History UsefulNotes / GuyFawkes

* CoolMask: Masks bearing Fawkes' likeness were given away in early November, for the tradition of Penny for the Guy (the UK equivalent of TrickOrTreat). By the 1980s Guy Fawkes masks had declined due to the growing popularity of AllHallowsEve, but underwent a revival in the 21st century due to protesters commandeering Fawkes' likeness (see below).

-->''Gunpowder, treason, and plot.''
-->''I see no reason why gunpowder treason,''

Because of all that, every Fifth of November, his traitorous act is remembered with fireworks and a bonfire. An effigy of him -- called a guy -- is typically burned in a bonfire, and since the U.K. is by and large a bunch of [[CloseKnitCommunity small towns and communities]] vaguely connected by [[UsefulNotes/BritishRoads terrible roads]], the effigy is often made and thrown on the fire by high school final years or recent leavers. This is a sort-of present from the town and is considered quite an honour. As Creator/AlanMoore noted, English history had a long tradition of secretly admiring and rooting for criminals, and over the decades, Guy Fawkes is often spoken of admiringly as "The last man to enter Parliament with honest intentions" and November 5 celebrations often use the ambiguity of the day's title -- "Guy Fawkes Night" -- to mockingly celebrate and honour him. As such there is a long subversive tradition within England of making Fawkes into a quasi-Myth/RobinHood figure even if the man was plainly a religious terrorist.

Because of all that, every Fifth of November, his traitorous act is remembered with fireworks and a bonfire. An effigy of him -- called a guy -- is typically burned in a bonfire, and since the U.K. is by and large a bunch of [[CloseKnitCommunity small towns and communities]] vaguely connected by [[UsefulNotes/BritishRoads terrible roads]], the effigy is often made and thrown on the fire by high school final years or recent leavers. This is a sort-of present from the town and is considered quite an honour. As Creator/AlanMoore noted, English history had a long tradition of secretly admiring and [[RootingForTheEmpire rooting for criminals]], and over the decades, Guy Fawkes is often spoken of admiringly as "The last man to enter Parliament with honest intentions" and November 5 celebrations often use the ambiguity of the day's title -- "Guy Fawkes Night" -- to mockingly celebrate and honour him. As such there is a long subversive tradition within England of making Fawkes into a quasi-Myth/RobinHood figure even if the man was plainly a religious terrorist.

[[quoteright:296:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/337.jpg]][[caption-width-right:300:[-The famous [[{{pun}} Guy behind the mask]].-]]]

[[quoteright:296:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/337.jpg]]

Guy Fawkes (known as Guido when fighting in Spanish Holland) is remembered as the [[DemolitionsExpert explosives expert]] recruited for the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605, led by Robert Catesby.

* ''Comics/VForVendetta'': V's costume includes a Guy Fawkes mask, EyeObscuringHat and BadassCape. In the film adaptation of Film/VForVendetta, the original Guy is hanged in the prologue set in 1605.

Around that time, Britain was ruled by the newly-installed James I of England and VI of Scotland (don't question the British monarchy), who was a Kirk Presbyterian Christian. That is, the new king was not a Catholic. The last Catholic ruler of England was [[UsefulNotes/MaryTudor Bloody Mary]], who killed people of non-Catholic faiths [[BurnTheWitch and witches]] (there may have been overlap). James I & VI came to England in 1603 and supported the Puritan Christians, who were even ''less'' similar to Catholics than he was. The Puritans ''hated'' Catholicism and saw it as [[AgainstMyReligion excessively indulgent and as tarnishing God's name]]. In 1604, James [[IllegalReligion banned religious petitions]] and made England Puritan, which was decisively an anti-Catholic statement. The Gunpowder Plot was an effective Catholic Revolt, and it occurred primarily out of the real fear of being murdered for their faith.

* The Literature/PastDoctorAdventures novel ''The Plotters'' is set during the time of the Gunpowder Plot, with Fawkes as a significant character.

* The Literature/PastDoctorsAdventures novel ''The Plotters'' is set during the time of the Gunpowder Plot, with Fawkes as a significant character.

