“Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?” or “Who guards the guards themselves?” is the central conflict of the 12 issue graphic novel Watchmen, written by Alan Moore, illustrated by Dave Gibbons, and colored by John Higgins. While the modern scope of this quote (originating from the Roman poet Juvenal) has been greatly inflated from its original more domestic context, it still poses an interesting quandary about the role and implications of authority (Satire IV). A peripheral glance at Watchmen shows an intricate criticism of the comic book/superhero genre specifically focusing on the concept of unregulated vigilantism, by utilizing a grandeur cast of larger than life characters, each with a strict adherence to a personal moral code, and then by subverting …show more content…
Specifically, the characters of Rorschach, The Comedian, Dr. Manhattan, and Ozymandias will be compared to different identities of this political era. The research will illustrate the causes and effects of strong ideological ties, as they are criticized in the novel. Furthermore, this paper will attempt to look at Mccarthyism, and the transition to new Conservatism, Containment and the inflation of American Ego, and the various political and social counters to these causes as the novel depicts them. The end result will create a nuanced understanding of the philosophical conflictions of the country during the Cold War, and both its foreign and domestic effects on the …show more content…
That was, until the introduction of a real “super” hero, promoting the world to declare, “the superman exists, and He’s American!” and subsequently pass the Keene Act outlawing all costumed crime fighting not sanctioned by the U.S. (Watchmen, get page number). Yet, after the murder of the Comedian, an ex costumed crime fighter, and hired hand for the government, a series of events slowly unveil a conspiracy concerning the safety of the entire human race. The narrative follows a cast of “heroes” reacting to this event, spending particular time on Rorschach, the deontological nihilist who obsesses over solving the Comedian’s death, Ozymandias the Rawlsian Utilitarian who wishes to bring society out of the cold war into a new age, the existentialist and now deceased, Comedian who acted mainly as the puppet to the american government, and Dr. Manhattan, the most powerful being in the universe whose only flaw is an entire lack of empathy. While each character is an unique critique of the medium’s cliches, each one also represents a unique aspect of American Cold War Political Dogma. Rorschach is a manifestation of the unchecked paranoia of Mccarthyism, Ozymandias represents the liberal opposition during the Cold War, the Comedian represents unchecked American egoism, and Dr. Manhattan represents nuclear
At birth, Horowitz became a “red diaper baby” by virtue of his parents being members of the communist party. As Horowitz grew up, he attended the communist’s school and communist’s summer camp. Horowitz grew up in an environment surrounded by communist`s. The book covers Amer...
Before the “Red Scare”, the United States was a huge world power and was thriving in every facet possible. Its people could do as they pleased for the most part, and did not have to fear persecution for their beliefs or associations. The entertainment was reaching its prime with celebrities creating the greatest films and writings the country had ever seen (Pearson). This all changed in 1947, when President Harry Truman upset the waters. Earlier in the year, Truman ordered background checks of all the civilians in service. The results that this investigation found was unnerving. Alger Hiss, a high-ranking State Department official, was revealed as a Soviet spy. He was then convicted on espionage charges and served three years in prison. ...
There were many accounts of what happened in Prineville on that fateful day in 1882, in Reign of the vigilantes, William Thompson told a very different account of the events of vigilantism that occurred on March 15, 1882 Thompson bent the truth to protect himself.
Evans, M. Stanton. “Mccarthyism: Waging The Cold War In America.” Human Events 53.21 (1997): S1. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 24 Jan. 2014.
Within this controversial topic, two authors provide their sides of the story to whom is to blame and/or responsible for the “Cold War.” Authors Arnold A. Offner and John Lewis Gaddis duck it out in this controversial situation as each individual lead the readers to believe a certain aspect by divulging certain persuading information. However, although both sides have given historical data as substance for their claim, it is nothing more than a single sided personal perception of that particular piece of information; thus, leaving much room for interpretations by the reader/s. Finding the ...
In the third decade of the Cold War, less than two years after the United States population had been scared half-way to death by the Cuban Missile Crisis, Dr. Strangelove invaded the nation's movie theatres and showed the country the end of the world. Touted by critics then and now as the film of the decade, Dr. Strangelove savagely mocked the President, the entire military defense establishment, and the rhetoric of the Cold War. To a nation that was living through the stress of the nuclear arms race and had faced the real prospect of nuclear war, the satiric treatment of the nation's leaders was an orgasmic release from deep fears and tensions. Its detractors argued that the film was juvenile, offensive, and inaccurate. Viewed, however, in its context of the Cold War and nuclear proliferation, Dr....
