Often times in stories, the plot is good versus evil. Those who are familiar with the Batman series know that Batman, the hero, is frequently in a battle with the Joker, a murderous psychopath. Since the Joker has the potential to endanger and end the lives of several innocent individuals, some feel that Batman should kill the Joker for the sake of everybody’s safety. However, others see this act as a way to ruin Batman’s reputation. Batman should not kill the Joker according to virtue ethics because the Joker is mentally ill, Batman’s parents were murdered, and everybody in Gotham City relies on Batman to do the right thing morally and ethically.
It would be wrong if Batman were to murder the Joker based off of virtue ethics. The Encyclopedia of Ethics analyzes how virtue ethics focuses on an individual’s character and feelings rather than rules and consequences. According to the Encyclopedia of Ethics, “first, virtues are dispositions not only to act, but also to judge and to feel in
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I believe that it is important to do what is morally right and that we should look at the whole picture. In the case of Batman killing the Joker, it is necessary to look at how it would affect the feelings and functionality of all - Batman and the people of Gotham City. In the end, Batman did not kill the Joker because part of being a hero is doing the right thing and that includes not sacrificing his virtues. If he sacrificed his virtues and went with the Utilitarian method of just murdering the Joker, then he would rather be taking the easy way out of the situation as well. Although the antagonist would be exterminated, that does not mean all things bad would suddenly be gone, as I mentioned earlier. Ultimately, virtue ethics is about integrity, and Batman took the honest path of sticking with what is moral right and not breaking past what he believes
In today’s time and age, I don’t think we will come across anyone, who is oblivious of the legendary pair of a hero and a villain; batman and the joker. Those who haven’t read the comics, must have watched at least a few of the movies that are based on these characters. Batman is seen as the hero. The joker is seen as a villain. There are a lot of variations in the stories involving these two as it has been incarnated a lot times, but their characters remain the same. The relationship between these two is a representation of “yin-and-yang”.
In a movie where good and evil are divided by a very thin line, the Dark Knight rises up to fight against injustice and corruption in Gotham City. An action sequel to the original Batman Begins, this installment is a lot darker filled with more explosion, twists, and suspense. For the first time, a comic has been integrated into the issues of the real world. With the help of District Attorney Harvey Dent and Lieutenant Gordon, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining mob members and clean the streets of Gotham for good. Their success is only short-lived when they encounter the Joker, a mysterious mastermind who is out to prove that nobility cannot hold in a world of anarchy.
With authors Mark D. White and Robert Arp’s knowledge of science, economics, philosophy and ethics they help us analyze ethical approaches to real-world issues by arguing for the value of pop culture. White and Arp do a great job relating Batman’s relationship with the Joker to America’s choice to torture. This comes together with the quote by Galeano because they both show an underlying meaning of the ethics behind issues with terror and torture. If Batman is to kill the Joker, there would be many different reasons as to why it is not acceptable. One being that since the Joker is a human, it would not be morally okay to kill him. Another reason is that Batman would then have the character of someone who kills their enemy. Although killing an enemy is sometimes glorified, when you look at the bigger picture it will show more about that person’s mentality than you would think. Like the quote says, the purpose of torture is not to gain information, but to spread fear.
The movie, the “Dark Knight” spins a story of good vs. evil. However, to me it tells a story of a greater conflict; that struggle that I think we each must face within our life of whether to take the path that is thought by society to be righteous, or the one of our choice and decision of what we believe in ourselves and of what society should ultimately be.
Batman contradicts his morals while he is fighting the mutant leader and when he is about to shoot him he stops himself with “though that means crossing a line I drew for myself thirty years ago”. While Batman did not kill the mutant leader, earlier on Batman shoots a mutant grunt with a machine gun and faded blood is splattered behind the criminal holding a baby captive (Miller, 64). Later on in the novel Batman says to the joker “a gun is a coward’s weapon, a liars weapon” (Miller, 149). Batman has power to stick to his morals, to take on the evil of Gotham City, and to make the decision to deliver justice no matter whose side of the law he is. However, in the novel he has clearly stated that killing someone crosses his morals and that he despises guns yet he uses them to kill criminals. Batman crosses his golden rule of not killing criminals and shows that he will go above his own moral code of justice.
If criminals are not immediate threats, they 'll be let go. Beowulf follows a similar code. He says to Unferth, “You murdered your brothers, Your own close kin. Words and bright wit/ Won’t help your soul.” (320-323.) Beowulf would not harm anyone unless they would harm innocents. They are also both committed to battling corruption. Beowulf travels many miles from home to aid Hrothgar and fight Grendel. Beowulf knows his heroic duty calls him to protect the people of Daneland, even if they aren 't his. Batman feels it’s his responsibility to fight evil in Gotham. He battles criminals regularly and ultimately ends the Joker 's reign. Batman is not threatened by these enemies, but the people of Gotham are, and thus he fights for them. Batman and Beowulf bear the burden of heroic responsibility well.
In the film The Dark Knight Rises, Batman states that he 'is whatever Gotham needs him to be.' He can either be a hero or an outlaw to the people of his city. Batman is a tortured soul and is very aware that it is not right to uphold the law by breaking it. He is not convinced that his violence is justified by locking up the villains. Real world people are more like Batman in the sense that the right thing to do is obvious but sometimes not.
