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Samantha Orihuela
Professor Hymes
English 114B
26 February 2014
Watching the Hero
Heroes, role models and crime fighters are all respected people that society admires or
favors. In Watchmen written by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons they present a different
perspective of the definition hero. In the novel, these courageous figures have a different outlook
on justice or have differing morals from the average hero. The characters are not optimistic
about the future and are aggressive towards the civilians. Given the time period and societal
threats and events, the audience can understand that heroism against crime is essential. Each
characters identity and morals are questioned during different parts of the novel. This novel
contains many heroes with different personalities, although there is one in particular that differs
from most. In comparison to the other characters Rorschach, is determined to serve justice, is
humble, and has compassion for civilians thus making him the hero of the novel.
Throughout the novel, the audience learns how each characters personality and actions
reflect their opinions or how much they care about society during the 1980s the peak of the Cold
War era. For example, the main heroes each accept or deny that the world they are living in is a
good or bad place. Based on the fact that society only gets worse, the characters only give up on
crime fighting or fight harder to put an end to it. The one that does try reveals he is the true hero
of the novel.
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In the novel, we learn how the other characters motives change after their lives of
heroism. Veidt is one of the heroes from the group whom after he retired, built a successful
business empire based on his crime fighting persona. For example, Veidts higher status infers
that he no longer maintains a connection between the commoners of society. He does not spend
time on the street seeing all the crime like Rorschach. Rather than still remaining a hero, he
profits from the idea of his past crime fighting. In the beginning Veidt was very motivated in
finding a solution to an end of crime; but after Blake (known as The Comedian) burned his
diagram Veidt gave up on saving society and was never the same. Once we learn more about his
post-heroism experience, we learn that he was fascinated in becoming like Alexander of
Macedonia which was his actual desire. The Comedian says, Damn straight it takes a moron to
think theyre small enough for clowns like you guys to handle (Moore and Gibbons 2.10).
During a meeting in which Veidt was demonstrating a diagram, Blake comments by saying that
there is no chance of them vanquishing crime. Nite Owls lack of interest and confidence after
the Keen Act makes him an unmotivated character. In the comic the Keen Act is known as law
that came in to place that banned heroism in the streets. Although he still took interest in doing
good deeds they were only for the purpose of raising his confidence and thrills. Both of these
characters fought crime and did good deeds for the simple purpose that if they didnt do it no one
else would. Though these two characters enjoyed fighting crime, there were some that
consequently became heroes.
Laurie and Dr. Manhattan shared a relationship and had many differences, but they both
had personal interest beyond heroism. Laurie was also a crime fighter but only did it because her
mother forced her to before she retired. Laurie was never considered a true hero because she was
only forced to become a hero in order to please her mother; she always denied the idea of her
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being a hero. Rorschach yells to Laurie, calling her Jupiter, then Laurie spits back her real name.
Thats Juspeczyk. Jupiter was just a name my mother used to call assumed because she didnt
want anyone to know she was Polish (Moore and Gibbons 1. 20). Although she had the energy
and enthusiasm towards crime fighting and caring for humanity, Lauries motives only consisted
of finding love in others and seeking pleasure to satisfy her own needs. This is important because
the standards needed to be hero, are not me when it comes to Lauries character. Dr. Manhattan
is formally as Jon; he was accidently transformed into a super human-being in a lab at his job.
Dr. Manhattans character was always distant from humanity; towards the beginning, his motives
were focusing on love and belonging in his new career. After his change, he only became
interested in building, thinking, and understanding things that were far beyond the other
characters. His heroism is questioned when he watches Blake kill a pregnant Vietnamese
woman. Comedian says to Jon, You dont really give a damn about human beings. Ive watched
you(Moore and Gibbons 2. 15). It seemed as though Jon took pleasure in pleasing others and
being honored by the president but he never really wanted to be hero; he just became one.
Eventually these heroes lost interest in the pleasure of crime fighting and retired to an average
life or pursued what really fascinated them. These motives and interest truly defines why these
characters are not suitable to be the hero of the story.
The theme of heroism being expressed in the novel is sometimes questioned by the
actions of the characters. In Phillips article, What Makes A Hero he briefly list aspects of
heroism and how anyone can be considered a hero. A heroic act is one performed with
recognition of possible risks and costs, be they to ones physical health or personal reputation, in
which the actor is willing to accept anticipated sacrifice(Zimbardo). According to this article,
Veidt does not courageously put himself at risk during any part of the story. Veidts heroism is
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questioned when he pretends to fight off the sniper in front of everyone in his company. These
panels display Adrian heroically shoving his hand down the mouth of the sniper so he can not
talk and even though the police officers were present, Adrian did not acknowledge them. (Moore
and Gibbons 5. 15) This is important because his character is only pretending to be hero.
