Silva

Marlene Silva
Professor Jackie
English 114B
February 2, 2014
Brave Individuals
The definitions and convictions towards what a hero is defined as can be
analyzed in the real world and in novels. So many individuals are conceived by the
mistaken and evolved definition of whom a hero might be. In the graphic novel
called, Watchmen, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons, put in a view of an unfamiliar
version of heroism. The common ideology of heroism is produced in distinct level
from each character in the book. Heroism is people who show great bravery,
courageous attitude, and great moral principles. If someone is a moral individual they
concerned with what is right and what is wrong. Although many individuals might say
that a hero is a benevolent individual who wears a cape and provides a positive
attitude toward life like Superman, in Watchmen it evidently puts in view that one
doesnt necessarily need to be a good person in a cape to be considered a hero. The
proof is portrayed in the characters of Rorschach and Adrian Veidts actions and
characteristics such as Rorschachs outlooks towards villains and Veidts unfair act
when he decided to murder The Comedian.
The serious disagreement between good and evil has been an important and
well-known feature of writing, and in public itself, for many years now. Many wellliked stories are founded whereas the hero defeats evil by showing it in a manner that
is believed as morally correct. Nevertheless, in Alan Moores, Watchmen, the belief of

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morality shows that a good hero is not always just good. For an example, Rorschach,
the most ethical powered watchmen. In the novel, this man is the greatest image when
examining heroes who have flaws. In order to attain fairness, Rorschach goes by the
direction of moral principles, disciplining those who he discerns as wicked with no
deep regret. All through the story, Rorschach views life as whether something is right
or wrong. The ones who do wrong are obliged to being disciplined in the eyes of
Rorschach. He is a solid follower that human worth is worthless and the only point in
life is to be certain that justness is delivered. For an example, Rorschach utilizes fire
to burn and kill the man who abducted a young female he slaughtered. He did that
because he believed that was morally right to do since the murderer had to be
disciplined for his sickening behavior. The fact that he disciplined the murderer
comes to demonstrate that Rorschach displays true value of being a hero. Rorschach
does not have to have a cape with a big S on it to portray that he is a true hero. He
rather shows it through his actions instead of how many individuals are so used to
seeing it; whereas the hero is wearing a cape.

All watchmen in Watchmen have some sort of level of heroism. In some cases
not all watchmen show true value of being a hero. For instance Adam Veidt, an
antagonist in the graphic novel reveals much less value of being a hero. He is viewed
at first to be the most upright, moral and victorious man in the world. Even though he
is described as the most well informed man in the world, he is a previous superhero who
ran a multiple billion-dollar company that manufactures numerous artifacts and
technologies. Although his name is related with money and authority, bearing in mind of

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his actions, he was not for integrity, but for tricking people into being convinced into
his integrity and good quality in performance. Adam Veidt is contemplated as a villain
due to all wicked actions he perpetuates, such as assassinating The Comedian, setting
up Rorschach for an offense he did not engage in, and to top it off, he killed half the
residents of New York City. The color on his costumes has a great meaning to his
characteristics as well. The gold in Veidts appearance symbolizes his fraud
identification, symbolizing power and respect. In a sense, he tries to make himself
look like he is a good man throughout the graphic novel, and many individuals can
assume that because due to his appearance and how the author makes him seem so Nobel.
Although Adam Viedts goal was to keep humanity from ending the world through a
U.S./Soviet global thermonuclear exchange, what he did was still unfair. At the end of the
graphic novel, one can come to realize that his actions throughout most of the time do not
adequately display hero behavior.

In an online article from the CSUN library data base called Examining the
Definition of a Hero by Mike Pemberton, states the denotation of being a hero. It starts
off with speaking of the four deaths that occurred in Benghazi. The writer explains that a
government employee named Woods, which was a man that had died in ship wreckage
because he did what he thought was right; in this case he was a hero in this story.
Permberton says that many of the individuals today utilize the word hero and misuse it
very often. He has this conception that many individuals use that words too much to a
point were the word is complete beside the point of what they are speaking of. He gives
an example in basketball, where people call those who sprained an ankle or recover from

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accidents to be a hero, when in reality thats not what being a hero is, they are just tough
and competitive. The article classifies heroes as, Men of action, distinguished courage
and ability, admired for brave deeds and noble qualities. He also brought up a quote
from Philip Zimbardo where defines heroism as someone who is not afraid to do
something and at some point we are all bound to do that. This relates to how many
characters in the graphic novel are considered heroes like Adam Veidt, when at the end
of the day they arent heroes all. Another outside source I found had the same concept as
the previous one. The article is called Stop Misusing the Word Hero by Rob Goodman,
which talks about basically the same things as the other article did. Goodman said, But
hero is not a job description. And those who say it is trivialize both heroism and sports.
We need to stop shying away from the word hero where it is in fact due - and stop piously
affixing it to so many worthy but unheroic people to whom it does not apply. He
basically proves the point that many individuals are seen as a hero, when in reality they
have done nothing good at all. Just because Adam Veidt had money and brains, he does
not deserve to have the word Hero applied to himself.

The several different interpretations and judgments towards what a hero is

explained as can be examined in the real world and in novels. So many people
misinterpret the wrong and developed definition of which a hero might be and said in the
article, it isnt such a clever thing to do because it faded out the true meaning of what a
hero is. The concept of determining whether who are the real heroes and villains, the right
and essential heroes are most likely Rorschach, an individual who does not ever gives up
in engaging himself for human rights, for liberation and for the upright humanity. The

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actions he (unlike Adam Viedt) adequately made were with great purposes. The villain in
the book is Adam Veidt as he kills many people and the rue hero of the Watchmen graphic
novel is Rorchach.

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Works Cited

Stop Misusing the Word Hero. Web. 17 Feb. 2015.

<http://ideas.theatlantic.com/2009/07/stop_misusing_the_word_hero.php>.
Moore, Alan, and Dave Gibbons. Watchmen. Book Club ed. New York: DC Comics,
1987. Print.
PEMBERTON, MIKE. "Examining the Definition of Hero." News Gazette, (2013): C.3.