It was Bonfire Night (Guy Fawkes Night) yesterday. The story of Guy Fawkes and his gunpowder plot must be well-known enough. My first exposure to Guy Fawkes’ story was V for Vendetta movie. Time must have changed a lot so the gunpowder plot or people who attempted to overthrow an establishment are not always seen as villain anymore, or, in this movie at least.
That’s why Bonfire Night/Guy Fawkes always confused me. Guy Fawkes was executed as traitor, yet his name is printed every year on the English calendar. People celebrate with fireworks on this day. So should I see him as a positive or negative character? I did ask an English classmate this question once. But he couldn’t give me a very solid substantial answer.
“Well, we burnt him… hence the bonfire/fireworks…”
“I thought there might be some change in the way people view him, like, at some point in the history?” I pushed a bit.
“Nah, don’t think so.” He said.
But when I look out of my window on the fifth of November, I cannot help but feeling this sparkling and glistening sky is making him immortal, like a protagonist in a classic tragedy.
Nevertheless, the fireworks is lovely. And I was lucky to be able to see it right from my own window.