Rorschach Journal Useless?

[S.D. Plissken]

I recently caught something in my second read of Watchmen that I've never heard any discussion on.

If you read the arrest report on Rorschach at the end of 'THE ABYSS GAZES ALSO" the writeup lists the items found on him at the time of his arrest.

One of these items, is his notebook (he also keeps the rose from Blake's grave, now withered inside his coat), which is described as follows:

"one notebook, with pages filled with what is either an elaborate cypher or handwriting too cramped and eccentric to be legible."

So from this, we can gather that Rorschach is in fact so insane, that only he can read and understand what he is writing in his journal, and is oblivious that no one else could ever be able to understand his entries?

If this were true, it would impact the ending of the story, making Rorschach's delivery of his 'final copy' to the new frontiersman pointless, and in a way the ending becomes more tragic because Rorschach looses his voice from beyond the grave. A part of his identity is compromised.

But wait, there's more....

When Kovac's returns to his "home" in 'TWO RIDERS WERE APPROACHING' we retrieves the final draft of his journal, stating that the police found only "rough notes".

Before mailing his final draft to the New Frontiersman at the end of the chapter, he says:

"Have done best to make this legible. Believe it paints disturbing picture."

So, he understands that his writing is very difficult to read, but made an effort to put together a legible comprehensive draft of his experiences because he knew he would be killed eventually and wanted to share his view of the world, and the events that had been occuring within the course of the story.

I personally wonder if anyone will be able to read the final draft of his journal? The passages are always legible to the reader, even the ones described to us as "rough notes" so we can't tell the difference.

I think it comes down to being able to trust Rorschach as a reliable narrator of the story, and given his mental state, I'm inclined to believe that the journal would be illegible.

Thoughts?

 

[Spidey-Sean]

Actually I had the same thoughts once, that police report caught me off guard before.

But remember, at the very very end of the novel, when what's his name, the fat red headed newspaper assistant kid for the New Fronteirsman, actually reads a few lines from Rorschach's journal aloud, so apparently he did make it legible enough to read, even for an oaf like that kid. I think this indicates his journal will be read and likely published.

However, Rorschach's credibility is even questioned by Veidt considering his attack on the police and his wanted status, but the Frontiersman seems to paint vigilantees as heroes, so they would likely believe in Rorschach. Considering the right wing bent of that newspaper as well, the implications it has for the perceived liberal Veidt would also likely encourage them to publish it. Also, the Frontiersman has published conspiracy theories before, and the editor hates the new peace with the "reds", so there's even more incentive they would publish it.

 

[joke]

But remember, at the very very end of the novel, when what's his name, the fat red headed newspaper assistant kid for the New Fronteirsman, actually reads a few lines from Rorschach's journal aloud, so apparently he did make it legible enough to read, even for an oaf like that kid.

When? The last panel in my version is the kid reaching for the journal.

 

[MaskedManJRK]

When? The last panel in my version is the kid reaching for the journal.

Before that. He reads the first line of the story ("Dog carcass" and all of that), before the editor dismisses it as another psycho and tells the kid to put it in the slush pile.

 

[S.D. Plissken]

Actually I had the same thoughts once, that police report caught me off guard before.

But remember, at the very very end of the novel, when what's his name, the fat red headed newspaper assistant kid for the New Fronteirsman, actually reads a few lines from Rorschach's journal aloud, so apparently he did make it legible enough to read, even for an oaf like that kid. I think this indicates his journal will be read and likely published.

However, Rorschach's credibility is even questioned by Veidt considering his attack on the police and his wanted status, but the Frontiersman seems to paint vigilantees as heroes, so they would likely believe in Rorschach. Considering the right wing bent of that newspaper as well, the implications it has for the perceived liberal Veidt would also likely encourage them to publish it. Also, the Frontiersman has published conspiracy theories before, and the editor hates the new peace with the "reds", so there's even more incentive they would publish it.

Before that. He reads the first line of the story ("Dog carcass" and all of that), before the editor dismisses it as another psycho and tells the kid to put it in the slush pile.

Ahhh. You are right--and wrong.

At first I thought you had an overactive imagination--but it's funny because I remembered a similar scene occuring myself--but it ain't at the end of the book, it's in the second to last chapter.

The scene you describe occurs much earlier than the last page. In the last page, Seymour only reaches for the Journal.

In the 'TWO RIDERS WERE APPROACHING' book, the frontiersman office does recieve Rorschach's journal and this is when Seymour reads part of it to the editor who tells him to place it on the crank file because it sounds like the son of sam wrote it.

So, I guess this is a closed issue. Thanks for the help guys!

 

[bananafish]

And I think it's entirely possible that he's reaching for something else in the crank pile. Our eyes might just be attracted to the journal because it's colorful and we know its significance. He could be going for the pieces of paper on top of it, or maybe he'll ruffle through the pile to find something. I think the ending is open to interpretation, given that the red-headed guy was portrayed as an "oaf."

And it's possible the police were right that it was an elaborate cypher. Or he just really improved his handwriting. I think it's kinda funny and weird that he'd have drafts of what probably started as essentially a personal diary. Although I guess it is sort of incriminating in light of the Keene Act.

 

[The Amazing Lee]

The whole point of the journal at the end is for you to paint your own picture.....it's pretty much the obvious choice...I just love the fact that they didn't show the outcome...

 

[AlteredEgo]

i love how in the end the difference between the world knowing the truth and not is left in the hands of a person who's painted to be a complete idiot.

 

[The Amazing Lee]

i love how in the end the difference between the world knowing the truth and not is left in the hands of a person who's painted to be a complete idiot.

Sounds like Politics in general.