All in all, the Joker proves that the world is nihilistic by his actions throughout the Dark Knight. He puts characters in a position where beliefs have to be put to scrutiny or they do not matter at all. The Joker’s belief is that life is meaningless and he makes the city of Gotham through his teaches by each death. Each death shows the meaning of nihilism itself and that is why the Joker is such an intelligent person. The Joker transcends the world he was created in and becomes a symbol, a troubling philosophical thought that affects the audiences who continue to watch his every move. The Joker, a violent sociopath that has no limits or boundaries, who will kill anyone standing in his way. He is a man who murders his enemies and allies with no fear. He pursues whatever chaotic vision and he wishes without regard to the lives he destroys. A 19th century philosopher once said, “beliefs and values are only worth having if you are willing to put them up to scrutiny.” The
Now in these days everyone one likes to read comic books since they became part of our society. What makes them interesting is how entertaining they could get giving us different points of views on different stories of superheroes. Many of us believe that “Classic superheroes stories are wildly fun, suspenseful and exciting” (Tom and Matt Morris) forgetting the idea of what really makes a hero. Different perceptions of superheroes are considered based on their wrong actions and way of thinking. Frank’s Miller Batman: The Dark Knight Returns is one of the comic books that make us “rethink the conception of the superhero and press each of us to reconsider some of the fundamental moral principles
By them faking Batman they could have gotten themselves injured. In the movie, he explains how he does not want people dressing up as him because it is too dangerous and that is not the point he wanted to make when he created his persona. If a crime had been committed Batman would be there and save the people who were getting affected by the crime. One thing he believed in was people do have good in them, which was proven correct at the end of the movie ultimately. The Joker wanted to reveal the Dark Knight and ended up playing a catch and mouse game with him. The Joker caused chaos in Chicago which made things harder for Batman. and made people leave through a ferry. The joker has placed a bomb on both boats, which one is full of prisoners and the second boat is accompanied will innocent civilians. He gets on the P.A. system and tells both boats there are bombs and only one ferry can survive. Society on both boats went back and forth on pushing the button to blow the other boat up. Both boats were left at an ultimatum and the utilitarians belief is introduced. People had to choose what is in the better interest for the greater good. The ferry full of civilians
In the film, The Dark Knight directed by Christopher Nolan, The Joker, one of Batman's most dangerous enemies whose aim is too push Batman to his ultimate limits, to break his personal rules and strict moral code. This, being the Jokers only reason to live, he has no fear of death and pain. The Joker is characterised as a calculating and logical criminal, a rebel with minimal empathy or moral and a nemesis who commits purposeless crime. Together these characteristics are developed through specific and appropriate use of technical aspects, such as, camera movement, camera angles, props and dialogue. Together these techniques create a character who is an extraordinary to watch, as he causes chaos in Gotham City, all to get
In the world of superheroes, there are numerous that believe they are heroes, while in actuality, they are merely vigilantes. This is demonstrated throughout the world of superheroes, but it is not as prominently demonstrated as in Batman. Batman presents himself as a hero, while he is only an over imaginative vigilante. He is more a vigilante than a hero since he has the ability to stop crime, but doesn’t, he only does deeds for his own benefit, and he helps the law but isn’t part of it. These are only a few ways Batman is a vigilante, rather than a hero. These are mainly based upon the idea of him trying to right his own past.
When this criminal gets to prison he is killed and that is the last we are shown something like this from him. This violence from batman causes many to fear him and for the public to view him as dangerous vigilante. Does Batman deserve to have all the power he wants? While most adore him from times he has saved a loved one or tracked down a criminal, others cannot say the same as all they see is his ruthless attitude. Batman does what he wants and prosecutes as he sees
The Dark Knight (2008), directed by Christopher Nolan, demonstrates the idea of good versus evil. Batman is known as the protagonist, and Joker is known as the ultimate villain. The representation of crime in the film is seen from the actions of both characters. The film essentially depicts the act of deviance meaning, “behaviour that violates social norms, including laws”. In normality the government would have the greatest amount of power, but in the Gotham city, power is complex. There is minimal structure of law and order in Gotham city due to powerful people like Batman and the Joker. Citizens of Gotham city can no longer fight for themselves in a world filled with supernatural powers. Therefore, the only hope that citizens have rest in the hands of Batman. Although Batman attempts to save Gotham city from Joker’s criminal intentions. Batman, however, also plays a role in deviant activity while attempting to catch the Joker. Realistically, Batman violates the moral code due to destructive behaviour, and putting the lives of citizens at harm. He does not care for social norms, nor whether his acts are of legality. He is devoted to combat organized crime with Harvey Dent, a district attorney in Gotham city. Batman is in fact, the definition of crime, he understands but does not abide to individual rights and social contracts which make up the rule of law. In addition, the man behind Batman, Bruce Wayne also portrays a form of deviance by disguising himself as Batman.
Batman is one of the many fictional superheroes which appears in the “American comic books” that is published by the DC comics. The character is a secret identity for Bruce Wayne, the only heir to Wayne Enterprises. Bruce Wayne swore an oath of vengeance when he witnessed the death of his parents;Thomas Wayne and Martha Wayne (Diamond, 2015). Bat man combats criminals in Gotham: a fictional city, with assistance from various characters, for example, his butler Alfred and Gordon; Gotham city police commissioner. Unlike many of the superheroes characters, Batman possesses no powers .Bruce Wayne trained himself intellectually and physically .it is from dedication to training he possessed the useful traits of physical prowess, martial arts skills, detective skills and indomitable will to fight for justice. Though his motive is to combat crime and protect people of Gotham city from criminals, the justice system in most of the times views Batman as a villain and vigilante. He can inflict fear to Gotham city criminals thereby bringing calmness to the city. I identify myself with the Batman character through his selfless will for justice, his strong determination to do good