THE JOKER'S GAME: WHAT'RE THE RULES? (part2)
Previously, I claimed that the Joker was a symbol of opposition, specifically aimed at destabilising the idea of order that is so fervently defended, specifically by the Batman. I also claimed that he doesn't want to completely upset order as it stands because it means that he would lose his function.
It would, thus, be sufficient to say that the Joker is scared. He fears losing his meaning to existence. Since he is unwilling to take down the Batman permanently, he inadvertently accepts the moral, social or established order that he supposedly opposes. The Joker needs the order the Batman stands for, otherwise he would no longer need to adopt the persona of 'the Joker'.
It would, thus, be sufficient to say that the Joker is scared. He fears losing his meaning to existence. Since he is unwilling to take down the Batman permanently, he inadvertently accepts the moral, social or established order that he supposedly opposes. The Joker needs the order the Batman stands for, otherwise he would no longer need to adopt the persona of 'the Joker'.
Further, to emphasise this position, the Joker in The Killing Joke alludes to the fact that he hates memories and the past, and we can see why he would have that hatred as the story progresses, revealing an idea of his past. In a way, he alienates himself from his past, trying his best to forget its pains and miseries, through the persona he adopts. If the Batman - and subsequently the idea of order - were to perish, so would the Joker.
And if the Joker is no longer needed, the man behind the mask, whoever it may be, would return to his (loathed) memories.
So the Joker, in reality, represents fear. What is he scared of? The past, obviously, since the Joker is a means of leaving it behind. Subsequently, he fears himself and the person he was before taking on the mantle of the Joker. But the most interesting fear he has is of change. for if anything were to change, if order was upset, he would have to return to the banality of his former self, enduring the suffering that comes with it.
This is why we identify so much with the Joker. Although we know precious little, and even then it's speculation, we find ourselves drawn to this facade not because of what he proclaims to purport but because of how dedicated he is to his persona. (In this same way, we are also intrigued by the Batman, but because of how he has been portrayed recently in the media, we are put off by his teenage-esque moodiness).
One could say that the Joker is all of us. We are all masks, ideas of who we actually are, lacking in substance but putting on a fantastic show. The past is painful to us all, and we're all trying to cope with mistakes we've made or traumatic events through these characters we've created for ourselves rather than coming to terms with who we actually are.
It appears that the Joker symbolises what we never thought we would: order and fear. These are intrinsically linked, for we need order to conquer our fears, much like the Joker.
The Joker is, surprisingly, part of the order that the Batman maintains.
...Perhaps not.
And if the Joker is no longer needed, the man behind the mask, whoever it may be, would return to his (loathed) memories.
So the Joker, in reality, represents fear. What is he scared of? The past, obviously, since the Joker is a means of leaving it behind. Subsequently, he fears himself and the person he was before taking on the mantle of the Joker. But the most interesting fear he has is of change. for if anything were to change, if order was upset, he would have to return to the banality of his former self, enduring the suffering that comes with it.
This is why we identify so much with the Joker. Although we know precious little, and even then it's speculation, we find ourselves drawn to this facade not because of what he proclaims to purport but because of how dedicated he is to his persona. (In this same way, we are also intrigued by the Batman, but because of how he has been portrayed recently in the media, we are put off by his teenage-esque moodiness).
One could say that the Joker is all of us. We are all masks, ideas of who we actually are, lacking in substance but putting on a fantastic show. The past is painful to us all, and we're all trying to cope with mistakes we've made or traumatic events through these characters we've created for ourselves rather than coming to terms with who we actually are.
It appears that the Joker symbolises what we never thought we would: order and fear. These are intrinsically linked, for we need order to conquer our fears, much like the Joker.
The Joker is, surprisingly, part of the order that the Batman maintains.
...Perhaps not.
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