I Am Pagliacci

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.

Doctors 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.”

Rorschach from the comic “The Watchmen.” 

Hat tip to @chrismartin17 for the general direction on this one. He mentioned it in a recent newsletter and I’m comic book nerd so here we go!

I’ve always been a fan of the Watchmen comic (not so much the movie and I haven’t seen any of the HBO episodes) for its deep storytelling, philosophic undertones, and general thoughtfulness. It’s steeped in cold war, post-Vietnam sentiments and not only tries to deal with the questions of heroes and villains but with purpose, truth, and integrity. It’s not an easy read but it’s definitely one of those books you get something different out of every time you read it.

The general phrase you hear commonly throughout the book is, “Who watches the Watchmen?” Who keeps tabs on those who are keeping tabs on us? This story about Pagliacci is an interesting one because, like Chris points out, it flips the question to “Who encourages those who encourage?” It can be said any number of ways, “Who disciples the disciples?”, “Who shepherds the shepherd’s?”, “Who pastors the pastors?”

It’s interesting because the book answers this question with irony; the watchers are really just as bad as the watched…mostly. We however believe in a God that comforts the downtrodden and lifts up the poor in spirit. Our Jesus is the glass of cold water we’ve been looking for; the spring to refresh our souls. He’s not just available to the elite but to all of us, everywhere, all the time, never ending. In a world where everyone is brandishing a dagger, He’s got an open hand.

We should make more of that story.

NOTE: The animation exists because Rorschach is described as having a mask that has a constantly changing face pattern. He describes it as his “face” which bring into question the whole idea of who the real man is – the mask or the person under it? 🤔