In his essay “Self-Reliance,” Ralph Waldo Emerson often strikes an arrogant and smug tone, writing for example: “A great man comes to eat at my house. House. I don't want to please him; I wish he wanted to please me. Although proud, Emerson's work is known for the empowerment of the individual, an idea that several facets of contemporary American media have adopted for their own uncompromising, empowered characters. In the graphic novel Watchmen by Alan Moore, Rorschach's character development reveals important points of Emersonian philosophy in terms of individualism, truth, conformity, and integrity, making him a character that Emerson would admire to certain respects. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The fundamental belief of Emerson's philosophy in "self-reliance" is the importance of individualism. As Emerson wrote: “To believe your own mind, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, is genius.” " Valuing this idea above all else, including love, society and religion, Emerson believed that the ideal man must "live truly" in order to "truly see", that is, achieve transcendence and achieve autonomy. , a man's goal should be to seek the truth and "trust himself." Rather than conforming to societal norms, “a man must behave in the presence of all opposition, as if everything were titular and ephemeral except him.” And it's not just certain people, Emerson says. All men have this opportunity to transcend, including the cynical anti-hero Rorschach, in his search for the brutal truth. Walter Kovacs' transformation into Rorschach involves the character arriving at his personal truth. which Emerson so desperately urges men to find. As Emerson wrote: “It is of equal interest to you, and to mine, and to all men, as long as we have lived a lie, to live in the truth. » Before the main events of Watchmen, Rorschach develops an individualistic temperament, as revealed in his prison sessions with psychologist Dr. Malcolm Long. In these encounters, the difference between Walter Kovacs and Rorschach is explained. Although they are the same natural person. two distinct personalities. Rorschach also passes on his philosophy to Dr. Long, acquired through his search for truth. This is, however, Rorschach's conclusion with which Emerson may not agree. In “Self-Reliance,” Emerson writes optimistically that all men can “. follow the truth” and come out happier. Rorschach is the exact opposite. But as Emerson wrote, “if you are noble, I will love you.” Whatever conclusion Rorschach reaches, the fact that he reached it through the truth justifies it in Emerson's eyes. Moore discusses the case of Kitty Genovese throughout the sessions to illustrate the development of Kovacs' philosophy. New York. Nearly forty neighbors heard screams. Nobody did anything. Some of them even looked... I knew then who was behind all these evasions, all these self-deceptions. » Disgusted by humanity, Kovacs came to believe that all humanity was rotten, including himself. Kovacs therefore adorned himself with "a face that I could bear to look at in the mirror", thus apparently rising above human morality and nature, like Rorschach later. admitted, "I was just Kovacs pretending to be Rorschach." Kovacs had not yet completely transcended. To achieve this, he had to become fully Rorschach by adopting “asome kind of insight.” Emerson would dismiss Walter Kovacs, calling his ideology "stupid consistency" and a "hobgoblin of small minds." As Rorschach explains, "all Kovacs has always been: a man in a suit, not Rorschach at all." Imitation is inherently shameful, Emerson asserts, asserting that “envy is ignorance; imitation is suicide.”Kovacs simply dressing up as Rorschach does not make him a hero. Rorschach, on the other hand, has a transcendent understanding of the world. It is a conclusion fully realized by the pursuit of truth, something Emerson would surely admire. This ultimate truth that Rorschach realizes is that there is no intrinsic positive morality in human nature, nor any moral gray area. The criminals therefore deserve no mercy. Rorschach complains to Dr. Long that he is too "soft on the scum... Let them live." Once again, Emerson's views on human nature are much more optimistic than Rorschach's. However, the truth is always valued above all else, as he writes: “the truth is more beautiful than the affectation of love.” Nowhere does Emerson specify exactly what conclusion the individualist should reach. But Emerson emphasizes the importance of morality when he writes: “Nothing is ultimately sacred except the integrity of your own mind.” All of Rorschach's decisions follow a strict moral code, using truth as a guiding principle. The trigger for the transformation between Kovacs and Rorschach was the brutal murder of a criminal who kidnapped, mistreated, butchered and then fed a six-year-old girl to his dogs. After Kovacs burned the man alive, he was then "reborn, free to scribble his own design on this morally empty world." It was Rorschach. By fully becoming Rorschach, he transcended the rest of humanity and its flaws. Much like his mask, there was no gray area when it came to morality; only in black and white. In the years following the full moral realization of Rorschach's character, he rejects conformity and authority by enforcing justice through often brutal killings of criminals. Rorschach might as well be the poster child for this quote from Emerson: “Your goodness must have some advantage, or it has none. » When the Keene Act is passed in the novel, an ordinance that bans superheroes, Rorschach nevertheless continues to fight crime. Dr. Manhattan details the effects of the Superhero Act, describing how Rorschach "expresses his feelings regarding mandatory retirement in a note left outside police headquarters with a deceased multiple rapist." The sign depicts the note stuck to the rapist's chest, scribbled, in bold and underlined: “Never! Perhaps Emerson even understands this middle finger to authority, as he writes in “Self-Reliance”: “I am ashamed to think how easily we capitulate to badges and names, to big corporations and dead institutions. » As Rorschach explains: “We don't do this because it's allowed. We do it because we have to. We do it because we have to. Justice must be done in Rorschach's eyes, and according to Emerson's philosophy, "your authentic action will explain itself and explain your other authentic actions." Your compliance explains nothing. This avoidance of conformity to the rest of human morality and adherence to truth guides all of Rorschach's decisions, regardless of the stakes or the cost. In the climax of Watchmen, Rorschach's moral integrity results in his death, making him a martyr for the truth. The ending sees Ozymandias, the novel's antagonist, saving the world by killing.