Batman vs. Joker in “The Dark Knight” Film by Nolan

The confrontation between the Joker and Batman is one of the favorite topics for comics and cinema. Both images are fascinating and well-developed since Batman is not an absolute hero, and the Joker can hardly be called an uncharismatic villain. Nevertheless, the confrontation of these two characters can be analyzed from the point of view of human psychology, which is confirmed by examples from the films.

One can start with the theory of virtue ethics, which attaches particular importance to virtues and moral character, instead of approaches that emphasize the importance of duties and rules. Utilitarianism, on the contrary, devalues life, since according to this theory, the moral value of behavior is determined solely by its usefulness. In short, the motto of this theory is that the end justifies the means. Deontology is a branch of ethics that is guided by the rules of behavior and the concept of duty. A person driven by selfishness thinks only about their benefit and their well-being. Nihilists deny generally accepted values and question all norms of morality and culture. The theory of postmodernism in ethics assumes the world as chaos, devoid of integrity, logic, and moral guidelines.

Ethical Theories and the Main Characters of the Movie

The Joker in the film The Dark Knight appears to the audience as a follower of nihilism and postmodernism, as he represents perfect anarchy and chaos. In addition, the Joker is an absolute egoist who does not care about other people and any material values. “Madness, as you know, is a lot like gravity. All it takes is a little push” (Nolan, 2008). Batman, on the contrary, is a lawfully neutral character who follows the theory of deontology since he is guided by duty and rules.

Batman will never punish a criminal if an innocent civilian suffers at the same time. Still, it is difficult to call him a representative of the ethics of virtue since he is still not perfect and makes mistakes. “As a man, I’m flesh and blood; I can be ignored, I can be destroyed. But as a symbol… As a symbol, I can be incorruptible. I can be everlasting” ( Nolan, 2008). Surprisingly, there are not so many computer graphics in the film since the film’s creators tried not to use visual effects unnecessarily. Thus, the relationship between Batman and the Joker can be an excellent topic for analysis from psychology and ethics.

References

Nolan, C. (2008). Batman: The dark knight [Film]. DC Comics, Warner Bros.

Cite this paper

Select style

Reference

StudyCorgi. (2023, February 5). Batman vs. Joker in “The Dark Knight” Film by Nolan. https://studycorgi.com/batman-vs-joker-in-the-dark-knight-film-by-nolan/

Work Cited

"Batman vs. Joker in “The Dark Knight” Film by Nolan." StudyCorgi, 5 Feb. 2023, studycorgi.com/batman-vs-joker-in-the-dark-knight-film-by-nolan/.

* Hyperlink the URL after pasting it to your document

References

StudyCorgi. (2023) 'Batman vs. Joker in “The Dark Knight” Film by Nolan'. 5 February.

1. StudyCorgi. "Batman vs. Joker in “The Dark Knight” Film by Nolan." February 5, 2023. https://studycorgi.com/batman-vs-joker-in-the-dark-knight-film-by-nolan/.


Bibliography


StudyCorgi. "Batman vs. Joker in “The Dark Knight” Film by Nolan." February 5, 2023. https://studycorgi.com/batman-vs-joker-in-the-dark-knight-film-by-nolan/.

References

StudyCorgi. 2023. "Batman vs. Joker in “The Dark Knight” Film by Nolan." February 5, 2023. https://studycorgi.com/batman-vs-joker-in-the-dark-knight-film-by-nolan/.

This paper, “Batman vs. Joker in “The Dark Knight” Film by Nolan”, was written and voluntary submitted to our free essay database by a straight-A student. Please ensure you properly reference the paper if you're using it to write your assignment.

Before publication, the StudyCorgi editorial team proofread and checked the paper to make sure it meets the highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, fact accuracy, copyright issues, and inclusive language. Last updated: .

If you are the author of this paper and no longer wish to have it published on StudyCorgi, request the removal. Please use the “Donate your paper” form to submit an essay.