Sally Jupiter (the original Silk Spectre) Character Analysis in Watchmen

Sally Jupiter is Laurie’s mother and one of the Minutemen. Sally grooms Laurie to succeed her as a costumed hero from a young age, and Laurie resents her for it as an adult. From the start, Sally uses the exposure she receives as a hero to make money through her modeling career, which makes her into a national sex symbol. She marries her publicist, Laurence Schexnayder, and the two have an unhappy marriage for several years before divorcing. Although Edward Blake once tries to rape her, Sally eventually falls in love with Blake, especially as she grows older. Blake is Laurie’s father, but Sally conceals this fact from everyone, including her own daughter. When Laurie forgives Sally for everything and tells her that it’s okay that Blake is her real father, Sally kisses Blake’s picture and cries, revealing that she still loves him.

Sally Jupiter (the original Silk Spectre) Character Timeline in Watchmen

The timeline below shows where the character Sally Jupiter (the original Silk Spectre) appears in Watchmen. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...that Blake died. She says the man was a monster who tried to rape her mother, as Hollis wrote in his book. Rorschach blows off the event as a patriot’s “moral... (full context)

While Jon attends Edward Blake’s funeral, Laurie visits her mother in a retirement home in California. Laurie and her mother, Sally Jupiter, are terse with... (full context)

Sally flashes back to a publicity photo session with the Minutemen, decades before. After the group... (full context)

Hollis recalls that the Minutemen formed in 1939, when Captain Metropolis convinced Sally’s agent—and later, husband—Laurence Schexnayder to organize a publicity campaign. Given all of the heroes’ “extreme... (full context)

...study, late at night. After Walter attacked the boys, the government removed him from his mother and placed him in state custody. Away from Sylvia, Walter does well in school, though... (full context)

...“fantasy” now. Laurie thinks that she wasn’t even living out her own fantasy, just her mother’s. They climb up to the airship and Dan holds Laurie’s hands for a few seconds... (full context)

Hollis, in New York, calls Sally in California and tells her that he saw Nite Owl and Silk Spectre on the... (full context)

...and listening to her parents fight in the next room, near divorce. Laurence knows that Sally had an affair, and that Laurie isn’t his daughter. When Laurence and Sally find Laurie... (full context)

Laurie recalls being 13 years old and seeing Sally with a gathering of first-generation vigilantes. Laurie overhears them wondering if all of their crime... (full context)

...After Jon leaves the meeting, she meets the Comedian and vaguely flirts with him. Soon, Sally storms up and takes Laurie away, though Laurie doesn’t understand what is so bad about... (full context)

...him. Laurie approaches Blake, throws her drink in his face, accuses him of raping her mother, and shouts until Jon arrives and teleports her away. Laurie doesn’t know why she’s retelling... (full context)

Various clippings from Sally’s scrapbook reveal snippets of her life: A letter from a TV producer states that they... (full context)

At Christmas, Dan and Laurie visit Sally in California. They’ve both changed their appearances and taken the aliases Sam and Linda Hollis.... (full context)