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Watchmen: What Makes a Hero?

Good Essays

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Alan Moore’s, Watchmen
Rorschach: Hero or Villain?
Leslie O’Sullivan

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The conflict between good and evil has been a prominent aspect of literature, and society itself, for ages. Many popular stories are based around the hero succeeding in their endeavours by defeating the arch nemesis; good conquers evil by performing in a manner that is deemed morally right. However, in Alan Moore’s, Watchmen, the notion of morality is questioned, suggesting that the line separating good from evil does not exist. Rorschach, the most morally influenced watchman, is a major icon when analysing good and evil in this story. Moore incorporates Rorschach with a …show more content…

whore?’ ‘Oh please, don’t say that. Not in front of my kids... They don’t know. Got what we came for. Finished here now. Let’s go.” (Moore, X.6)
Rorschach has unmistakably labelled this women as evil; spreading lies and rumours for personal gain at the expense of someone else. However, as she pleads for him not to call her on her actions in front of her children, he backs down. This act of mercy completely contradicts Rorschach’s philosophy, “There is good and there is evil, and evil must be punished. Even in the face of Armageddon, I shall not compromise on this.” (Moore, I.25) By failing to punish the landlady, Rorschach is in fact contradicting this previous statement. By condemning the women, he would be subjecting innocents to violence; therefore, he indeed compromises in his “concrete” morality. In addition to this lapse in his moral dedication, Rorschach’s tendency to justify some evil actions throughout the story challenges his moral absolutism and contradicts his later actions, “I liked President Truman... He dropped the atom bomb on Japan and saved millions of lives.” (Moore, VI.31) Although this was quoted when Rorschach was a child, it is evident that he still admires Truman when he praises him at the beginning of the story, “They could have followed in the footsteps of good men, like my father or Truman.” (Moore, I.1) It is clear that Rorschach approves of Truman’s actions, noting that he did what he did for

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