The character The Joker in the movie The Dark Knight famously said, “I believe whatever doesn’t kill you, simply makes you…stranger.” In this film, a superhero fights against an evil villain to safeguard Gotham City and its people. The Joker is a complex character who has undergone emotional turmoil and views the world as a twisted game, with the citizens of Gotham as mere players. His name, Joker, can be seen as indicative of his cunning and deceptive nature within Gotham City.
The Joker exhibits his mental illness by displaying an unhealthy fixation on knives, showcasing the intricate and perilous aspects of his personality. His intellect is revealed through his deceitful and manipulative strategies depicted in the film. Throughout the movie, he recounts various narratives regarding the scars on his face. In one account, he describes how his father, a heavy drinker and malevolent individual, brutally assaulted his mother with a kitchen knife while mocking him. Witnessing this traumatic event, the Joker had to endure seeing his father inflict wounds upon his mother as he questioned why he was so serious before inserting the blade into the Joker’s mouth, leaving behind a permanent smile. This anecdote implies that during his childhood, emotional scars were inflicted upon the Joker who subsequently seeks vengeance on others to subject them to similar suffering that he experienced. Another story discloses that in an attempt to please his discontented wife with her appearance, the Joker deliberately mutilated his own face. Regrettably, this action only intensified her dissatisfaction when she witnessed him disfigured leading to their separation.
If either of those are the genuine reasons for his scars, why would he desire to attempt and perform admirably towards someone else once more? Obviously, he does not wish to do well for anyone due to those incidents, so he focuses on ecstatic individuals and subjects them to torment, and that is ultimately what brings him joy. The Joker has an evident obsession with knives and finds pleasure in causing harm to both people and animals. The weapon of preference for The Joker is a knife since using a firearm would be too swift and effortless. He selects a knife as it prolongs people’s suffering and ultimately reveals their true nature.
The Joker in The Dark Knight intentionally abuses dogs and derives pleasure from causing them harm, which is often indicative of a mental disorder. This disorder is also reflected in the scars on his face. The Joker sees his actions in Gotham City as a game. At the start of the film, he hands out cards that resemble business cards but are actually playing cards, symbolizing his deceptive nature and his perception of everything as a game. Furthermore, the Joker seeks to involve everyone in his game by subjecting them to situations where they must decide between life and death or harming others.
He is an intelligent man who utilizes his intelligence unethically, deriving entertainment from these unethical actions. The Joker’s eccentric personality and potential mental illness are evident through his past experiences and fascination with knives. Additionally, his deceitful behavior and strategic planning highlight his true intelligence, rendering him a dangerous character of complexity. It is possible for various life events to shape an individual’s adulthood and drastically alter their identity. The Joker’s fixations include inflicting harm with knives, eliciting sympathy from others, and engaging in games.
