Religion in Watchman
Religion is not prominent in Watchman, a graphic novel by Allan Moore and Dave Gibbons, but all characters worship something. Prevalent worldly religions such as Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism are scarcely mentioned or are entirely left out of the novel but Rorschach, Viedt and Dr. Manhattan each have faith in something, a belief system, a personal conviction, a specific way of life or a moral code that shapes their life. The characters may not believe in an unseen being or a person or object considered to be supernatural, sacred, divine or of highest truth but everybody serves somebody or is a slave to something. There are no churches, temples, synagogues, mosques or specified buildings in Watchman where people meet to perform acts of religious praise, honour, or devotion but worship continues. It is clear that religion does not dominate this society because the highest building in Watchman’s New York City is not a building affiliated with a particular religion but a tower on which Viedt’s name is inscribed. Thorough character exploration will reveal what lies within the heart of these characters, who their ‘gods’ are and what they worship.
Walter Joseph Kovacks, also known as Rorschach, is a dedicated vigilante whom continues his crime fighting practices after the Keene Act is passed in defiance of the law because his life is shaped by a need for revenge. Kovacs had an awful childhood. His mother was a prostitute who neglected and sadistically abused him. He was removed from his mother’s custody and put into government care at age 10 when he attacked two teenage bullies for calling him a “whoreson” and inflicting physical harm upon him. Years later, after hearing about a horrific murder that took place in public while bystanders looked on, he vowed to avenge powerless victims of crime. As a child, Kovacs was a powerless victim and society’s judicial system failed him. Consequently, he decided to take the law into his own hands to pursue justice his own way, by punishing the wicked. Rorschach’s actions and journal entries display a belief in objectivism and moral absolutism, where good and evil are unmistakably defined and evil must be violently punished. Kovacks has shaped his life around these moral codes and is willing to torture or murder criminals in pursuit of his aims. He will “never compromise” his beliefs, “not even in the face of Armageddon.” His steadfast devotion to these values, at the end of the novel, cost him his life. His ethics are shaped by his desire for revenge and justice. Rorschach decided to become the judge of other people’s actions and decide their penalty. Kovacks obviously does not have faith in society’s ability to do justice or in a supreme judge who will do right. Kovacks worships himself as the judge of all.
Adrian Viedt is an idealist inspired by his childhood hero Alexander the Great and his ideals of a united world. He became a vigilante, calling himself Ozymandias after Ramesses II, believing that battling crime would decrease evil and world suffering. The Comedian sheds light on this ideal when he points out in the first superhero organisational team gathering that their petty crime fighting actions mean little in the face of nuclear threats, which they have no power to stop. Viedt however, was inspired by the Comedian’s comment to do just that. Being the smartest man in the world, he came up with a genius design to accomplish his new goal. He planned to create a catastrophic event deceiving the world of an alien invasion, generating a common enemy the world could unite against. Part of his ruthless strategy is to eliminate anybody in the way of his plans because he is a utilitarian who wants to achieve the most good for the most people. To finance this scheme Viedt retired from vigilantism and sold his image everywhere. He is a skilled acrobat in peak physical condition, therefore able to sell things such as exercise videos and truthfully sculpted action figures. His wealth, extreme intelligence, goal to perfect the human form and to unite the world reinforces his idealism and utopian desires. Viedt worships perfectionism and strives to get there in all aspects of life, but cannot; at the end of the novel he is unsure that his actions were morally just and seeks conformation.
Jon Osterman, Dr. Manhattan, is the only ‘superhero’ in Watchman who possesses ostensibly god-like super powers. As result of an atomic physics experiment Osterman acquired powers including super human strength, telekinesis and teleportation. Unlike the rest of the world, Osterman does not perceive time in a linear fashion but experiences all moments of life concurrently. He is immortal and indestructible with no need for food, water or air. Sadly, Osterman’s abilities hinder him from connecting with people and building relationships. His declining emotional capacity and connection with humanity throughout the novel is evident and mirrored by the gradual shedding of his uniform. Interestingly, the freedom of choice or will do not seem to be among his many acquired abilities, like the genie in the Disney movie Aladin who is all powerful but has no personal freedom. Even before the freak accident, Osterman did not display strong will. He pursued the career of his father’s choice instead of his own. His worldviews are deterministic, remarking at one point, “We are all puppets, Laurie. I’m just a puppet that can see the strings.” He does not suggest a ‘puppet master” or higher power has control of the strings but that all events are determined by an unbroken chain of prior occurrences. He is a slave to predestination, in a rut where he has all powers except choice and where all human concerns appear pointless and without obvious merit. Osterman submits to fate without question and accepts its rule over his life. He worships this way of life by refusing to become involved in human affairs. For example, he allows the assassination of President J.F. Kennedy to occur although he knew it was going to happen and he knew the world was endangered but separated him from it to a point that he saw no advantage in saving it. He believes in fate so strongly that it brought him to a point of depression.
It is each of these character’s honourable intention to serve the public and “save them from themselves” but accompanying these intentions are self-serving motives. Kovacks and Viedt each are elitists and their own god. Kovacks believes he is the ultimate judge and worships by inflicting punishment on criminals. Viedt takes on a superior stance and self-pride in the name of world unity. His body is his temple, worshiping by maintaining his level of fitness and flawless image. Viedt also worships by pursuing his utopia and uniting the world. Osterman however bows to fate that is out of his powerful hands. He is the only one who believes in something bigger that himself. As Bob Dylan wrote, there is no way out of some form of worship or service:
"You may be an ambassador to England or France,
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance,
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world,
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody."
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