Film analysis – The Dark Knight
Story Arc Breakdown
- You
Bruce Wayne, the protagonist is in his zone of comfort. Fighting against ordinary criminals in Gotham city as usual. No changes need to be make so far.
- Need
Bruce Wayne wants to retire from dismantling organized crime and begin living with Rachel. So, he needs to find someone to replace his job.
- Go
Bruce Wayne consider Harvey Dent as the only one that qualified to replace him. So, he needs to solidify Harvey’s influence in Gotham by giving him the honor of locking up all the criminals. In order to get the evidence of money laundering, he goes to Hongkong, China to catch Lau, the corrupt accountant who hided the money for gangs.
- Search
Joker goes head-to-head with Batman for the first time. He killed Police Commissioner and the Judge in order to threaten Bruce Wayne to reveal his identity. Bruce Wayne protects Harvey from Joker’s murder. He begins searching ways to stop Joker’s killing.
- Find
Batman realized he could retire, but he might have to do it in the way Joker wants – by taking off his mask. But actually Harvey stand out and says he is the batman. So, Bruce Wayne still didn’t get the thing he want. Or maybe he is never looking forward to retirement, he just wanted to keep Gotham away from criminals.
- Take
The Joker kidnaps Harvey and Rachel and puts them separately in different locations. Batman mistakenly saves Harvey, while Rachel dead because of explosion. Bruce paid a heavy price for it. He realizes that Batman can’t retire. Harvey has also changed because of Rachel’s death. Joker also escapes from Major Crimes Unit. Batmen breaks the rule by installing sonar detectors on citizens phone in order to catch Joker.
- Return
Gotham still needs Batman. He recovered from the trauma of Rachel’s death. He needs to stop Harvey’s crazy revenge.
- Change
In order to prevent Harvey’s revenge, Batman has to break his own principles and kill him. Harvey must be established as a hero in order to give the right to the government to approve and imprison the criminals he put in jail. So, Batman takes on all of Harvey’s crimes and becomes the Dark Knight of Gotham. This is also a sublimation of Batman’s heroic image.
Characters Archetypes Breakdown
- Bruce Wayne – Hero
Batman is the protagonist of this film. He fights alone to the point where covered in bruises in order to protect the justice in his heart. He also follows the principle of no killing. He values rules and believes in justice in the beginning, but gradually changes his views in the way of fighting against Joker. With the completion of Hero’s journey, he realizes that he is just protecting the justice in his heart, and it doesn’t matter what others think of him.
- Alfred Pennyworth – Mentor, Allies
He is Bruce’s trusted butler and confidant. He’s been around since Bruce was a kid, and he’s the only one who’s seen Batman grow up. He offered help and advice to Bruce. At the same time, he did not always say yes to Bruce, and he had his own way to help Bruce.
- The citizens in Gotham – Threshold Guardian
They’re the one batman wants to protect. In other words, they provides the basic tests to show Batman’s commitment and worth. On the other hand, the reason Bruce Wayne hesitated to reveal his identity as Batman was also because of the perception of these citizens.
- Gangs’ money was tracked by the police – Herald
It’s the reason of why things turn to chaos from order. Batman and Harvey “breaking the rules” intervened in the money of the gang, so the gang was desperate and hired an unknown person like a Joker to help them.
- Joker – Trickster, Shadow
He desires chaos from his heart. He questioned the rules of the city. He believes that only chaos is the most fair, and like natural law, no plan is the most equal. He does all the thing for fun. He wants to prove that everyone’s heart is evil.
- Harvey Dent – Shapeshifter
He is the White Knight of Gotham before that explosion. But he is corrupted by the joker’s schemes. He wants everyone to feel the pain of losing Rachel.
- James Gordon – Allies
A lieutenant works in the police department. Provide help to Batman.
Timeline for the main character
Batman goes out at night as usual to keep the city safe. – Bruce was impressed by Dante’s ideas at dinner. – The Joker goes on TV and demands that Batman show up or keep killing people. – Batman plans to turn himself in at the news conference. – Dent says he’s Batman and gives Bruce the chance to catch the Joker. – In jail, Joker tells Batman about Rachel and Harvey’s kidnapping. – Mistakenly, Batman saves Harvey while Rachel dead. – Batman tries to stop Joker from detonating the bomb but failed. – Batman uses sonar to locate the Joker and witnesses the selection of both ships. – Batman ends Dent’s life and takes all Harvey’s crimes to his own. From then on he became the dark knight of Gotham.