English project
xyzc221
rorschachs_journey_1_1.pptxRORSCHACH’S JOURNEY
EHAB TAHA
MOR ELDAD
CATHY LE
introductory
Rorschach’s hero’s journey is a great example of the hardship associated with looking for the truth and how it might even cost someone his life as he is trying to see the bigger picture.
thesis
THE REAL HERO OF WATCHMEN IS RORSHACH AS HE WAS TESTED SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE STORY. HE WAS THE ONE STOOD BY HIS PRINCIPLES AND MORALS COMPASS MAKING IT HIS MISSION TO REVEAL THE TRUTH DESPITE HAVING TO GO AGAINST HIS COLLUEGES EVEN IF THAT WAS AT THE COST OF HIS OWN LIFE. ROARSCHACH HAS BEEN TESTED THROUGH THE KIDNAPPING STORY IN 1975, BEING CHASED AND GOT ARRESTED BY THE POLICE AS WELL AS TESTED PSYCHOLOGICALLY SEVERAL TIMES BY DR. LONG IN PRISON. THE SUPREME ORDEAL WAS THE TIME HE WAS IN PRISON WHEN HE WAS THREATENED TO BE KILLED . THE ROADBACK STAGE WITH LAURIE AND NITE OWL REVEALS MORE OF RORSHACH’S PERSONALITIES AND STRENGTH. IN ADDITION, THE JOURNAL THAT RORSHACH DOCUMENTED IS HIS ELIXIR THAT BENEFITS EVERYBODY AND BRINGS HIS SPIRIT BACK TO LIFE.
Wounded hero: the life of walter joseph kovacs
Abusive mother
Confronting the two bullies
The foster family: when the police found out his mother was abusive, the foster family put him into school
RORSCHACH hero journey
“I knew what people were, then, behind all the evasions, all the self-deception, ashamed for humanity, I went home, I took the remains of her unwanted dress and make it into a face that I could bear to look at in the mirror” (Moore and Gibbons VI, 188).
“The story centers on Rorschach's investigation of an associate's murder, which triggers his suspicion that some person or group has begun killing "masks." This conspiracy theory is borne out by the subsequent hostile actions against the costumed crime fighters throughout the narrative” (Prince).
Rorschach first test (kidnapping story)
In1975, Rorschach heard about a kidnapping case of a six years old girl Blaire Roche. A few days after the kidnapping without any success in finding the girl, Rorschach decided to intervene. “No word from kidnappers. Thought of little child, abused, frightened. Didn’t like it” (Moore and Gibbons VI. 198). Within the investigation, Rorschach visited underworld bars and hurt 15 people to obtain the girl location to save her before it is too late. After exploring the house, Rorschach realized that the kidnappers murdered the girl and let two dogs to eat her body parts to eliminate any evidence. Therefore, knowing that the murder can actually get away from justice, Rorschach decided to take matters into his own hands and killed the two dogs and burned alive the kidnapper. And for Rorschach, that was justice.
“His idea of law, however, is not even so simply blurred as Batman’s; it is, if you will, smeared and stained…we watch Rorschach piece together the crime, mutilate the dogs the killer has used to dispose of the body, apprehend the criminal himself, handcuff him to the stove, hand him a hacksaw, and set fire to the shed where the man is chained. He leaves the man a choice: cut off his hand and escape, or die” (Dietrich).
“For every man Rorschach has killed, he has also rescued a child or stopped a drug dealer, so while some view him as a half-crazed man who cares little for society, the reverse can also be true” (Hughes 7). While some people would argue that Rorschach acted wrongly and he is crazy, killing the kidnapper in that case was the right thing to do. Even though the young girl was already dead, killing the kidnapper will stop him from kidnapping and killing more young people. And since we know that the kidnapper took Blaire Roche to blackmail her parents for money, which they did not have, he would not stop until he gets his fortune from someone else. “Kidnappers believed she was connected to Roche chemical fortune. Stupid mistake. Father was [a] bus driver. No money at all” (Moore and Gibbons VI, 196).
Rorschach second test (police chase)
He tried to escape from the police as he was the only one that actually made an effort to solve the mystery behind the conspiracy and reveal the truth behind the comedian's death
In chapter V, Rorschach faced the second test when he was framed and captured by the police. He fought helplessly in order to escape, but he was put down and was taken to prison. When Rorschach went to visit Jacobi, he found out that Jacobi has been murdered. While the police was outside ready to arrest him, Rorschach discovered he was no longer in his comfort zone, he has to fight back, “framed, set up. Walked right into it. Stupid, stupid, stupid” (Moore and Gibbons V,169). The fact that Rorschach realized the situation right away showed that he was quick, ready to adapt and prepared himself to fight.
Rorschach third test (plot test)
Rorschach was tested during the time he was in prison. He went through several questions by dr. Long. When Rorschach looks at the plot test, the memories of his childhood flashed in front of his eyes but he held back and lied to Dr. Long that he saw good things, which convinced Dr. Long that he was getting better with regards to his mental health. Later, Dr. Long investigated and learned more of Rorschach’s past, “it’s not his childhood, his mother or Kitty Genovese. Those things just made over-react to the injustice in the world. They’re not what sent him over its edge. They’re not what turned him into Rorschach” (Moore and Gibbons VI, 194). At the same time, while recounting his past, Rorschach sorted out his thoughts and understands more about himself. The soft Rorschach came to light and how he became the current Rorschach.
mentor
The comedian: Rorschach admired the Comedian and his beliefs. “Of us all, [the Comedian] understood most. About world. About people. About society and what’s happening to it” (Moore and gibbons IV, 193).
