Is Batman ethical or unethical? That depends on what book, movie, or cartoon that you watch; Batman is a character that is depicted in many different ways depending on the author. Frank Miller’s, The Dark Knight Returns is a darker view of Batman. Batman makes some different ethical decisions in this comic book that an avid Batman reader would be surprised by. Miller shows a new side of Batman and opens reader’s eyes to unethically handled situations by Batman. However, over all Batman is ethical in his actions and intentions. Batman is a vigilante however he protects Gotham City and when Batman is hiding Gotham is over run with criminals and the city doesn’t feel safe without the protection that Batman gives them. Batman follows the ideas …show more content…
(Miller, 1986, p. 34). A conflict Batman Faced with the Utilitarian approach was that he wasn’t always a follower of reducing suffering. When Batman was faced with the option of minimal suffering on a criminal over more suffering and pain, he chose the pain. Batman enjoys inflicting pain on others a because of his built up anger of his parent’s death. He has a lot of built up anger and doesn’t always completely follow the utilitarian approach. Although he did catch the criminal which maximized happiness he inflicted pain instead of reducing suffering (Miller, 1986, p. 39). Batman shows no mercy to criminals including the Joker, the Joker returned from being a catatonic prisoner at an asylum to being a criminal when Batman returned, and when Batman had the opportunity to kill him he instead chose the option of breaking his neck to paralyze him. Although this did reduce suffering because he didn’t kill him he did paralyze him which wasn’t he more reducing suffering approach. However, this did ensure happiness of Gotham because he removed the Joker from the streets which provided a lot of safety to the city (Miller, 1986, p.150). Overall Batman protects the citizens and maximizes …show more content…
Although Miller’s Depiction of Batman in The Dark Knight Returns was very extreme and surprising to many he still perceives Batman to his audience as Ethical. Overall Batman is helping the the innocent citizens in Gotham City by protecting them and lowering the crime rates that arose while he was gone. He is helping many people by removing the criminals from the streets even if some of his ways of doing so may be seen as vicious. He is able to get the job done that the police officers are unable to get control of and he is able to remove many criminals from the streets of Gotham. Batman is ethical and he is very important to Gotham, without his return Gotham would be overrun with criminals that could eventually take over. Although he does not kill he is able to take back control of Gotham like he never left. Batman is a hero who has the the entire city on his mind while fighting crime and doing the thing he does best, protect
It has been eight years since the ending of the previous movie, The Dark Knight. At the end of this movie, Batman took the blame for the people killed by Harvey Dent, the district attorney who set out a war against crime. During The Dark Knight, crime had decreased dramatically because of him and Batman. Numerous criminals were placed in prison because of him. Therefore, Batman took the blame for his murders
Firstly, the movie presents the world of Gotham City, urban environment similar in many ways to that found in many modern, American cities. Gotham has many social problems and is filled with the same deviant and criminal activity that often are present in every city. In Gotham the crime is high, also the police are corrupted also there are different culture and rules in the city that lead to deviant culture. But there is Batman that fight over time in a war between justice also the crime.
In most superhero or action movies, the good guys are always the ones who are in the right with everything that they do, and the bad guys are always in the wrong, but that is not always how it goes. In 2008, director Christopher Nolan released the second installment in the Dark Knight trilogy, The Dark Knight. This blockbuster hit pits the “Caped Crusader” Batman, against his insane nemesis, the Joker as well as the once great Harvey Dent, in order to save the city of Gotham from complete chaos and destruction. However, when the movie comes to its conclusion, Gotham has not changed almost at all, and in fact some things are actually worse than they were before, and the Joker is not entirely responsible. The reason for this is that both Batman
Interestingly, the movie puts a twist on the the true Batman origin. By having the Joker create Batman by killing Bruce’s parents, the Batman was created to avenge evil. This being said, the traumatic experience has created a hero whose definition of justice is left to the character’s moral. Traumatized, it is clear that the Batman seeks revenge not only because the Joker murdered his parents, but also for interfering with love interest Vicki Vale. By putting Vicki Vale at risk, the Batman’s traumatic experience is tested to the limits. The origins of Batman describes a hero who will not kill, yet in this movie, the Batman easily slaughters villains with a machine gun while flying his plane. A Batman who is willing to kill cannot be justified but is seen as justified to the character as a permanent way to resolve his traumatic experience with the Joker. In the climax of the movie, Batman is hanging on the edge with Vicki Vale. Instead of just saving Vicki, Batman interferes with the Joker’s escape which ultimately leads to the Joker’s death. Through Bruce’s eyes justice was the Joker’s death when he could have just saved Vicki. Although this movie was the most entertaining, it depicts a hardened character faced with the true reality of life. Not all heroes can be pure, and this movie explicitly shows this through Bruce’s actions. Notably, Bruce
He was faced to let the Joker murder a person everyday he didn't come forward or risk his secret identity and the people in his life get killed. While Joker and Batman were arguing Batman asks why Joker hasn't just killed him yet, and Joker was basically saying because it wouldn't be fun, so Batman says “You’re garbage. You kill for money.” Which is true, Batman is there to save innocent people and get rid of the criminals like the Joker. Batman decides to still keep his identity a secret. Batman should have just came forward so that innocent people wouldn't have had to
