This quote from Alan Moore's V for Vendetta is a profound reflection on perception, freedom, and the nature of imprisonment. It challenges the idea of external constraints being the sole factors that imprison individuals, instead highlighting the psychological and self-imposed chains that limit one’s potential and freedom. The speaker here is addressing Evey, suggesting that her sense of imprisonment was not directly caused by someone else but was a realization of the confines she had accepted or ignored until now. By "showing the bars," the speaker acts as a catalyst for Evey's awakening, encouraging her to confront the boundaries—mental, social, or political—that bind her, rather than perpetuating ignorance or complacency.

This quote resonates on multiple levels. It raises the question of the nature of freedom: is true freedom merely a physical state, or does it require a mental liberation from fear, conformity, or misinformation? It also touches on empowerment through awareness; knowledge of one's limitations can be the first step toward breaking free from them. Yet this awareness can be painful, confronting one with uncomfortable truths about one’s conditions and surroundings. The quote suggests that awakening is necessary, even if it is unsettling.

Moreover, it critiques the complicity of self-censorship and passive acceptance of control, implying that until such bars—the systemic or psychological restrictions—are identified, one cannot truly fight or escape them. It is a call to self-reflection and courage, implying that while external oppressors or circumstances can exist, individuals may unknowingly imprison themselves through their own minds or acceptance. This deeply philosophical statement underscores the themes of resistance and liberation central to V for Vendetta.