The entire government, composed of members of the gentry, was to convene on the Palace of Westminster on the fifth of November for the opening of Parliament. A Lord received an anonymous tip-off to not attend this meeting, and it's clear that this information was passed to King James, who ordered the police of the day to check the building out. After doing some detective work, they asked why the basement had been leased for such a long period by a Catholic. The oddity of this was the length of time, since most people leased such a space for a short-term period for their goods. The police of the day searched the basement and found Fawkes with ridiculous amounts of gunpowder. Enough to obliterate the building, the clock-tower, and a good portion of the [[UsefulNotes/LondonTown Square Mile]]. Fawkes was subsequently {{torture|IsIneffective}}d and [[CruelAndUnusualDeath sentenced to be hanged and afterwards to be drawn and quartered]]. As it so happened, they never got past the hanging, which resulted not in the intended suffering through strangulation prior to further torture but rather in a broken neck. He was then dismembered, and his remains were distributed and exhibited in different corners of England, with his head joining others on Tower Bridge.

Guy Fawkes (known as Guido when fighting in Spanish Holland) is remembered as the DemolitionsExpert recruited for the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605, led by the Catholic gentleman Robert Catesby.

Guy Fawkes (known as Guido when fighting in Spanish Holland) is remembered as the explosives expert recruited for the infamous Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

* ''Comics/VForVendetta'': V's costume includes a Guy Fawkes mask. In the film adaptation of Film/VForVendetta, the original Guy is hanged in the prologue set in 1605.
* ''{{Series/Gunpowder}}'': Guy appears as a KnifeNut MadBomber.

Appearances:

Tropes associated with Guy Fawkes include:

* WellIntentionedExtremist: Thanks to British sympathy, its quite understood that Fawkes just wanted religious freedom BUT definitely radicalised about it during his time spent in Europe. This is more of an AlternativeCharacterInterpretation, because (light humour aside) he was ultimately a religious terrorist and extremist, in his motivations (recreate the world as Catholic) and actions (blow up London). Of course, ''to this day'', only Anglican Protestants can be in the line of succession (and ascend to) the British throne.

* WellIntentionedExtremist: Thanks to British sympathy, its quite understood that Fawkes just wanted religious freedom. Though, ''to this day'', only Anglican Protestants can be in the line of succession (and ascend to) the British throne.

The entire government, composed of members of the gentry, was to convene on the Palace of Westminster on the fifth of November for the opening of Parliament. A Lord received an anonymous tip-off to not attend this meeting, and it's clear that this information was passed to King James, who ordered the police of the day to check the building out. After doing some detective work, they asked why the basement had been leased for such a long period by a Catholic. The oddity of this was the length of time, since most people lease such a space for a short-term period for their goods. The police of the day searched the basement and found Fawkes with ridiculous amounts of gunpowder. Enough to obliterate the building, the clock-tower, and a good portion of the [[UsefulNotes/LondonTown Square Mile]]. Fawkes was subsequently {{torture|IsIneffective}}d and [[CruelAndUnusualDeath sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered]] (by accident they never got past the hanging -- he died of a broken neck instead of the intended suffering through strangulation until being cut down and further tortured before death). His dismembered remains were then distributed and exhibited in different corners of England, with his head joining others on Tower Bridge.

Because of all that, every Fifth of November, his traitorous act is remembered with fireworks and a bonfire. An effigy of him (called a guy) is typically burned in a bonfire, and since the U.K. is by and large a bunch of [[CloseKnitCommunity small towns and communities]] vaguely connected by [[UsefulNotes/BritishRoads terrible roads]], the effigy is often made and thrown on the fire by high school final years or recent leavers (as a sort-of present from the town, and quite an honour). As Creator/AlanMoore noted, English history had a long tradition of secretly admiring and [[RootingForTheEmpire rooting for criminals]], and over the decades, Guy Fawkes is often spoken of admiringly as "The last man to enter Parliament with honest intentions" and November 5 celebrations often used the ambiguity of the day's title (it's called "Guy Fawkes Night") to mockingly celebrate and honor him. As such there was a long subversive tradition within England of making Fawkes into a quasi-Myth/RobinHood figure even if the man was plainly a religious terrorist.

