Thursday, November 29, 2012

Watchmen: Chapter XI - The Back-Matter


The Back-Matter

The C.R.E.E.P. acronym mentioned in Veidt’s opening statement of this interview was, in reality, the Committee for the Re-Election of the President, abbreviated as CRP by Nixon’s campaign but circumvented by his adversaries through the CREEP moniker.  It was a fundraising organization for Nixon’s second term as President.  Besides its fundraising activities it was also directly involved with the Watergate scandal that eventually brought President Nixon down, in our reality.

Veidt’s use of humanoids to describe Nixon’s retinue is easily deflected by Veidt with his anecdote, but the use of this term is very much in keeping with Veidt’s character.  Adrian Veidt is detached from humanity.  Ascribed to the much higher functioning of his intellect and physicality, this facet of Veidt is evident in the “secret origin” of this chapter – particularly the nonchalant manner with which he accepted his parents’ passing.  And it is this detachment that allows him to conceive and go through with his horrific plan. 

And, finally, the text in the Nostalgia ad at the bottom of the final page – “The Times They Are A’Changing” – foreshadows the denouement of the next, and final, chapter of Watchmen.  Things are certainly going to change, but will it be for the better or the worse?

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