BATMAN
Batman: the Dark Knight
Batman, the Dark Knight is full of underlying philosophy on society and life in many ways; I will focus on three of them: good versus evil, order versus chaos, and the theme of corruption. This film masterfully portrays a philosophic insight into selfish human behavior as a whole in society, while also giving an alternative perspective on the evil that lies in people just under a thin veneer of good ethics.
The Dark Knight marvellously explores how very close to each other are good and evil. In the movie, society pits Batman against the Joker, believing that good will overcome evil and the chaotic Joker. The Joker believes that he and Batman are really two sides of the same coin. For example, Batman is always breaking laws, damaging property, and causing a commotion. Technically he’s an outlaw, as are all vigilantes. But in contrast to the Joker, he is doing it for the greater good. And the people of Gotham do nothing about it because it is in their self-interest to ignore Batman’s methods while benefitting from the order that Batman is upholding. Later in the movie, after the Joker really tries to drive home the truth that the masses of people will turn on Batman as soon as they see it will benefit them, he wants to reveal what a joke society is. He proves his point by giving Batman the power to end the killings of innocent citizen simply by turning himself in.
People then see Batman in a different light, as an evil figure causing all these deaths, turning on him, and therefore proving the Joker’s point.
Chaos and anarchy are the only truths in the eyes the Joker. His purpose is to expose the just how fragile are our societal laws and ethics that hold us on the brink of a chaotic abyss. The Joker throughout the film imposes chaos not for the sake chaos, but as a tool to bring out the true colours of society, which are shown to be shallowly below the surface. For example, the district attorney for Gotham is Harvey Dent. A
Batman, the Dark Knight is full of underlying philosophy on society and life in many ways; I will focus on three of them: good versus evil, order versus chaos, and the theme of corruption. This film masterfully portrays a philosophic insight into selfish human behavior as a whole in society, while also giving an alternative perspective on the evil that lies in people just under a thin veneer of good ethics.
The Dark Knight marvellously explores how very close to each other are good and evil. In the movie, society pits Batman against the Joker, believing that good will overcome evil and the chaotic Joker. The Joker believes that he and Batman are really two sides of the same coin. For example, Batman is always breaking laws, damaging property, and causing a commotion. Technically he’s an outlaw, as are all vigilantes. But in contrast to the Joker, he is doing it for the greater good. And the people of Gotham do nothing about it because it is in their self-interest to ignore Batman’s methods while benefitting from the order that Batman is upholding. Later in the movie, after the Joker really tries to drive home the truth that the masses of people will turn on Batman as soon as they see it will benefit them, he wants to reveal what a joke society is. He proves his point by giving Batman the power to end the killings of innocent citizen simply by turning himself in.
People then see Batman in a different light, as an evil figure causing all these deaths, turning on him, and therefore proving the Joker’s point.
Chaos and anarchy are the only truths in the eyes the Joker. His purpose is to expose the just how fragile are our societal laws and ethics that hold us on the brink of a chaotic abyss. The Joker throughout the film imposes chaos not for the sake chaos, but as a tool to bring out the true colours of society, which are shown to be shallowly below the surface. For example, the district attorney for Gotham is Harvey Dent. A