Around that time, Britain was ruled by the newly-installed James I of England and VI of Scotland (don't question the British monarchy), who was a Kirk Presbyterian Christian. That is, the new king was not a Catholic. The last Catholic ruler of England was [[UsefulNotes/MaryTudor Bloody Mary]], who killed people of non-Catholic faiths. James I & VI came to England in 1603 and supported the Puritan Christians, who were even ''less'' similar to Catholics than he was. The Puritans ''hated'' Catholicism and saw it as excessively indulgent and as tarnishing God's name. In 1604, James banned religious petitions and made England Puritan, which was decisively an anti-Catholic statement. The Gunpowder Plot was an effective Catholic Revolt, and it occurred primarily out of the real fear of being murdered for their faith.

Because of all that, every Fifth of November, his traitorous act is remembered with fireworks and a bonfire. An effigy (called a guy) of him is typically burned in a bonfire, and since the U.K. is by and large a bunch of small towns vaguely connected by [[BritishRoads terrible roads]], the effigy is often made and burned by high school final years or recent leavers. As Creator/AlanMoore noted, English history had a long tradition of secretly admiring and rooting [[RootingForTheEmpire for criminals]], and over the decades, Guy Fawkes is often spoken of admiringly as "The last man to enter Parliament with honest intentions" and November 5 celebrations often used the ambiguity of the day's title (it's called "Guy Fawkes Night") to mockingly celebrate and honor him. As such there was a long subversive tradition within England of making Fawkes into a quasi-Myth/RobinHood figure even if the man was plainly a religious terrorist.

* Comics/VForVendetta: V's costume includes a Guy Fawkes mask. In the film adaptation of Film/VForVendetta, the original Guy is hanged in the prologue set in 1605.
* {{Series/Gunpowder}}: Guy appears as a KnifeNut MadBomber.
* Film/CarryOnHenry: Anachronistically, as a Catholic rebel.
* Series/OneHundredGreatestBritons: Ranked 30th.

The entire government, composed of members of the gentry, was to convene on the Palace of Westminster on the fifth of November for the opening of Parliament. A Lord received an anonymous tip-off to not attend this meeting, and it's clear that this information was passed to King James, who ordered the police of the day to check the building out. After doing some detective work, they asked why the basement had been leased for such a long period by a Catholic. The oddity of this was the length of time, since most people lease such a space for a short-term period for their goods. The police of the day searched the basement and found Fawkes with ridiculous amounts of gunpowder. Enough to obliterate the building, the clock-tower, and a good portion of the [[UsefulNotes/LondonTown Square Mile]]. Fawkes was subsequently tortured and sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered (by accident they never got past the hanging -- he died of a broken neck instead of the intended suffering through strangulation until being cut down and further tortured before death). His dismembered remains were then distributed and exhibited in different corners of England, with his head joining others on Tower Bridge.

The gentry, which is to say the entire government, was to convene on the Palace of Westminster on the fifth of November for the opening of Parliament. A Lord received an anonymous tip-off to not attend this meeting, and it's clear that this information was passed to King James, who ordered the police of the day to check the building out. After doing some detective work, they asked why the basement had been leased for such a long period by a Catholic. The oddity of this was the length of time, since most people who lease such a space for a short-term period for their goods. The police of the day searched the basement and found Fawkes with ridiculous amounts of gunpowder. Enough to obliterate the building, the clock-tower, and a good portion of the [[UsefulNotes/LondonTown Square Mile]]. Fawkes was subsequently tortured and sentenced to be hanged or drawn and quartered. His body was then dismembered and distributed and exhibited in different corners of England.

Because of all that, every Fifth of November, his traitorous act is remembered with fireworks and a bonfire. An effigy of him is typically burned in a bonfire, and since the U.K. is by and large a bunch of small towns vaguely connected by terrible roads, the effigy is often made and burned by high school final years or recent leavers. As Creator/AlanMoore noted, English history had a long tradition of secretly admiring and rooting [[RootingForTheEmpire for criminals]], and over the decades, Guy Fawkes is often spoken of admiringly as "The last man to enter Parliament with honest intentions" and November 5 celebrations often used the ambiguity of the day's title (it's called "Guy Fawkes Night") to mockingly celebrate and honor him. As such there was a long subversive tradition within England of making Fawkes into a quasi-Myth/RobinHood figure even if the man was plainly a religious terrorist.

