Batman ethics

A superhero is a person with extraordinary qualities that guards and protects the innocent from any type of harm. We’ve got Superman, an alien that protects Metropoli from any kind of menace (including from outer space), his end is a noble one: he doesn’t want Earth to be destroyed like Krypton. Spiderman, a young student that gets bitten by a spider and decides that with that power he will avenge his uncle until he uses his power to guard New York from any threat. We can go on with superheroes, they all have in common their will to keep the planet safe  in their own way.

The Joker: [while hanging upside down] Oh, you. You just couldn’t let me go, could you? This is what happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object. You truly are incorruptible, aren’t you? You won’t kill me out of some misplaced sense of self-righteousness. And I won’t kill you because you’re just too much fun. I think you and I are destined to do this forever.

Batman: You’ll be in a padded cell forever.

The Joker: Maybe we can share one. You know, they’ll be doubling up, the rate this city’s inhabitants are losing their minds.

Batman: This city just showed you that it’s full of people ready to believe in good.

The Joker: Until their spirit breaks completely. Until they get a good look at the real Harvey Dent, and all the heroic things he’s done. You didn’t think I’d risk losing the battle for Gotham’s soul in a fistfight with you? No. You need an ace in the hole. Mine’s Harvey.

Batman: What did you do?

The Joker: I took Gotham’s white knight and I brought him down to our level. It wasn’t hard. You see, madness, as you know, is like gravity. All it takes is a little push!

But when we talk about Batman, his story is tragical as the other superheroes, but his motive to act is the death of his parents and the thirst for vengance. While he search for his parent’s murderer, he will terrorize Gotham’s streets by keeping criminals at bay. His end is to avenge but his actions are under a strict code of conduct that preserves lives by not killing anyone. He does what the law can’t do, but keeps himself from his feelings. We could say he is a perfect Stoic and acts according to his duty.

The Joker: I just did what I do best. I took your little plan and I turned it on itself. Look what I did to this city with a few drums of gas and a couple of bullets. Hmmm? You know… You know what I’ve noticed? Nobody panics when things go «according to plan.» Even if the plan is horrifying! If, tomorrow, I tell the press that, like, a gang banger will get shot, or a truckload of soldiers will be blown up, nobody panics, because it’s all «part of the plan». But when I say that one little old mayor will die, well then everyone loses their minds!

The Joker: Introduce a little anarchy. Upset the established order, and everything becomes chaos. I’m an agent of chaos. Oh, and you know the thing about chaos? It’s fair!

Batman is an antiheroe that keeps the villians from Gotham’s streets. Through fear and violence, bad guys have learnt not to mess with him. Gotham still has mafia and bad guys that terrorize the streets, but now they do it in broad daylight. However when the Joker appears as he lacks ethics, Batman can’t decipher him. The Joker’s motives are clear: to show people without hipocresy, without masks their true identity; to be cynical to step out of the comfort zone and be true. But his way to achieve this is by killing others.

Bruce Wayne: [while in the underground bat cave] Targeting me won’t get their money back. I knew the mob wouldn’t go down without a fight, but this is different. They crossed the line.

Alfred Pennyworth: You crossed the line first, sir. You squeezed them, you hammered them to the point of desperation. And in their desperation, they turned to a man they didn’t fully understand.

Bruce Wayne: Criminals aren’t complicated, Alfred. Just have to figure out what he’s after.

Alfred Pennyworth: With respect Master Wayne, perhaps this is a man that *you* don’t fully understand, either. A long time ago, I was in Burma. My friends and I were working for the local government. They were trying to buy the loyalty of tribal leaders by bribing them with precious stones. But their caravans were being raided in a forest north of Rangoon by a bandit. So, we went looking for the stones. But in six months, we never met anybody who traded with him. One day, I saw a child playing with a ruby the size of a tangerine. The bandit had been throwing them away.

Bruce Wayne: So why steal them?

Alfred Pennyworth: Well, because he thought it was good sport. Because some men aren’t looking for anything logical, like money. They can’t be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.

Both characters are inspiring. One is acting according to a code, but his intentions are selfish (avenge his parents), and the other one wants to free society from prejudices and fears, but his actions are wrong (kills people).

Batman: [in the interrogation room] Then why do you want to kill me?

The Joker: [giggling] I don’t, I don’t want to kill you! What would I do without you? Go back to ripping off mob dealers? No, no, NO! No. You… you… complete me.

Batman: You’re garbage who kills for money.

The Joker: Don’t talk like one of them. You’re not! Even if you’d like to be. To them, you’re just a freak, like me! They need you right now, but when they don’t, they’ll cast you out, like a leper! You see, their morals, their code, it’s a bad joke. Dropped at the first sign of trouble. They’re only as good as the world allows them to be. I’ll show you. When the chips are down, these… these civilized people, they’ll eat each other. See, I’m not a monster. I’m just ahead of the curve.