and in the process try to lead a Catholic rebellion against what they thought was the unjust Protestant regime.

In the eyes of many Catholics they were heroes for trying to get rid of their Protestant oppressors, but for Protestants he was a treacherous regicide, trying to bring anarchy to the country - and the authorities came down very heavily on him.

V for Vendetta over-romanticises the subject. If Fawkes had succeeded he would probably have put exactly the same oppressive regime that was in place during Bloody Mary's reign - exactly the opposite way round. So although he wanted his freedoms, he probably wanted them at the expense of the freedoms of others.

Answer 2

The question offers a very ambiguous answer. Like V said to Evey in the film version, "The building is a symbol, as is the act of destroying it...", or something like that. I believe that Guy Fawkes' intention was to merely make a statement and not to murder any "innocents". For that, I personally do not see him as "bad", but in my mind, those two terms should be part of the same word. Whether anything is "good" or "bad" is determined entirely up to you. For example, say you just found out you have terminal cancer. You can look at it like you're going to die a slow, painful death, or you can look at it like you're going to suffer before the most orgasmic, pleasurable release you've ever felt in life as you are magically whisked away on the ultimate vacation. Hope this answer helps.

Answer 3

In history, he was considered a bad guy. During the reign of James I in England, the country was officially Protestant. Fawkes was one of a group of Catholic extremists who plotted to blow up the King and the houses of Parliament, hoping for a restoration of the Catholic faith in England. He was caught red-handed with the gunpowder he and his cronies had packed into the cellar under the Parliament building.

Answer 4

Well, to many, he would be considered a bad guy...but, seeing how the Government was being ruled back then, Guy Fawkes seemed to be wanting to help British and their Parliament.

So, I, personally, think he was a good guy.

Answer 5

As is usually the case in history (or how it's viewed by the majority) the winner is the hero and loser is the villain. If he had been successful and the Protestants had been defeated he would be seen as a hero. Since he was unsuccessful he is seen as a villan.

Answer 6

Guy Fawkes burned down the British Parliament building, so not a good guy (no pun intended). They still burn him in effigy on the anniversary of it.

Answer 7

the bad guy is his brother Dood Dat Fawkes

Answer 8

Its matter of Opinion. Tried to destroy the parliament during the reigh of James the first and tried lead a catholic invasion upon England.

Answer 9

he was just a man used for his expertise as a soldier.
he may be a catholic hero and a hated idol of the British.
still he was just a man and if he thought truly in his heart that what he was comissioned to do was right then I say he was a good man. even though he was to do an act of violence commanded by others

Answer 10

Attempting to blow up the houses of parliament? Whether or not it was for a good cause, nowadays he would get called a terrorist... so I don't see how he could avoid the 'bad guy' tag.