On June 19, 1953, there came an end to what would become known as “the trial of the century”. Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted for being Soviet spies and leaking crucial information about the creation of atomic weapons to the Soviet Union. They were sentenced to death and executed by use of the electric chair, leaving behind two orphaned children. However, they have never admitted to committing this crime and their involvement in the leaking of the so-called Manhattan Project was never thoroughly proved. Their execution came to be known as one of the main events characteristic of the Cold War environment in the United States of the 1950s, which was influenced by the phenomenon of McCarthyism. This essay will examine the Rosenberg Case up close. It will first look at the course of their trial. Then it will take a step back and describe the Cold War environment in which the trial took place, which was being dominated by anti-communist sentiment, the Red Scare and Joseph McCarthy. In combining these two sections, this essay will seek to explain how the Rosenberg Case neglected American values of freedom and tolerance, and how this neatly fitted the environment of the Cold War.
Watchmen takes place during one of our country’s most recent politically intense era’s. The fear of government corruption along with the fear of the Soviet Union and nuclear warfare was very much a real thing. Alan Moore uses political symbols, real and fictional, to represent this rough time and create a realistic setting to an otherwise fictional plot of superheroes. By incorporating mature messages and illustrations it does not only appeal to young adults looking to be entertained by a picture book. It allows Watchmen to stand alone in the category of graphic novels and be looked at as an icon of its time.
"The Red Scare: McCarthyism." Essortment Articles: Free Online Articles on Health, Science, Education & More... Web. 29 Dec. 2011. .
In the face of increasing anti-Semitism during the interwar periods Jewish identity often came into conflict with societal pressures to assimilate. Irving Howe’s, A Memoir of the Thirties, written in 1961, depicts his experiences as a Jew in New York City. In his memoir Howe describes the living and social conditions during this decade that pushed many New York Jews to become involved in some type of socialist movement. Although the memoir is primarily about political activities, his description of the social conditions and the Jewish community provides ...
Beginning in the early 1950s, Senator Joseph McCarthy released a monumental rampage across the United States. For fear of governmental infiltration by Communists, an outbreak of accusations swept the nation as a result of the Wisconsin senator, and helped create what is known as the second Red Scare (“McCarthyism”)
Alan Moore’s “Watchmen” focuses on several characters throughout the novel making the idea of a main character moot. However, one character can be described as the most influential to the plot of the graphic novel. Rorschach can be seen as such due to the fact that he narrates a large portion of the novel, and his heroic code that he follows. Not only does he influence the plot by those two reasons, but also by uniting the characters after a long silence. The Comedian is the only character that almost perfectly fits as the character with the most influence on the plot of “Watchmen.” The death of his character allows for the plot to be set in motion. He has not only has he shaped every other character in the novel, but the symbol that represents his character can be found throughout the graphic novel. Although Rorschach can be interpreted as the most influential character of “Watchmen,” The Comedian influenced more aspects of the plot than any other character of the graphic novel.
Collectively, the characters of Watchmen parallel the tumultuous relationship that as a superpower the United States of America has with the rest of the world. Edward Blake, aptly named The Comedian, viewed twentieth century life through a darkly tinted humorous lens. He viewed life as an absurd and meaningless notion, where all actions were ultimately driven by an innately selfish nature. Through his experiences in war, he becomes a “ruthless, cynical and nihilistic” man who is “capable of deeper insights than the others” in the room (Reynolds, 106). The Comedian derives his power from a complete and utter disregard for humanity.
Known as Edward Blake, "The Comedian” character cannot be ignored in the novel “Watchmen.” Very little information is given regarding the Comedian earlier years but rather it highlights that he worked to fight crime. Some conversations capture his burned out as well as destructive perspective. Blake was born in 1924, and he was a teenager the time he joined the Minutemen to play as "The Comedian." Within shortest time, his status in the group fell, especially after he tried to rape one of the other characters (Sally Jupiter). Even with his silly actions, Sally forgave him.
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.