 

[Little Foot]

Why is the journal at all significant? It provides an interesting outlet of hope for those who wish that Rorshach was indeed able to share the truth, but it is set in a "crank" file for an extremely conservative paper. Whether it is published or not seems kind of irrelevant, legibility aside, because no one would seriously believe it, anymore than they would believe in any other conspiracy theory.

 

[butabi44]

Why is the journal at all significant? It provides an interesting outlet of hope for those who wish that Rorshach was indeed able to share the truth, but it is set in a "crank" file for an extremely conservative paper. Whether it is published or not seems kind of irrelevant, legibility aside, because no one would seriously believe it, anymore than they would believe in any other conspiracy theory.

this is exactly what i was thinking as i was reading this: even if it were published, no one would actually believe it; no more than someone would believe reading something out of the National Inquirer or STAR, in our world.

 

[Little Foot]

this is exactly what i was thinking as i was reading this: even if it were published, no one would actually believe it; no more than someone would believe reading something out of the National Inquirer or STAR, in our world.

Exactly.

 

[Loyalbeta]

I think it comes down to being able to trust Rorschach as a reliable narrator of the story, and given his mental state, I'm inclined to believe that the journal would be illegible.

Thoughts?

Handwriting and possible cypher aside, I think we know that Rorschach is an unreliable witness. One of the first journal entries reads as follows:

"They could have followed in the footsteps of good men like my father, or President Truman. Decent men, who believed in a day's work for a day's pay."

We find out later that he never grew up with his father (IIRC, I don't have my copy with me here). He's invented an entire fantasy world around his past/private life.

We, as the reader, know that he's unreliable, and if he can fabricate his own past, I would wonder if other parts of his journal reference other fabricated fantasies that can be easily disproved?

Loyalbeta

 

[RustyCage]

Well the chubby guy toward the end, working at the office, reads the journal out loud just fine. I think common sense takes over from there.

As for the point of him sending it because no one will believe it.. someone out there will hear him, someone will think twice. Even if it's just one person...

 

[Little Foot]

Well the chubby guy toward the end, working at the office, reads the journal out loud just fine. I think common sense takes over from there.

As for the point of him sending it because no one will believe it.. someone out there will hear him, someone will think twice. Even if it's just one person...

But it still lacks significance, in that case...

 

[carnageehw]

this is exactly what i was thinking as i was reading this: even if it were published, no one would actually believe it; no more than someone would believe reading something out of the National Inquirer or STAR, in our world.

The National Enquirer actually broke the John Edwards adultery storyline....so you never know.


Unfortunatley, the journal doesn't have any of the definitive answers we find out later...because the journal has already been mailed.

 

[Armored Avenger]

IF Rorschach's journal was chosen by Seymour to be printed I think that it would either:

1. Not be printed at all. Veidt would surely have eyes and ears all over the media in an effort to maintain his new world peace

2. Be dismissed as a conspiracy theory by a wanted fugitive

3. Be dismissed as the ramblings of a madman. Taken out of context Rorschachs journal reads like insanity. For example -
"Is everyone but me going mad? Over 40th street, an elephant was drifting".

 

[Asteroid-Man]

Rorschach wrote in the last entry:
"Whatever precise nature of the conspiracy, Adrian Veidt responsible. Have done best to make this legible"

So he made his final copy legible so it could be revealed. And Jon mentioning "Nothing ever ends" would just foreshadow that the world will soon find out that Adrian Veidt was behind it all.

 

[joke]

And Jon mentioning "Nothing ever ends" would just foreshadow that the world will soon find out that Adrian Veidt was behind it all.

Not necessarily. It could just as well mean that even with that "alien threat", the countries cannot work together and soon they'll have a falling out and become enemies again.

 

[Asteroid-Man]

Yeah but that the "Soon" will be because of Roschach's journal. Think about it, why else would Rorschach give himself up so easily?

 

[Armored Avenger]

why else would Rorschach give himself up so easily?

Because in Veidt's new world peace he would have had to live a life of compromise, knowing about the plan. Rorschach sees good and evil, his mask is black and white - no shades of grey. Veidt's plan makes Rorschach redundant in the world, so he removes the mask, knowing that Rorschach can no longer function in the world, and dies as Kovacs.

 

[RustyCage]

There's no way to tell, and that's the whole point of the ending being the way it is, and the journal being the way it is. It's the exact opposite of 'pointless', it's supposed to suspend us in this feeling of 'what do you as the reader think the outcome should be?'.

So it's up to you to decide whether or not they can or can't read it, or simply dream of the possible conclusions either way.

 

[luke1234]

I just like the idea that no matter what the answer is there. Society can believe in the journal or choose to deny it. The fact that Rorshach did his part in revealing the "good and evil" of the whole situation in his Journal Entries is a good enough ending for me. "Nothing ever ends" ,and this applies to the world as well as people and their ideas.

 

[CaptainGenerica]

I for one happen to think it's meaningless in the sense that even if it were revealed, published, and accepted by the public, it wouldn't take away from what I consider to be Veidt's accomplishment. Even if the plan falls apart and the conspiracy is revealed and Veidt is imprisoned for life, Veidt will still have prevented an imminent nuclear war, and given the world just a little bit of breathing room. Even if the superpowers plunge right back into the Cold War, at least he'll have given them a moment's peace.

 

[luke1234]

I for one happen to think it's meaningless in the sense that even if it were revealed, published, and accepted by the public, it wouldn't take away from what I consider to be Veidt's accomplishment. Even if the plan falls apart and the conspiracy is revealed and Veidt is imprisoned for life, Veidt will still have prevented an imminent nuclear war, and given the world just a little bit of breathing room. Even if the superpowers plunge right back into the Cold War, at least he'll have given them a moment's peace.

He didnt want to give the world breathing room. He wanted to stop violence forever thats why its so haunting to him when Dr. Manhattan states that nothing last forever.