Meaning In The Watchmen

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What’s meaningful to one person may not be as meaningful to another. In the Watchmen, all characters lead meaningful lives but each in very different ways. Meaning arises differently in Laurie, Rorschach, Adrien, and Dr. Manhattan’s lives therefore they all have different meanings that have to do with each person’s life satisfaction. Even though they are all superheroes and there is the big aspect of meaning in their lives is fulfilled by protecting society and fighting crime, it is not the only source of leading a meaningful life for any of them. From giving meaning to other people’s lives, creating a new life from hiding behind a mask, saving the world, or even seeing the true value of things. The variations from what meaning arises and from …show more content…
There are many different situations where she does this over the course of the book but, the big thing that got her started was in order to benefit her mom. Sally, Laurie’s mom, was part of the Minutemen and she wanted Laurie to follow in her footsteps with the watchmen. Laurie had spent 10 years as silk spectre “running around in a stupid costume because my stupid mom wanted me to” (Chapter 1, Page 25, Frame 5). Laurie created her life for her mom to feel she had a purpose and made a meaningful contribution to society. Her daughter was the meaningful contribution who was there to protect and help people but it didn’t benefit Laurie in any way; her whole life was a sacrifice for her mother. The second time we see Laurie doing something for others not herself, is when she dresses up in her costume again so that Dan Dreiberg is able to have sex with her. She had never liked being dressed up in costume and earlier when she was first talking with Dan she had said “Y’know, when I think back… why did we do it? Why did we dress up like that? (Book 1, Page 25, Frame 7), it was uncomfortable for her and she never liked it to begin with. The same time she was talking with Dan, she said “The Keene act was the best thing that ever happened to us.” (Chapter 1, Page 25, Frame 7). It demonstrates how glad she was to get out of the costume and not be allowed to wear it. Laurie only dresses in the costume in order to help Dan pursue life satisfaction, which is a key component in creating a meaningful life. Laurie is always there to help create meaning about other people’s lives and this is what her life revolves around. For her, making people feel good about themselves and helping them out when needed is what makes Laurie feel she has a meaningful
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