Ethical Relativism In The Watchmen By Alan Moore
Alan Moore's graphic novel, The Watchmen, introduces a new type of superhero genre, mainly constructed from the beliefs of the characters. The main plot of the novel involves the classic heroic function of sacrifice for the greater good. Most of the characters presented in the novel do not possess any kind of superpower, rather what sets them apart is their morality. The novel follows the plans of Ozymandias to unite the world with the sacrifice of millions, based on an artificial alien invasion. The novel enriches the reader on the main theme of morality and ethics. In The Watchmen there is no clear outline of who is the hero and villain rather, Moore presents a wide array of characters representing various moral compasses. Moore builds on the loose sense of what defines us as good or bad. Influence on morals can stem from various sources; personal issues, childhood, roles models. These factors impact our actions, we may believe our actions are justified, but to someone with a contrasting moral ideology, they may be considered unjust. The Watchmen offers several takes on the implications of morality. The characters exhibit different moral ideologies which impact the outcome of the world. In Alan Moore’s, The Watchmen, various moral visions are explored through each character, the lack of a clear right or wrong solution suggests that there is no clear moral justification, only the justifications that characters put on it. Moore creates a lack of a clear moral code in The Watchmen to provoke the theory of ethical relativism where morality is only relative to the cultural norm and outlook of the individual, there is no clear right or wrong. The initial piece that instigates a lack of a clear moral outlook is the lack of one clearly defined hero. There is no character present in The Watchmen that employs the single correct answer. The overall environment of The Watchmen is portrayed as dark, gloomy and crime-riddled. Using dark and dreary colors, the illustrations induce of sense of a rough and terrifying environment. These gothic elements portray the world of The Watchmen as one that is not worth saving. Both the criminals and heroes are the source of killing. The cruel actions and morals of those who are expected to stop crime blur the lines of a clear moral outlook.
Retributivism is a moral code primarily represented by Rorschach. Only the guilty are to be punished for their wrongdoing, and the punishment received must befitting of the crime. Rorschach’s mind is consumed by the principle that the evil must be brought to justice not to make the city better, rather just because they deserve it. “Because there is good and there is evil, and evil must be punished. Even in the face of Armageddon, I shall not compromise in this”. Rorschach presents himself as a dichotomous thinker, a simple black and white moral code. His moral outlook is strictly valid for static situations where there is only one clear solution. However, no two situations are alike. Rorschach begins to encompass a vigilante status, he feels that he had been too soft on scum, “Too young to know any better. Molly-coddled them. Let them live”. He then begins to serve his judgment on those he perceives as evil. He begins to punish all regardless of the crime. He relies on his judgment to determine who will live and die. “Existence is random, has no pattern save what we imagine after staring at it too long. No meaning saves what we choose to impose”. Rorschach sees the world as a clear canvas where there is no stopping what we choose to bring upon it. He believes that there is no clear path or moral code, rather just what individuals bring upon themselves. Each character possesses this empty canvas where they implement their ideologies. For Rorschach, this was filled with his harsh childhood. In the end of the novel after mass destruction and lives lost for the greater good. Rorschach feels a sense of despair that he had complied with Ozymandias’s plan. Rorschach then chose death rather than admitting the fallacy of his moral code. Ultimately his blank moral canvas catered to what he believed was right.
Unlike Rorschach, Doctor Manhattan posses a meaningless ideology. He is the only character in the novel that posses’ superpowers. His abilities include; invulnerability to any harm, can reconstruct himself, omni-kinetic, and most importantly he can see the past, present, and future all at the same time. Though he possesses the ability to change the world for the better within seconds, he functions mindlessly. Doctor Manhattan’s fallacy falls within his unestablished moral identity. His reasoning being this is that “We’re all puppets, I’m just a puppet who can see the strings”. Doctor Manhattan believes that destiny is unchangeable. Due to his ability to see the past, present, and future simultaneously, he believes there is nothing that can be done to alter the outcome. Due to this Doctor Manhattan possess a blank canvas like Rorschach, the difference lies within the morality they follow. Doctor Manhattan follows a nihilist point of view, rejecting all moral principles for the meaningless. He believes that no rule permits whether killing is justified or not. He demonstrates this outlook by not interfering to prevent countless deaths. Doctor Manhattan supports ethical relativism. He does not perceive a right or wrong, knowing what the future holds he understands that there is no way to stop killing. And all choices made by the characters are ultimately trivial. By depicting the future are inevitable Moore suggests that the unique morals of the characters are meaningless. Manhattan’s view emphasizes the theory of ethical relativism where there is no fixed right or wrong rather, the good of any action is based off how individuals conceive them.
Ozymandias follows a utilitarian moral compass, where the course of action that is taken maximizes happiness and reduces suffering. By contrast to Rorschach, Ozymandias does not deal with black and white pathways. For him everything is gray, he would simply choose the lightest shade of gray. This moral outlook is what ignited his plan to sacrifice to stop the war. “I know I’ve struggled across the back of murdered innocents to save humanity, but someone had to take the weight of that awful, necessary crime”. His choice failed to consider basic justice for those being sacrificed. The question is raised whether it is just for the people of New York to sacrifice themselves to end the war. Though it may seem that Ozymandias’s morality is based on the greater good, it is derived from a desire of self-fulfillment. Unlike Rorschach, who is poor, unlikeable and low class, Ozymandias is powerful and rich. Ozymandias’s moral ideology is focused on trying to make a difference. “Needing nothing, I burned with the paradoxical urge to do everything.” Ozymandias left his luxurious life to create his own identity and make a difference. His self-importance is what drives him, sacrificing the lives of millions to obtain the feeling of accomplishment. The justification Ozymandias puts on his actions is determined by the positive outcome outweighing the cons.
At the end of it, all Moore presents an enigmatic ending. The doomsday clock strikes twelve and New York is faced with disaster. No reality is fixed, individuals implement their ideologies to shape what they can control. The Watchmen demonstrates the most valuable part of being human, choosing our ideas. The superheroes in The Watchmen expresses a vast spectrum of morals, there is no certainty whether one type of moral outlook would yield better results than the other. Rather it is up to the individual. Moore showcased the various ethical fallacies associated with each character to provoke the theory of ethical relativism. Moore ultimately suggests that our ability to choose our ethics is what sets our limitations and destiny. The justification we put on our ideologies is what shapes what we believe is the righteous act.
Works Cited
- Moore, Alan, and Dave Gibbons. Watchmen. New York: DC Comics, 2007. Print.