Although his act was courageous, he approached the killer after his secretary was murdered. He
did this so that people could admire his courageous actions and not suspect him as the murderer
of Blake. Laurie and Dans heroism is questioned when they find out that Veidt killed all of the
masses of people. While they both layed on the floor naked in sorrow instead of doing anything
about it. These characters serve a different purpose in the novel. Daniel Dreiberg and Laurie
Juspeczyk do not know what to do with themselves. Both of these figures bring out the humanity
in others. More generally they represent balanced emotion and reason, caution and
action.(Schofer). Their positions are intended to provide a sort of morality and conscience to the
story. Since these are the only two characters who care about people and society as opposed to
The Comedian. The definition of a hero takes chances and risks their lives for others.
Consequently these characters are more concerned with themselves rather than how they can
stop crime. and distant from the definition of a hero. Unlike Laurie and Daniel, Rorschach
consistently tried to solve the mystery of who murdered The Comedian.
Most of the time Rorschachs character is completely misunderstood by his associates, by
the police, and the people on the streets. Although Rorschachs character was cruel compared to
most of the vigilantes, he never stopped caring about society. He was very passionate about
serving justice to those who deserved it. While the other characters grew out of the idea of
fighting crime, Rorschach felt the need to never give up on others. As a child he grew up in a bad
home with only his mother who was a prostitute. Walter was a good child but was constantly
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teased and tormented by other children, causing him to feel to feel out of place and pessimistic.
Growing up Walter had no support or friends to comfort him growing up. Given the background
of Walter Kovacs childhood, it is only right to understand that he would develop into a
mysterious character who is cruel and determined to find any criminal.Having survived a
disaster or personal trauma makes you three times more likely to be a hero and a volunteer
(Zimbardo). Rorschachs childhood and motives make him a great candidate for the unusual
definition of a hero in this particular graphic novel. For example, when he took pity on the
woman who tried to sell him out to the press reveals that he was also thoughtful when thinking
about how his childhood might have been similar to that of the landlord ladys children. That
point in the story served as a flashback for Rorscharch. If he would of retaliated with that women
it would have only been another bad memory for those children. Instead he ignored her and
related to what those children had gone through. Unlike the other characters, Rorschach spends
his time on the street amongst crime, prostitution, and drugs. Perhaps that is why Rorschach
takes his duty with more responsibility and care, none of the other characters understood his true
motives. After the Keene Act all of the other vigilantes exposed their true identities to the world
except for Kovacs; this shows that he was always against the idea of giving up something he
believed in.
Heroism is never questioned when it comes to Walter Kovacs, in fact he questions the
other characters determination because they all have given up and moved on in their lives while
he continues to fight crime. Even after everyone discovers that Veidt was responsible for the
masses of innocent people dead and that he did it to save others, he still goes back and wants
justice to be served for what Adrian had done. Rorschach says, Evil must be punished. People
must be told. (Moore and Gibbons Chapter 12. 23) Perhaps the death of Rorschachs character
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can represent the idea that after the death of humanity, his services will no longer be need in the
new society that will no longer require heroism. Strangely enough, the characters who retired
from crime fighting get restart their lives on mars or earth with the new society. The last
costumed hero does not get to live in the new society; thus ending the era of costumed heroes,
which indicates the world no longer requires them.
This novel expresses heroism in an unusual way; it displays the characters each with
internal conflicts and selfish motives. While some characters understand that the world is a bad
place, Rorschach believes it is his responsibility to help save humanity and lower crime.
Rorsharchs character proved that he was persistent and determined to serve justice. Most
characters shared this idea with Rorschach, while others out grew a life or crime fighting and
pursued their own interest such as love, confidence, and ultimate intelligence. Some reminisce
over the past nostalgic memories in hope that their names will be remembered again.








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Works Cited
Moore, Alan, and Dave Gibbons. Watchmen. New York: DC Comics, 1987. Print. 16
Feb. 2014
Schofer, Jonathan. "Ethics and Vulnerability in Watchmen." Jonathan Schofer -. N.p.,
2009. Web. 16 Feb. 2014.
Zimbardo, Philip. "Greater Good." What Makes a Hero? N.p., 18 Jan. 2011. Web. 16 Feb. 2014.