The Dark Knight
(Christopher Nolan, 2008, USA) does not directly adapt one specific Batman
comic book or story line. Story elements from various comic books and graphic
novels that span the characters history are referenced in the film’s plot. The
Joker’s plot to kill important Gotham citizens is also his plot in Batman #1
(1940) and screen writer David Goyer has cited The Long Halloween
(1996-1997) as inspiration for his depiction of Harvey Dent; however in Goyer’s
version it’s the Joker who gets to light the mob’s money on fire changing the
meaning of the scene. In Goyer’s version of events the Joker is setting the
mob’s money ablaze because he is above money he is a “better” class of
criminal. In the source material Harvey Dent sets the mob’s money ablaze to
further cripple organize crime and help clean up Gotham city. Clearly the
obstacles and moral quandaries the Caped Crusader must overcome in The Dark Knight
(Christopher Nolan, 2008, USA) are not new ones. What is a 21st
century problem is Batman’s solution to his obstacles in this film. Wayne
Industries, similar to a modern day telecommunications giant, can tap into the
cell phones and devices of the citizens of a large American city. Because Bruce
Wayne is a benevolent oligarch he knows this is too much power for him to wield
and places a check on his power, namely Lucius Fox.
In a post 9/11 America how we respond to depictions of the Joker’s terrorist
acts take on a different meaning. In the story line A Death in the Family
(1988-1989) the Joker literally blows up the second Robin Jason Todd. The
aftermath of that story line often centers on Batman being driven closer to the
edge, losing control, and becoming more ruthless in his tactics. In The Dark Knight
(Christopher Nolan, 2008, USA) both the citizens of Gotham and Batman himself
begin unraveling as a result of the Joker’s terrorist acts. A question that is
posed often in modern American politics is where do we strike the balance
between safety and liberty? Batman must face the same question in The Dark Knight
(Christopher Nolan, 2008, USA). The Joker is such an outlier that this is the
one time Batman must usurp the privacy and rights of Gotham’s citizens. Batman
doesn’t go as far as declaring martial law but he does recognize the precarious
nature of one man holding so much power. He shares this power with the man he
trusts to shepherd his large multinational corporation Wayne Industries. In
both cases Wayne depends on Lucius Fox to be the check on over reaching power
that can be potentially destructive.
The two modern American problems of capitalism and surveillance are
examined in The
Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, 2008, USA).Wayne Industries has the power
to run amok and ruin lives or uplift the citizens of a city with projects like
mass transit. Despite his formidable intellect Bruce Wayne cannot maintain his
one man war on crime and makes sure that the corporation that operates with his
family’s name maintains ethical practices while filling its coffers to satisfy
its board members. Lucius Fox is the man Bruce entrusts with the company that
bears his family name. Mr. Fox is a benevolent industrialist like Bruce Wayne
and serves both as Q and M to Bruce’s James Bond. Batman later extends this
trust in Lucius when he wire taps the entire city. Like Gandalf Batman knows
despite his best intentions this power may corrupt him and he needs a mortal to
both to wield and later destroy this extraordinary power. Both Lucius and
Batman are rewarded for their faith in each other.
When can civil liberties be suspended? The Joker’s thesis is anyone can be like
him given the right circumstances. Perhaps this is why accusations of insanity
are one of the few accusations Christopher Nolan’s depiction of the Joker takes
umbrage with. He’s not crazy he’s just a guy who has had a bad day. Even though
virtually everyone would agree the Joker’s alignment is chaotic evil, I wonder
if Nolan’s Joker (played masterfully by the late Heath Ledger) might argue that
he is in fact chaotic neutral? After examining The Dark Knight
(Christopher Nolan, 2008, USA) I begin to feel more ambiguous on whether or not
the Joker was successful in his plans to push Batman over the edge. During my
first screening of the film I felt confident that despite the Joker’s rampage
he did not defeat The Batman because Bruce would not violate his moral code and
snap the neck of the Crown Prince of Crime despite the Joker murdering one of
Bruce’s loved ones and committing wanton death and destruction throughout the
city. He proved the joker wrong as did the citizens on the two ferries wired
with explosives. However my creeping feeling of ambiguity comes from my
realization that the joker did force Batman to spy and violate the rights of
the citizens of Gotham City. The Joker forces Batman to choose safety and order
over liberty and chaos.
Batman is the hope that good people given the opportunity would do what is
right. Batman is single minded in his goal; he foresakes his own happiness and
desires to stand up for those who cannot help themselves. Bruce Wayne was once
helpless to protect those closest in his life. Batman strives to never feel as
impotent as that little boy crying in terror in crime alley all those years
ago. Batman has replaced young Bruce’s inability to protect his parents with
Batman’s need to protect the city of Gotham. FDR believed his place in society
came with a responsibility to help those around him especially the
disenfranchised. Batman takes this ethos and adds the psychology of a
traumatized young boy who refuses to ever feel powerless again. Every fiber of
his body is dedicated to protecting Gotham City and sometimes even Batman must
puts checks in place to protect him from himself and who better to check the
power of Batman then the voice of god himself Morgan Freeman who portrays
Lucius Fox in Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy.
