“Dog carcass in alley this morning, tire tread on burst stomach. This city is afraid of me. I have seen its true face.”
The diary entry gives the reader a glimpse into the cold, callous, possibly unhinged mind of one it’s most dogged costumed defenders. In saying this he acknowledges that despite being it’s most fervent crime-fighters the citizenry is not fond of him or his methods; in addition he also makes mention that he has seen the systemic corruption that permeates virtually all aspects of life in the city.
“None of you understand. I'm not locked up in here with YOU. You're locked up in here with ME.”
Rorschach defiantly challenges all the criminals in the prison, declaring that despite being outnumbered he isn’t afraid. In fact one make interpret his bold statement as a warning of sorts; despite being unarmed and outnumbered he is still capable of inflicting great harm on anyone stupid enough to assault him as he still possesses two of his most formidable weapons: his tactical genius and his unshakeable commitment to stopping crime.
“Thermodynamic miracles... events with odds against so astronomical they're effectively impossible, like oxygen spontaneously becoming gold. I long to observe such a thing. And yet, in each human coupling, a thousand million sperm vie for a single egg. Multiply those odds by countless generations, against the odds of your ancestors being alive; meeting; siring this precise son; that exact daughter... Until your mother loves a man she has every reason to hate, and of that union, of the thousand million children competing for fertilization, it was you, only you, that emerged. To distill so specific a form from that chaos of improbability, like turning air to gold... that is the crowning unlikelihood. The thermodynamic miracle.
This monologue gives us insight into Dr. Manhattan’s diminishing humanity. The thermonuclear event that gave him his godlike powers is also affecting his perception of reality. He no longer sees things the way humanity does and as such he grows more and more distant as the things that used to limit him such as the need for food, rest, breathing, etc. no longer apply to him.
“Heard joke once: Man goes to doctor. Says he's depressed. Says life seems harsh and cruel. Says he feels all alone in a threatening world where what lies ahead is vague and uncertain. Doctor says, "Treatment is simple. Great clown Pagliacci is in town tonight. Go and see him. That should pick you up." Man bursts into tears. Says, "But doctor...I am Pagliacci.”
The statement perfectly sums up the dark humor and wit that earned him his moniker. In saying this The Comedian is essentially saying that although people turn to costumed vigilantes like him for answers to certain question, people often find that even the so-called superheroes they look up to are, at the end of the day, just human.