Helen Keller stated, “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” This quote speaks to Batman`s (Bruce Wayne`s) drive and ambition to get justice for his parents death. Batman becomes what people consider a vigilante because his parents were killed. In the Batman films, Christopher Nolan’s 2008 The Dark Knight and Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman, the audience can observe the similarities and differences in each film. In the films Batman is played by two different actors, Burton`s Batman is played by Michael Keaton and Nolan`s Batman is played by Christian Bale. Burton`s Batman and Nolan`s Batman go through similar obstacles and struggles, but they use different resources and, have
Gotham is Batman’s hometown and an incredibly corrupt place. It is well known for its corrupt police department, which turns a blind eye to Batman’s questionable actions, since they are for the sake of the city. The city produces deviance because of the officials and police officers which shy away from addressing crimes. Although Batman is committing crimes in order to fight crime, this is not necessarily moral. While Batman is ultimately solving the city’s
The terms "hero" and "villain" are as distinct as the terms "good" and "evil." They are mutually exclusive; the hero is courageous, popular, strong, morally, and willing to save the people at whatever cost, while the villain is despicable, hated, and heinous to his core. However, when we turn away from the archetypal world of comic books, this distinction is no longer as clear. When we look at real human beings we do not see a hero as a hero or a villain as a villain, but rather individuals composed of varying degrees of both extremes. No hero is perfect, and no villain is completely heinous. The most recent film adaptation of the DC Comic series Batman presents this truth of human nature. The Dark Knight Rises effectively communicates the
Somebody who had established higher power in their community. Somebody who tried to run from fate, and has the moment of recognition and understanding of their destiny. Batman. Even though he is considered the strong and powerful superhero of Gotham City, Batman's characteristic features show that he relates strongly to that of a "tragic" hero. In the beginning, the Batman is presented at a higher state of appreciation, even though the police see him as a vigilante. Despite his wealth, Batman, otherwise known as Bruce Wayne, is easily relatable to audiences, which makes it easy to sympathize and empathize with the character. Batman is in a constant battle within himself, trying to be the good guy, while defeating the bad guys. His morals prove true when he admits that he won't kill any of the many villians that cause destruction for Gotham City. But, because of this moral, sometimes the villians end up escaping and doing more harm then good. In the end, this interal chaos and internal battle is seen interally and externally through Batman. At the end of the most recent Batman series, The Dark Knight, his exit at the end of the movie is, in essence, his figurative death. Bruce Wayne wants to keep Gotham City safe. And with the "Batman" gone, villians will be least likely to continue to destroy and conquer. As an audience, we cling to the edge of our seats and feel dismay for our beloved superhero and what is to become of
He kills only evil people for justice and goodness of Gotham City. In the movie his action seems very evil but He does this for greater good. For example, at the beginning
In conclusion my expectations were met because we all want to be a certain hero in our everyday lives but sometimes don’t know which one is actually the better and more positive one. Strength, power, intelligence, and authority are the most important things the outlaw hero and official hero will bring even if they are above a certain rule or really beneath it. Outlaws are not always the bad guys, but are not always the good guys either. In this case Batman is the good guy disguised as the bad guy. Official heroes are always the good guys no matter the circumstance. Superman in this case is the good guy disguised as the actual good guy. Being above the law or against it, official heroes and outlaw heroes will always paint the picture that you can be strong, powerful, intelligent, and have the authority you deserve.
Batman is a hero during the night that protects the people of Gotham city to the best of his capability and is willing to sacrifice everything, even his true identity. Then there is Bruce Wayne, who is a very rich, spoiled playboy that does not care about anything other than him and the luxurious lifestyle he lives. The ideological struggle between Batman and Bruce Wayne is very important in this book because everyone at some point struggles between who they actually are and who they want to be. The way Frank Miller portrays the struggle in Batman: The Dark Knight Returns is truly a work of
Now with both of these normative ethical theories in mind, what will be presented in this paper is how does this portray to the movie, The Dark Knight. So before watching this movie, it has been decided that a thesis statement must be created. The thesis will be that the Dark Knight also known as Batman is a Utilitarian hero. Not seeing this movie before, it is unaware of what ethical theory category the Dark Knight will fall under. Therefore it will be a surprise either way with what kind of results that will be
For Batman, he is a famous person with high social class. His image is a successful businessman and on the other hand he is a hero to save the city. He is very strong and well body shape. When he catches the thief, he acts independently. He will not ask for help and refuse the others involve although he gets hurt. He is very clever and very calm. He will first plan before he takes action.
Any fan of Batman knows that “Batman Begins” and “The Dark Knight” are two of the best Batman films made in the seventy-eight years that Batman has been around. The plots really make you look deep in yourself and show the true and more real sides of the characters of the Batman world. Each movie shows the evolution of Batman and shows only a few of the many crazy and intense adventures of this mysterious hero. These two movies are the first two in the dark knight trilogy, created by the amazing Christopher Nolan. These movies were heavily praised for their astounding realism to the real world, and its pros and cons. But they were also extremely liked for their possibility for