The gentry, which is to say the entire government, was to convene on the Palace of Westminster on the fifth of November for the opening of Parliament. A Lord received an anonymous tip-off to not attend this meeting, and it's clear that this information was passed to King James, who ordered the police of the day to check the building out. After doing some detective work, they asked why the basement had been leased for such a long period by a Catholic. The oddity of this was the length of time, since most people who lease such a space for a short-term period for their goods. The police of the day searched the basement and found Fawkes with ridiculous amounts of gunpowder. Enough to obliterate the building, the clock-tower, and a good portion of the [[UsefulNotes/LondonTown Square Mile]]. Fawkes was subsequently tortured and sentenced to be hanged or drawn and quartered. He hanged.

Because of all that, every Fifth of November, his traitorous act is remembered with fireworks and a bonfire. An effigy of him is typically burned in a bonfire, and since the U.K. is by and large a bunch of small towns vaguely connected by terrible roads, the effigy is often made and burned by high school final years or recent leavers.

Nowadays, his likeness has been commandeered by anarchist protesters who admire his failed attempt to blow up the oppressive U.K. government. He's also jokingly referred to as the last man to enter Parliament with honest intentions -- which were, of course, to blow up the building and murder everyone inside.

* BadassCape
* CoolMask
* EyeObscuringHat

Guy Fawkes (known as Guido when fighting in Spanish Holland) is remembered as the explosives expert recruited for the infamous Gunpowder Plot.

In 1605, Britain was ruled by the newly-installed James I of England and VI of Scotland (don't question the British monarchy), a Kirk Presbyterian christian. This is not a Catholic. The last Catholic ruler had been Bloody Mary, who killed people of other religions. James I & VI came to England in 1603 and supported the Puritan Christians. These are ''definitely'' not Catholics, being that they ''hated'' Catholicism and saw it as excessive indulgence tarnishing God's name. In 1604, James banned religious petitions and made England Puritan. The Gunpowder Plot was an effective Catholic Revolt, because they didn't enjoy being murdered for their faith.

All of the government (because in the 1600s the idea of a designated survivor hadn't emerged), which really means the gentry, were to convene on the Palace of Westminster on the fifth of November for the opening of Parliament. There was an anonymous tip-off to some Lord not to attend, and it's clear that the people were just as suspicious because this was passed to the King (James), who got the police of the day to check out the building. They did some really quick detective work and wondered why a basement had been leased by a Catholic for such a long period[[note]]Usually used for storage, short-term, to keep goods ''near'' the Thames before their boat ships it away[[/note]]. They searched it, found Fawkes with ridiculous amounts of gunpowder -- enough to obliterate the building, the clocktower, and a good portion of the [[UsefulNotes/LondonTown Square Mile]]. He was tortured, and then sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. He tripped on the short drop and died of hanging.

Thus, every November 5th his traitorous act is remembered with fireworks and a bonfire; his effigy is typically burned on the bonfire -- since the UK is in large a bunch of small towns vaguely connected by awful roads, the guy is often made and thrown onto the fire by high school final years or recent leavers.

More recently, his likeness has been commandeered by anarchist protesters who admire his failed attempt to blow up the oppressive UK government. He's also jokingly referred to as the last man to enter Parliament with honest intentions. (Those intentions, of course, were to blow up the building and murder everyone inside.)

Guido Fawkes, also known as Guy, is remembered as the explosives expert recruited by the Gunpowder Plotters Catesby, Percy and Winter. Every November 5, his effigy is burned on a bonfire. More recently, his likeness has been commandeered by anarchist protesters who admire his failed attempt to blow up the oppressive UK government. He's also joking referred to as the last man to enter Parliament with honest intentions. (Those intentions, of course, were to blow up the building and murder everyone inside.)

* EyeObscuringHat

Guido Fawkes, also known as Guy, is remembered as the explosives expert recruited by the Gunpowder Plotters Catesby, Percy and Winter. Every November 5, his effigy is burned on a bonfire. More recently, his likeness has been commandeered by anarchist protesters who admire his failed attempt to blow up the oppressive UK government.

* Series:OneHundredGreatestBritons: Ranked 30th