Summary:
The question we are presented with in Watchmen is “Is Ozymandias a villain?” He creates world peace by the destruction of half of New York City. We are often muddled by decisions in ethics but Rorschach knows where he stands on this matter. He sees only in black and white but because most moral decisions of great importance are grey area, this becomes a conflict. Nevertheless, he records the happenings throught the story and sends it to the newspaper hoping the world may learn the truth. However, if the journal gets out, the world may retract back to its former state while if it doesn’t, it will be as if Rorshach died for nothing. We must once again ask the question, “Will this last?”
One of the themes we see in Watchmen is the thought of who's watching the Wathmen? The message being it is not good to give too much power to one person. This is a satirical reference to Ronald Regan and the political scene at the time. Ronald Regan is referenced when we see that the newspapers editor’s initials are also RR and Rorschach signs his name with two “R”s and when the editor comments how he doesn’t want a cowboy actor as their president.
The role of women in this novel is that they are abused, sexual objects, and prostitutes though often not by choice. Perverse sexuality is seen throughout the book whether it be through gay relations or rape.
Some of the reoccurring images that we see are the smiley face (the crater, the comedian’s pin, etc), Hollis’ pumpkin, and the electro hydrant (which is almost a smiley face itself). Rorschach doesn’t think that there are patterns in life but here they are. We are the ones who create meaning for them.
Word Count: 297
Passages:
Chapter 2, page 7 (last middle panel)
This page and the previous lays out Sally's rape scene. The Comedian attacks her after the meeting and rape her. Hooded Justice, her cover, notices that she has been missing for awhile, only to find the Comedian raping her. The Hooded Justice beats him up and when he finished, the Comedian says, "This is what you like, huh?/ This is what gets you hot?" Hooded Justice is actually secretly gay which is seen to a majority of the population as a perverse sexuality. However, the Comedian says this after he rapes Sally which is also seen as a perverse sexuality. They parallel each other in a sense here although the Comedian's is viewed as much worse and he is progressively seen doing morally wrong continuously whereas Hooded Justice is not seen as doing anything morally wrong because no one even knows that he is gay. This really shows how the world is so messed up and so far from being as it should.
Chapter 12, page 25 (first panel and bottom panel)
In the first panel we see Dr. Manhattan once again demonstrating his absolute power (like God) by walking through a wall. Also, in the bottom panel we see Dr. Manhattan defying physics once again as he walks away from the sight of Dan and Laurie naked, by walking on water (another parallel that can be drawn to God). He has the power to end the world.
Chapter 11, page 28 (middle panels)
Here we see the newspaper salesman trying to shield the younger boy from the explosion set off by Ozymandias, even though throughout the text we are shown the two being quite standoffish. In the last pages of chapter 11 we see regular people (not "superheroes") trying to help/save each other; here is an example of real human love.
Suggestions:
Ch10 p6. when Rorschach softens- when he goes back to get his extra clothes and sees the land lady
Terms:
Hubris - Greek term meaning overweening pride that Adrian (Ozymandias) exemplifies when he executes his plan for world peace.
Galle Crater - smiley face shaped crater located on Mars