Originally Published: November 26, 2016
Project for Mrs. Moore’s 9th Grade English Language Arts Class
Protagonist
Rorschach (Identity Unknown)- A mysterious vigilante/detective who sets out to discover who murdered Edward Blake, only to find out there is a bigger conspiracy to be feared.
Minor Characters
Dan Dreiberg (Night Owl II)- The retired vigilante partner to Rorschach who is fearful of the upcoming future.
Laurie Juspeczyk (Silk Spectre II)- A retired vigilante who began crime fighting due to her mother, Sally Juspeczyk (Silk Spectre), coaching her to do so, but is frustrated with how her life is gone.
Jon Osterman (Dr. Manhattan)- A patronizing retired superhero who works for the government with Laurie Juspeczyk.
Adrian Veidt (Ozymandias)- A retired vigilante who later became a successful businessman making toy lines based on once crime fighting heroes and villains. He is also quoted as being “the smartest man alive.”
Edward Blake (The Comedian)- A despised nihilistic once-vigilante turned government agent who was part of the Minutemen.
Sally Juspeczyk (Silk Spectre) A retired Minuteman who is the mother of Laurie Juspeczyk.
Hollis Mason (Night Owl)- A retired Minuteman who is a friend to Dan Dreiberg after he was inspired by Hollis to become a crime fighter.
Setting: The setting switches between the 40s- the golden age of costumed heroes, the 60s- the beginning of a new wave of heroes, and the present (Fall, 1985)-a dystopian, Cold War-tensioned New York where the Americans won the Vietnam War due to their involvement of vigilantes. In 1977, the Keene Act was passed which caused vigilantes in the United States to become outlawed unless they work for the government.
Point of View: The Point of View is set in a 3rd Person Omniscient view as the story switches from character to character based on which events are occurring.
Themes: Sacrifice & Compromise- (Trying not to give off spoilers) After certain information is given to our Watchmen about a giant plot that caused a major sacrifice but made the unite in peace, they must choose to either stay quiet and let peace reign or go out and tell the world and let the Cold War rage on.
Symbol/Irony: The Comedian’s smiley face pin is the poster-boy symbol for Watchmen. It is also a use for irony as, even though it is a pleasant symbol, the world it is set in is dark, depressing, and hopeless.
Plot: It is the heart of the Cold War, and in New York City a retired vigilante named Edward Blake, a.k.a. The Comedian was thrown out of his apartment. Outlawed vigilante/detective Rorschach begins to investigate the crime scene and warns of other retired heroes that he believes there is a culprit killing heroes. He continues his investigation, interrogating retired villains, only to find out there may be a bigger conspiracy behind it all.
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