Strange and Charm

"At play admits the strangeness and charm" (Chapt. 4, Page 1, Panel 4)

This quote is posted in a broken cabinet above pictures of famous physicists including Dr. Manhattan. This is a phrase that alludes to two properties of quarks. A quark is the name for hypothetical subatomic particles which combine to make protons and neutrons. There are six types of quarks named up, down, charm, strange, top and bottom. These components of atoms relate to the atomic bombs threatening humanity in Watchmen. Since Dr. Manhattan's old picture was in this cabinet he partook in the research going into the creation of the atomic bomb. This is ironic because he later works to stop the madness that his research induced.

~"Quarks definition | Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com. 29 Mar. 2009 .

~"The Quark & Jaguar, Quantum Universe." 29 Mar. 2009 .

Owl

"Oh, uh, well, it's short for Archimedes, Merlin's pet owl in the 'Sword and the Stone'. I saw the Disney version once and .. well. You know. It's just a stupid nickname." (Chapter 7, Page 7, Panel 5)

Dan is speaking of his ship Archie in this panel. Archimedes was a great Greek mathematician, inventor, engineer and astronomer. Moore alludes to Archimedes because Dan uses more technical tools than physical power to help people. The Disney movie Sword in the Stone names the Owl Archimedes because he is very wise. Owls are generally personified as being wise, probably because they perceive so much with their nigh vision and ability to turn their heads. Moore uses Dan's character as a neutral observer who observes many angles of situations. This is Moore's reason for making his emblem an owl.

~"A Magical Time in Merry Old England." Ladytink's Neverland. 29 Mar. 2009 .

~"Archimedes - Crystalinks." Crystalinks Metaphysical and Science Website. 29 Mar. 2009 .

Gratitude

"Gratitude" (Chapt. 7, page 28, 7th panel)

Chapter seven starts with an image of Hollis Mason's mini-statue to foreshadow his death. The foreground of the last panel in the chapter shows this statue again, while trick-or-treaters in the background look onto Hollis Mason's dead body. This death scene is very powerful because it captures the theme of underappreciation for the masked heroes. During the Minute Men's time Hollis Mason was idolized for his reinforcement, but killed by the people he once tryed to help. Another example of this theme is that Veidt thinks he will be honored for his bold extermination, but is instead concidered a vandal. People's opinon of what is right differs so drastically that it makes it hard for a person to help others because that person may not have the same opinion of what is right as the other.

Pale Horse

"Though maybe I'll borrow them for Pale Horse's Madison Squares Garden concerts in early November. They're kinda devo. (Chapt. 7, page 10, panel 2)

Moore has made Pale Horse the name of a band in the Watchmen and ties it into the novel in several ways. It shows up in dialogue, graffiti, posters and logos on the back of some of the Katie Head's jackets. This is a reference to Revelation 6:8. The King James Bible reads "And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth." The Pale Horse is one of the many symbols that foreshadow the destruction Veidt causes later in the novel. Moore is implying Veidt's similarity to the Pale Horse and that he is devo or on the rise.

~"Revelation 6:8 I looked, and behold, an ashen horse; and he who." Online Parallel Bible: Weaving God's Word into the Web. 29 Mar. 2009 .

Gunga Diner

"Gunga Diner" (Chapt. 1, Page 4, Panel 5)

Gunga Diner is a prominent thread in Watchmen and is a reference to Rudyard Kipling's poem, Gunga Din. This poem is about an Indian named Gunga Din who brings British soldiers water during their battles. Gunga Din is a reliable man who "didn't seem to know the use o' fear" (line 37) and helps the speaker when shot even though he has shown Gunga Din no respect or appreciation. At the end of the poem Gunga Din dies and it is said that "'E'll be squattin' on the coals, Givin' drink to poor damned souls, An' I'll get a swig in hell from Gunga Din!"(line 58-60). This means that Gunga Din was not perfect so will be going to hell, but is still appreciated, as proven by the speakers last comment: "Though I've belted you and flayed you, By the livin' Gawd that made you, You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din!(lines 63-65). Moore uses this reference to draw a parallel from Gunga Din to the masked heroes. After the Keene Act the Minute Men had to retire because the idea of helping others by their own morals and not the federal law, society viewed as wrong. Towards the end of Watchmen masked heroes were looked upon by the reader and general population in the book as people who were not perfect, but were trying to help nevertheless. The masked heroes are always around to give the people a sip of water when thirsty.


~"Gunga Din a poem by Rudyard Kipling." Love Poems. A site Dedicated to Poets - Poems - Biography. 29 Mar. 2009 .

Gordian Knot

"Gordian Knot Lock Co." (Chapt. 3, page 8, Panel 1)

The Gordian Knot Lock Company that is often needed by Dan and Moloch to restore their locks broken by Rorschach refers to the Greek legend of the Gordian Knot. This legend tells of an impossibly intricate knot in the square of Phrygia. It was believed that the person who could untie the knot would be the future ruler of Asia. Alexander the Great in 333 B.C. came along and cut apart the knot with his sword. to Once the lock is set Rorschach brakes the door open again by force. This foreshadows that seemingly difficult problems like the World's nuclear tension can be solved by force. Later in the novel Veidt mentions that he idolized Alexander the Great and shows that they have the same mindset when he solves the nuclear problem by force.

~"Untying the Gordian Knot." Mathematical Association of America: MAA Online. 29 Mar. 2009 .

Dachau

"Yeah, well so's Dachau. I'd never forgive somebody who did that." (Chapter 2, Page 2, Panel 1)

In this panel Laurie compares Edward Blake's attempt of raping her mother to Dachau. Dachau was the first Nazi concentration camp built and stood as a model and training center for the following camps that were organised. Laurie's allusion is appropriate because Edward Blake heartlessly killed people in World War II while stationed in Japan. Since Moore uses Dachau to describe Edward Blake's actions proves his opinion that war in general is wrong and unjust. This quote foreshadows Veights extermination of many people in the major cities of the world, because that action is comparable to the Nazis exterminating the Jews in concentration camps. Laurie's allusion is ironic because in the end of the novel she forgave her mother for loving Edward Blake once she witnessed a mass extermination.


~"Dachau (concentration camp, Germany) -- Britannica Online Encyclopedia." Encyclopedia - Britannica Online Encyclopedia. 24 Mar. 2009 .

~"Dachau Concentration Camp - Liberation April 29,1945 Timeline Dachau." Judicial Inc is now Judicial-Inc.Org. 24 Mar. 2009 .