Joker in a lot of ways represents anarchist thought. He is an anarchist. He represents unintended consequences, he mocks Batman in the interrogation room for Batman’s inability to gain leverage on the Joker, even with the full power of the state (a monopoly on force). Batman had to rely on torture and spying on Gotham’s citizens on a massive scale to find the Joker, he literally turned Gotham City into a panopticon.

How convenient was that spy machine. The NSA would be quite impressed. If Batman is so concerned about the safety of Gotham’s citizens then he should have kept the machine going. Like Eisenhower said:

“If you want total security, go to prison. There you’re fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking… is freedom.”

And I didn’t quite see the Joker as taking direct pleasure in either killing or the suffering of others. I remember a few instances where he said something along the line of, ‘…Don’t take this personally”. His destruction, as I saw it, wasn’t out of hate or because the thing being destroyed went against his beliefs(he had no beliefs or ideals-a sign of a true liberated person), no he couldn’t bomb out of dislike for that would be fascist. As an “agent of chaos” he destroyed to set people free from their bonds with control.

I actually see batman and the rest as “bad guys”, if there is such a thing, as they are the discriminating ones. They are the control freaks.

Only someone who is truly free could have acted as the Joker did. None the less, I don’t think that the character was intended to have the depth that it actually did.

When “the chips are down”, everyone puts himself/herself at 1st place…

It’s sad, but well… truth is (ost of the times) sad…

WOW! That is some skeptical stuff!

Why do you think 99.99% of people are selfish?

TDM

Our society sux, and it’s getting worse day by day. In 50 years, the words FRIENSHIP, GOOD,… won’t exist anymore.

TDM

SA – Again with an amazing comment. I always look forward to reading them.

Firstly, thank you so much for your kind words – they mean
a lot.

Secondly, YOU GOT IT. We are not Batman or the Joker. We are a mix of them both. I look at Batman and Joker as symbols of two things:

1. Our inner selves – the inherent good is Batman and the part of us that is greedy and angry is the Joker.

2. A symbol of society – remember when the Joker says to Batman “this is what happens when an unstoppable force meets and immovable object”? Well, that, to me, is kind of like the never ending battle between good and bad in society. We see it all the time – democracy vs terrorism, etc.

Anyway, I loved the movie and I truly loved the way Heath Ledger lost himself in to the Joker. I’m sad he’s gone.

TDM

Now coming back to Batman/Joker story. Lately, I have been debating in my mind, body and soul for the existence of jealousy and greed in this world. I could not help finding myself at certain times I feel these two ‘evils’. I started looking for answers and found some clue. But your refreshing analogy from the movie adds to the Aha feeling! At times we may be 90% Batman’s and other times 10% Joker (this % varies among people depending on self awareness). So as long as we do not let the Joker overpower ourselves, it is fine at certain levels and times to be protective and selfish. Conversely, if we inhibit these feelings the effect worsen. So if we accept in other cases that we are jealous and selfish we may uncover our fears or insecurity. I believe there are more Batmans in this world but it is unrecognized Jokers in ourselves that is unaccounted for. To uncover the Joker effect one can explore by meditation, self-reflection and awareness. Thank you again, I believe you are part of the ‘gift’ on my way to attain a higher self