“IS THAT WHAT HAPPENED TO US? A LIFE OF CONFLICT WITH NO TIME FOR FRIENDS … SO THAT WHEN IT’S DONE, ONLY OUR ENEMIES LEAVE ROSES” (MOORE AND GIBBONS II 68)
“Things everyone knows in guts, things everyone too scared to face, too polite to talk about. He understood” (moore and gibbons IV 193)
allies
Nite owl:
was the only one believing in Rorschach
Plan the prison break and helped him out
Supported Rorschach in the revealing Ozy’s true identity and confront him
“I’ve been thinking about that, and I feel we have certain obligation to our fraternity. I think we should save Rorschach” (Moore and Gibbons VII. 240).
Laurie: together with nite owl helped Rorschach escape from prison
Dr. long: help Rorschach discover his personality, strength and weakness
Shapeshifter
Jacobi (moloch): his response is always “I don’t know”. As he is uncertain of his own knowledge, he cannot be trusted. He also told Rorschach about the Comedian coming to his apartment at night, but he was very vague about the stories. Visits the Comedian funeral without a good reason.
the comedian
dr. Manhattan: at the beginning he supported Rorschach, but at the end he killed him because Rorschach was against the plot. He only did certain things for his own interest and his own best.
Threshold guardian
His mother: was abusive, kept Rorschach from making a sound decision and becoming a good hero.
His foster family: they put him in school, Rorschach was in a good environment and was not exposed to the criminal world.
Police: arrest him and put him in prison
Supreme Ordeal
Rorschach faced his first death while behind held in prison.
Criminals that Rorschach and nite owl placed in prison seek to revenge.
In a middle of a riot in prison, Mr figure and his gang went to Rorschach prison cell to kill him.
Road back
Prison break: Nite owl and Laurie breaking Rorschach from prison.
They flying away using the owlship.
Police chasing them down to Dan’s house, but Nite owl and Rorschach managed to escape using Dan’s secret tunnel.
Facing the shadow
In the process of investigating, Rorschach came across the terrible truth. Ozymandias was the man planning the mass murder of many innocent citizens of new York city, Dr. Manhattan knew about it and supported the plan.
“Rorschach is painfully aware of the state of human affairs, but asides from his attempt to act as judge and jury for the criminals he captures, he can do little to stop the larger pattern of the problems he sees” (Huges 7).
“Rorschach, because he can’t allow the lie and live, chooses death. Dr. Manhattan, because it has always been a lie and never was, because all truths are equal, leaves this universe for another of his own making” (Dietrich).
“Rorschach, who, by virtue of his mask, bears a constantly shifting outward identity, is the most uncompromising individual among the Watchmen, exemplified by his sense of integrity, goal directedness, and resistance to indoctrination, chief among these the professed "cures" of psychiatric medicine. At first, this may not be obvious; while Rorschach himself never endorses the diagnosis of paranoia, both in the other characters' and the readers' field of perception, the moniker seems to fit. In spite of his shifting facial features, in spite of being repeatedly subjected to institutions specifically designed to alter outlook and behavior, and in spite of what others regard as florid paranoia, Rorschach consistently battles for his individual integrity. ”. (PRINCE)
Elixir
Expose the truth and bring ozy and dr. mahattan to the light. Willing to sacrifice himself in preserving the truth and belief. Die for defending his values and morality
Rorschach’s journal
“There is nothing else. Existence is random. Has no pattern save what we imagine after staring at it for too long. No meaning save what we choose to impose. This rudderless world is not shaped by vague metaphysical forces. It is not god who kills the children. Not fate that butchers them or destiny that feeds them to dogs. Its us. Only us” (Moore and Gibbons VI. )
resurrection
Rorschach’s journey gets published
“Live our lives lacking anything better to do. Devise reason later.” (Moore and Gibbons vi. 204)
Works Cited
Dietrich, Bryan D. “The Human Stain: Chaos and the Rage for Order in ‘Watchmen.".”Extrapolation (University of Texas at Brownsville), vol. 50, 2009, pp. 120–144.Academic Search Complete, libraryaccess.sdmesa.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=4323408 3&site=ehost-live.
Hughes, Jamie A. “‘Who Watches the Watchmen?’: Ideology and ‘Real World’ Superheroes.” Journal of Popular Culture, vol. 39, no. 4, Aug. 2006, pp. 546–557. SocINDEX with Full Text, doi:10.1111/j.1540- 5931.2006.00278.x.
Moore, Alan, and Dave Gibbons. WATCHMEN. S.l., DC COMICS, 2014.
Prince, Michael J. “Alan Moore's America: The Liberal Individual and American Identities in Watchmen.” Journal of Popular Culture, vol. 44, Aug. 2011, pp. 815–830. SocINDEX with Full Text, libraryaccess.sdmesa.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=sih&AN=63644575 &site=ehost-live.
