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"I am just an agent of Chaos"

Parvinder Udayan

Recently I met a younger cousin of mine. While chatting we started talking about superheroes and villains. He told me that his forever childhood idol  has changed. Batman with most liked superhero. The billionaire, playboy, slick haired Bruce Wayne with bat mobile, High tech gadgets, who fights Gotham’s  crimes by night. Ground beneath the Dark Knight was slipping away. The reason for that was a schizophrenic, psychopath, mad man. Psychological traits often associated with that legendary mentally ill character.

It actually takes a close analysis as to why the character will go down as the greatest felons of all times.Irrational behavior is the first thing one expects of a person suffering from the above mentioned symptoms of mental disease. The joker displays disparity in this. He manages to outdo all of them. His actions are louder but his explanation for them is something one cannot help but agree upon. After robbing a bank in the pilot scene and killing all the accomplices, an injured bank manager questions him about his principles to which he replies that “ i believe in, whatever doesn't kill you simply makes you stranger (stronger)”. Some would say he was just a criminal but to reiterate Alfred's point, some people aren't looking for something logical or rationale, they can’t be bullied, bought or negotiated with, they just want to watch the world burn. Joker burns his share and says, “ it's not about the money, it's about sending a message”. A criminal who robs bank and burns the money. These two instances highlight contradiction i am trying to point out.

Joker’s ideological views make more sense than anyone. When accused of being the mastermind behind Rachel’s murder. He blames the schemers, who try to control their little world. He just turned the plan on his head to show them ‘how pathetic their attempt to control things really are’. ‘Introduce  a little anarchy, upset the established order and everything becomes chaos, I AM JUST AN AGENT OF CHAOS’.

His motive seems to contradict people’s principles and show them that these principles don't work in practical life. The protagonist doesn’t believe in killing but in order to save Dent or Rachel, he has to choose between one life. Rachel is killed and Harvey is scarred emotionally and physically. Harvey is shown as the white knight who is thought to be incorruptible but joker succeeds in turning him into a murderer.

Joker in a conversation with Batman brings it up that to the people of Gotham both of them are freaks and outcasts. Batman out castes in the end. One could easily argue that Batman saved the day but at what cost. The joker continues to outsmart everyone throughout and actually manages to succeed. Batman and Commissioner Gordon concede his fact. The joker displays psychopathic tendencies throughout but still comes out as a rationale and smart individual.        


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