Watchmen: Schoolboy Heroism
At the beginning of the superhero era, when the Marvel Cinematic Universe dominates the Hollywood, Watchmen, the bold and ambitious movie directed by Zack Snyder, illustrates a completely different pattern of story structure from the cliché Hollywood abused since the 1940s. While the billionaire playboy fights terrorists and criminals with his will, wit and an iron suit, a vigilante with a volatile mask is trying to save the world from nuclear destruction. As a satire of superhero genre, Alan Moore, the author of the original comic book, brought out the ultimate question of “schoolboy heroism”: is it possible for a man to judge or save the world through their own morality and determination? Are they still relevant when the incoming destruction
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But does such threat exists in Watchmen? No? Then whose arse are they going to kick? The darkness and greed of human nature? Can’t kill that with a laser gun. Then how are they going to save the world? In the Lord of the Flies, the similarly allegorical story where all schoolboys turned savage, the conclusion that the writer came up with is “Man is inherently evil, and there’s no cure to it.” However, watchmen offered a solution: create a common enemy by sacrificing part of humanity, so that the world can once again unite in fear and peace. Ozymandias pulled the lever in this ultimate trolley problem, “Kill millions to save billions.” In response to that, Rorschach simply said: “Never compromise. Not even in the face of Armageddon.” And gladly became one of the bodies under the foundation of this new utopia. The writer left with a world of “happily ever after” to us, only a bit empty and tragic. It wasn’t justice who saved the world, just like it wasn’t evil who destroyed the world. “God didn't kill that little girl. Fate didn't butcher her and destiny didn't feed her to those dogs. If God saw what any of us did that night he didn't seem to mind. From then on I …show more content…
As the writer of the Killing Joke, which is recreated into the beloved The Dark Knight, Moore distilled the elements of batman based on his understanding. Ozymandias is the charismatic, rich and intelligent Bruce Wayne, Rorschach is the crime fighting, butt kicking dark side of Batman, hunting ugliness and vermin of the society. His seek of truth and justice posed a horrifying obsession, where mercy and redemption are a kind of luxury. Ozymandias murdered millions based on his own will. Rorschach squeezes and tortures people, just because “I saw society’s true face.” We might try to understand their beliefs, even find them attractive, but in real life, news of a ripper who condemns the world go on a killing spree every night, it’s just terrifying. Not to mention someone can just turn your city into ashes with a single button. As for the all-powerful being Dr.Manhattan, after getting his powers, was soon tired of the existence of humanity and himself. Do you really expect him to put up blue tights and red patties, and become the real-life embodiment of the American Dream? These twisted versions of well-accepted characters are like magnifying glasses stuffed before our eyes, forcing us to see the nature of heroism. Powers can be dangerous and
But does such threat exists in Watchmen? No? Then whose arse are they going to kick? The darkness and greed of human nature? Can’t kill that with a laser gun. Then how are they going to save the world? In the Lord of the Flies, the similarly allegorical story where all schoolboys turned savage, the conclusion that the writer came up with is “Man is inherently evil, and there’s no cure to it.” However, watchmen offered a solution: create a common enemy by sacrificing part of humanity, so that the world can once again unite in fear and peace. Ozymandias pulled the lever in this ultimate trolley problem, “Kill millions to save billions.” In response to that, Rorschach simply said: “Never compromise. Not even in the face of Armageddon.” And gladly became one of the bodies under the foundation of this new utopia. The writer left with a world of “happily ever after” to us, only a bit empty and tragic. It wasn’t justice who saved the world, just like it wasn’t evil who destroyed the world. “God didn't kill that little girl. Fate didn't butcher her and destiny didn't feed her to those dogs. If God saw what any of us did that night he didn't seem to mind. From then on I …show more content…
As the writer of the Killing Joke, which is recreated into the beloved The Dark Knight, Moore distilled the elements of batman based on his understanding. Ozymandias is the charismatic, rich and intelligent Bruce Wayne, Rorschach is the crime fighting, butt kicking dark side of Batman, hunting ugliness and vermin of the society. His seek of truth and justice posed a horrifying obsession, where mercy and redemption are a kind of luxury. Ozymandias murdered millions based on his own will. Rorschach squeezes and tortures people, just because “I saw society’s true face.” We might try to understand their beliefs, even find them attractive, but in real life, news of a ripper who condemns the world go on a killing spree every night, it’s just terrifying. Not to mention someone can just turn your city into ashes with a single button. As for the all-powerful being Dr.Manhattan, after getting his powers, was soon tired of the existence of humanity and himself. Do you really expect him to put up blue tights and red patties, and become the real-life embodiment of the American Dream? These twisted versions of well-accepted characters are like magnifying glasses stuffed before our eyes, forcing us to see the nature of heroism. Powers can be dangerous and