Morales 1

Victoria Morales
English 114B
Professor Jackie
Feb 17, 2015
Watchmen: A Hero Among us
The graphic novel The Watchmen revolves around six superheroes who are reunited by a
murder. The authors, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, challenges the meaning of a true hero is
throughout the novel by each characters actions and choices. Its a rare thing to find some one
who is a true hero because a hero has certain characteristics and expectations that are tough to
live up to. In the end Rorschach only one character that is truly selfless, fearless, as well as
exceeded the expectations placed on him from the other characters and deserves the title of being
a hero.
There are many definitions of what makes someone a hero. However they have common
themes and ideas of the characteristics of a hero. For example Mike Dilbeck from Raproject.org
defines a hero as, someone who transforms their compassion into heroic action by putting their
best selves forward in serving humanity. While in the article The Well-Born Superhero written
by Chris Gavaler states, heroes brought around social good in their corrupt societies. Both
authors say that a hero is dedicated to helping people other then themselves. Another author,
Mike Pemberton, describes some characteristics that a hero will possess, Men of action,
distinguished courage and ability, admires for brave deeds and noble qualities. Heroes are
people that we look up to because of their actions. Courage and nobility are traits we hold high
regards, when we see them in others they make us want to be more like them. The characters in

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this novel may have been masked heroes in the past but to be a true hero, ones heart has to be
committed to that lifestyle.
Although Laurie was a part of the Crime Busters when she was younger and helped save
the tenants from the fire she isnt a hero. Laurie doesnt know who she is or what she wants to
do, the only thing she knows is that shes not living her own life. Which is expressed when she
says things like, Because my stupid mother wanted me to! (Moore and Gibbons 1. 33)
Laurie always states that her mother forced her to be crime fighter or hero. However it appears
that she likes fighting crime more that shed like to admit. Laurie and Dan walk into an alley
knowing they were going to run into trouble. Another example of Laurie showing an interest
of being a superhero again was when she snoops around Dans ship, shes not just motivated by
curiosity, shes drawn to it because theres a part of her that likes being a superhero. However
she hides that part of her when by telling Dan, The Keenie Act was the best thing that ever
happened to us.(Moore and Gibbons 1. 33) Although Laurie has potential to be a hero, her heart
was never into it and keeps her from being a hero. She has doesnt have the drive to, protect
other and make tough decisions. Laurie isnt the only one who wasnt courageous enough to do
whats right and tell the truth in the end.
Dan has good morals but that isnt enough to make him a hero. He has a lot of doubts
about others and himself. Dan reflects on when he used to work with Rorschach and isnt sure if
he did the right thing by quitting being a superhero but seems to regret that decision when he
asks, Those were great time Rorschach. Great times, whatever happened to them?(Moore and
Gibbons 1.13). Another example that shows that Dan yearns to be a superhero is that he keeps
all of his old equipment in good and working condition, like hes waiting until the day he can use
it all again. He tries to hide his interest in returning to work by brushing off his updated

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equipment when he says, I was just tinkering, you know nothing serious (Moore and
Gibbons 7.4). Like Laurie, Dans not committed to being a hero, he waited until it seemed like
the world was going to end to get involved and help Rorschach. Although Dan has compassion
for others he compromises when he sides with John, Laurie, and Vedit that the lives lost were
necessary in order to deceive the everyone into world peace. A true hero would have stood up
for what was right because the truth is too horrible to be kept a secret form the world.
The idea of creating world peace could make the person who did it a hero, but the way
Vedit chose to do accomplish world peace was not heroic at all. As Pemberton stated in his
article a hero is admired for their noble actions however, there was nothing noble in Vedits
decision to sacrifice innocent lives and committed multiple murders in order to lie to the entire
world. No one admires a liar or murder; his decisions make him the villain in the novel. Vedit
didnt have to create world peace in such a deceitful and despicable way. He even began to
question his actions shortly after they became a reality. Seeking validations for his plan Vedit
asks John, I did the right thing, didnt I? It all worked out in the end (Moore and Gibbons
12.24). If Vedit had found a way to create world peace that wasnt so villainous he would have
been a hero and spared millions of innocent lives.
John wasnt looked up to, people feared him while others thought that he could have been
a god and were afraid of what he was capable of. Its shown that John doesnt think of himself as
a god when he tells girlfriend at the time I dont think there is a God Janey. If there is, Im not
him.(Moore and Gibbons 4.11) John isnt a hero because he lacks a very important quality that a
hero must have, compassion for others. He cant sympathize with humans, which means hes
unlikely to intervene unless asked to do so. For example if President Nixon hadnt wanted John
to go to Vietnam, he wouldnt have gone on his own. The Comedian knew that John lacked

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compassion and called him out on it when he said, You dont really give a damn about human
kind.(Moore and Gibbons 2.15). The Comedian realized this when John chose not to save the
Vietnamese woman who was pregnant with the Comedians child when he shot her. Another
example of Johns inability to care for others is that he has to be convinced by Laurie to save the
world. Johns lack of compassion makes him unable to be a hero. Having compassion for others
is an important quality for a hero to have.
Rorschach is the only hero in the novel, although his methods of investigating were harsh
and perhaps a bit unethical. However, in the beginning he was the one who showed an interest in
The Comedians murder and how everything was connected. Rorschach was always wiling to do
anything to find the truth in all of his cases. He shows his courage and nobility when he tells
Dan and Laurie, Not even in the face of Armageddon. Never compromise. (Moore and
Gibbons 12.10). This means that nothing will stop him from doing what is right even if it means
that hell die in the process. Rorschach fulfills Dilbecks definition of a hero because he
sacrificed himself for the publics right to know the truth. Rorschach also lives up to Gavalers
idea of a hero because although Rorschach says that the society around him is corrupt, he tries to
bring out the social good by giving his final draft of his journal to the newspaper. That way if
he died there was a chance the truth would be revealed to the world.
Watchmen challenges what it means to be a hero. Laurie is not a hero because she lacks
the heart and drive to be a hero. Dan isnt a hero either because he was too afraid of the
consequences that hed have to face for being a superhero again. Johns lack of compassion is
what makes him unable to be a hero, he as the powers to solve any problem but wont help
unless he can see the value of intervening. Rorschach is the only hero in the novel because he is
noble, courageous, and was never willing to compromise what was right even in the face of

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death. While the others wouldnt dare get involved until things got too out of hand or did care at
all of the outcome. Rorschach sacrificed himself for the publics right to know the truth and he
was able to set the truth free in his journal that a waits to be shared with the world.

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Work cited
Dilbeck, Mike. What Really Is a Hero, Anyway? Raproject.org. N.p., Sept. 2014. Web. 24 Jan.
2015
Gavaler, Chris. The Well-Born Superhero. The Journey of American Culture,37.2(2014):182197
Moore, Alan, and Dave Gibbons. Watchmen. New York: Warner Books, 1987. Print.
Pemberton, Mike. "Examining the Definition of Hero." News Gazette. (2013):C3