In defense of Watchman, Severian

Alan Lewis · 22 Mar 2005, 18:30 · from 2005-March.txt.gz

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From: alanarc at frontiernet.net (Alan Lewis)
Date: Tue Mar 22 18:30:47 2005
Subject: (urth) In defense of Watchman, Severian
References: <BAY102-F11A4CFB410ED53E71165FA864D0 at phx.gbl>
	<4240C4E6.6040307 at gmail.com>
Message-ID: <023f01c52f50$4dd3ea30$2423d2d1@VALUED7B9600FA>

Personally I agree with some of the points already raised defending both The 
Watchman, and Severian, so I'll try to add my own views without repeating 
theirs unduly.

I disagree with the premise some have advanced that because something 
happens in a work of fiction -- like fascism succeeding -- should somehow 
equate to the writer endorsing such things.  Did anyone think Orwell 
believed in authoritarian societies because he wrote 1984?  There clearly we 
realize the reverse is true.  Watchman is problematic perhaps because it 
lacks a perfect protaganist that we know we're supposed to identify with. 
Rorschach is tempting in this way, but let's face it, he's basically a 
ruthless psycho.  But this is part of the point, not one of these main 
characters is really correct, certainly not Dr Manhattan or Ozy, so just 
because they 'win' I think it is very wrong to see that as saying they were 
right.  Nor does a writer have to agree with everything he has his 
characters say.  To make interesting dramatic conflict, he should just make 
them internally consistant and three dimensional, and on those grounds I 
think Moore succeeds in Watchman.

But if people really want to know what Moore thinks of fascism, you should 
read the (I think) vastly superior though less famous V is For Vendetta. 
Soon to be ruined by Hollywood no doubt as they adapt it.  So far poor Alan 
Moore is 0 for 2 with From Hell, and League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. 
Maybe someday they'll make a movie from one of his works, and actually use 
something he, you know, wrote in the process.

As for Severian and his choice, we have to remember again that Severian was 
chosen to make the choice he makes, that indeed, his life is tampered with 
to produce the individual he becomes, in order to make the choice he makes. 
Can we really say then he had any true choice in bringing the New Sun?  The 
fact that he can feel guilty about it and aware of the repercussions and 
feel sympathy for those that oppose him attest to his humanity, such as it 
is.

And I think the worthy Dan'l is being disingenuous in calling Dune fascist, 
then seeming surprised that the lovers of the book feel offended.  Let's 
keep the term fascist for books that more clearly deserve it, like Starship 
Troopers <g>.

Alan

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