Alan Moore's "Watchmen"

Paper Summary:

The paper analyzes one of the motifs of greatest significance in "Watchmen", that of the Rorschach inkblot. The paper examines how the inkblot motif does not simply add visual irony or humor to the story, rather, the inkblot directly relates to the way the central character of Rorschach sees the moral world, in terms of black and white. The paper concludes that the inkblots indicate moral or truth-related obfuscation, and alert the reader that lies are about to be told, either through psychiatry, the police, or the lies Rorschach tells to himself.

From the Paper:

"The entire story of Watchmen revolves around characters Dr. Manhattan, Ozymandias, Rorschach, Nite Owl, Silk Spectre, the Comedian and other former Crimebusters who must unite to find out who has been killing members of their former tribe. Rorschach is the main investigating character, who problems the criminal world like the character of Dr. Long does his psyche. Although he sees himself purely on the side of good, the reader learns, a lesson that is reinforced through use of the inkblot motif, that Rorschach is genuinely mentally troubled whose judgment is often not to be trusted. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Moore, Alan & David Gibbons. Watchmen. New York: DC Comics, 1985

More papers on Alan Moore's "Watchmen":

• Book Review # 101467 : "Alan Moore's Comic Book Creations"
• Book Review # 143912 : "Heroism in "Watchmen"
• Analytical Essay # 65665 : "Moral Philosophy in Moore and Gibbons' "Watchmen"

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