Essay Comparing The Dark Knight And Watchmen

In both Allan Moore’s “Watchmen” and the movie “The Dark Knight,” thoughtful message about heroes were revealed. “Watchmen” by Allan Moore have demonstrated some heroic qualities of three main characters, Dr. Manhattan, Adrian, and Rorshach through visualization. Yet, some significant exemplary of true hero were lacking comparing to Batman in “The Dark Knight,” who actually pursue for justice and care about Gotham City.

A true hero must be responsible for his power and sacrificial for others. Batman always wanders around the city and appears at any place where his help is desperate. He also spends millions of dollars and valuable spare time at night to create and develop weapons and suits to enhance and practically use for his power to save and make Gotham, a better city. His effort for following heroic trait contrasts Dr. Manhattan’s apathy toward humanity, the Earth. His apathy toward humans was firstly implied when he didn’t stop the Comedian from shooting a pregnant woman even though he could effortlessly disintegrate the gun. His ignorance is, furthermore, revealed when he came back to Earth with Laurie and saw millions of deaths in the last chapter. Although Laurie is in total despair and can’t easily get out from the shock, Dr. Manhattan seems to be not even surprised. His attention is wholly occupied by the particles that had distracted

him seeing the future. Dr. Manhattan is believed to be the most powerful and undefeatable being in the story. He is so supreme he can manipulate anything made out of atoms and even create matters. Therefore, it is doubtless that he could easily end the worldwide conflict if he tried. Nevertheless, he leaves the Earth and his absence allows Adrian’s horrifying scheme to be carried out resulting millions of deaths. Such irresponsible action proves that having an almighty power does not make one a hero.
Being a hero is not about having a special power it is about having a pure motivation that leads them to justice. In the horrific calamitous happened in the middle of New York City, there is a behind mastermind, Adrian. Adrian is a character who is overwhelmed with self-esteem and shows narcissism as he adorns himself with purple and gold clothing. To save the world from the nuclear war, his plan indifferently slaughters millions of innocent lives. He is so stubborn that he must accomplish what he believes to be right and through such process he does not care about others. Therefore, after successfully complete his plan, he yells in delight, “I did it!” Nevertheless, it was not really normal justice that others pursue; Adrian’s motivation was to genuinely satisfy him. By the contrast, Batman struggles every day to bring peace and order into the “Dark” city packed with terrorism and corruption. He says the city needs a real hero like Harvey not him who is always behind the mask so he pursues to perish the evil and strives to establish justice. Through his motivation and respectable behaviours, an excellent image of a hero can be shaped.
Lastly, Batman shows what a real hero is like because he doesn’t sidestep from anything that is for the righteousness.

He directly faces the challenging path for justice. At the end of the movie, Batman chooses to giving up all of his prominent reputation and be remembered as a villain. As a result of his heroic commitment, a little hope of peace could be budded in the city. Rorshach in similar, he always pursues for justice and struggle to punish the evil. However, he consequently fails and ends up miserably dispersed by Dr. Manhattan. Unlike Batman, Rorshach could not influence the world and was overpowered by his

enemy.
After reading and watching both literature, it gives a question of what is a hero and how can you be a hero? Batman genuinely offers a solution. His devotion, sacrifice and power as shown above have successfully perished vicious Joker and brought peace into Gotham City.