Jonny Renk

Mr. Evans
Honors 11 English

Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons work together to depict Jon Osterman's growing distance
from humanity through the character's actions towards others, and through symbolism and irony
in Chapter 3 and 4 of Watchmen.
Jon Osterman's disconnect from the rest of humanity is apparent after he frightens Laurie
while they are sleeping together. After he disturbingly makes multiple copies of himself during
this, Jon apologizes to her and says, "I'm sorry. I don't know what stimulates you anymore."
(Watchmen, Ch. 3, P. 4) Not only does he make multiple versions of himself during this ; he also
has another version of himself working outside. Even after this, Jon doesn't understand what he
did wrong and why Laurie is so upset, which suggests the growing distance between him and
humanity. He doesn't understand love and the fundamental feelings that other humans feel, and is
physically and emotionally separated during their time together.
Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons also use irony to emphasize Jon's growing distance from
humanity. At the end of chapter 4, Jon is frustrated and says, "It seems I'm incapable of
cohabiting safely either emotionally or physically." He then teleports to Mars and reminisces
what appears to be his old, abandoned home and family at one point in time. This is an example
of irony because his escape to Mars suggests that he is figuratively and literally distanced from
the rest of humanity, and it illustrates the emotional trauma this distance creates for him. His
inability to connect with other humans forces him to abandon Earth and remember his former
life. The growing distance between Jon and the rest of humanity creates different problems,
including the potential idea that Jon no longer cares about the fate of humanity.