Who chooses our heroes? Who watches our heroes? Who watches the Watchmen? Over
the course of history, many public figures have been scrutinized for heroic actions that some
have deemed controversial. Charles Darwin dismantled theories of Creationism with his
discoveries in evolutionary biology. President Harry Truman single-handedly ended World War
II by authorizing the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, killing thousands upon
thousands of civilians. Gangster John Dillinger stole from banks all across the U.S. Midwest in
the midst of the Great Depression and was heralded by some as a modern-day Robin Hood. All
of these figures share a common characteristic concerning their heroic lore: the controversy
surrounding the decisions they have made continues to resonate throughout society.
We find the same debate about controversial heroes in our literature as well. Probably the
most well-known example of this in the graphic novel genre exists in Alan Moore’s Watchmen.
While the story follows the perspectives of several vigilantes, the most interesting of the group
may be Walter Kovacs, or Rorschach. A man with a mysterious ink-blot mask and even more
mysterious persona, he represents due justice in its purest form and will go to any length to make
sure that it is carried out. He must ignore the corrupt authority that exists in the world of
Watchmen and the criticism that he receives from the public to do what he knows is right.
Rorschach’s heroism stems from his immunity from public corruption and opinion. He sees
criminals escape justice, whether it is because of a cold case or botched police work, and hunts
them down himself. Rorschach does not disregard the law, but works above i...
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people in our society. Lastly, a hero will do the unpopular task in order to make sure good
prevails. They risk the opinion of the public eye in order to preserve righteousness. Rorschach is
not a superhuman with powers the common man is incapable of. He is an individual who had an
epiphany and saw something wrong with the world. Rorschach did not simply go out and spread
the ideas he thought encapsulated “good”; he, instead, went out and made a change in the world
armed only with his journal. Anyone can be heroic and all it takes is an idea and a will to fight.
Works Cited
Dietrich, B.D. “The human stain: chaos and the rage for order in Watchmen”. Extrapolation 50.1
(2009): 120-144. Print.
The Code of Hammurabi. Trans. L.W. King. Holy Ebooks. Web. October 14, 2009.
Moore, Alan. Watchmen. New York: DC Comics, 1986. Print.
Power will dependably demand that they are correct, individuals in positions of force never concede that they are in the wrong. They don't care for their followers to witness their own short comings. In the event that they do, they could have contemplations
Who is a hero? In contemporary times, usage of the term has become somewhat of a cliché. Over the years, the term “hero” has become representative of a wide variety of individuals, each possessing differing traits. Some of the answers put forth by my colleagues (during our in-class discussion on heroism) as to whom they consider heroes pointed to celebrities, athletes, teachers and family members. Although the occupations differed, each of their heroes bore qualities that my classmates perceived as extraordinary, whether morally or physically. Nonetheless, Webster’s defines “hero” as “a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities.” Thus, it is worth considering that individuals become heroes relative to the situation with which they’re faced.
In Alan Moore's The Watchmen, Moore presents the reader with two drastically different characters who have one strikingly similar trait. Ozymandias is a handsome, rich, public, and powerful man. Rorschach is an ugly, poor, private, and almost worthless man. Despite all of these contrasts, they share a common philosophy: they believe that the ends justify the means. This is a major theme of the story, and through it Moore causes the reader the ask themselves the question - do the ends justify the means?
It is understandable to think that Rorschach is the most influential character in Watchmen, however it is clearly The Comedian due to his incredible influence of all the characters and the fact that his death sets the main plot in motion. Though his heroic code is not as strong and stable as Rorschach’s, The Comedian understands the world perfectly, but “he doesn’t care” (Moore, 4.19). Both of these characters saw the “true face” of this reality, one just fought against it while the other became a parody of it.
is known for his tales of the mysterious and macabre. He is reported to be the
Watchmen is not just a graphic novel, but also a unique representation of American idealism as expressed through character image. Although the characters are portrayed as "superheroes," each is psychologically complex in that they become symbols for the flaws of American culture. Together, the characters of Watchmen reflect an unflattering image of American identity. We sacrifice morals to defend principles, rather than saving people. We sacrifice ourselves for commercial gain and for the fame that comes from the worship of strangers.
Schmalleger, F. (2011). Criminal justice today: An introductory text for the 21st century. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson Prentice Hall.
ideas of individuality into their works allowing the readers to think for themselves. In a
Garrett, Brandon. Convicting the Innocent: Where Criminal Prosecutions Go Wrong. Cambridge, MA: Harvard UP, 2011. 86. Print.
Through the character Rorshach, The Watchmen explores the issues of nature verses nurture for him. Moore adds that a super hero, can be a psychological argument. A super hero is neither born nor shaped by environment, it is the creation of an alter ego to suppress childhood conflicting inner issues. Rorshach dealt with issues as a young child that rationalized in his mind to hide behind a costume and a mask in order to live.
Pollock, J. M. (2012). Crime & justice in America: An introduction to criminal justice (2nd ed.). Waltham, MA, USA: Anderson Publishing (Elsevier).
Conscious efforts to critique existing approaches to questions of crime and justice, demystify concepts and issues that are laden with political and ideological baggage, situate debates about crime control within a socio-historical context, and facilitate the imagination and exploration of alternative ways of thinking and acting in relation to crime and justice. (p. 3).
Shelden, R.G., Brown, W.B., Miller, K.S., & Fritzler, R.B. (2008). Crime and criminal justice in american society. Long Grove, Illinosis: Waveland Press, INC.
In their graphic novel Watchmen, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons establish their story during the Cold War period, when a group of superheroes tackle the task to save humanity from a potential World War III caused by tensions among governmental powers. Managed by the intelligence of Adrian Veidt, the worst was avoided after the attack of alien forces causes the death of millions of New Yorkers that leads to a temporary world peace. The representations of the Watchmen superheroes of Moore and Gibbons, particularly Rorschach, display the concept of heroism being a part of the real world, among the regular public of our society.
In the novel Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, interprets the achievement of order and law through the use of power and violence by superheroes. This novel consists a total of seven different characters to demonstrate how superheroes obtain peace in society through the use of violence. The writer portrays the plot in different characters’ perspectives by guiding readers in their point of view. This motivation also assists readers to examine the loneliness and the feeling of isolation during Dr. Jonathan Osterman, Walter Joseph Kovacs and Laurie Juspeczky’s life experiences.