The Central Theme of 'The Dark Knight' Film: The Concept of Justice

The Dark Knight is focused around the central theme of Justice. This film displays an exceptional depiction of moral ambiguity. The reason The Dark Knight contains moral ambiguity is due to the fact the film is presented with multiple issues/situations. The issues/situations comprise of ethical and moral elements, which the morally appropriate action is ambiguous due to contradictory values and situational viewpoints. A specific scene in this excellent film that displays some aspect of justice is when the Joker is brought in for questioning and Batman leads the interrogation.

The Joke is a serial criminal that has brought a significant amount of injustice to the city of Gotham. The joker is known for being a murderer, even murdering individuals within his own crew. Batman, instead of taking him out and killing the Joker, he arrested him. Although he does not kill him, the audience could argue that there is moral ambiguity displayed as killing is unethical but killing a known murderer for the good of Gotham could be looked at as ethical. This is because if he does not murder him, Joker will continue to kill as he is skilled in escaping captive situations. Instead, Batman wants justice to be served by making Joker being arrested and interrogated so he could be held accountable for his actions. Also, Batman believes is morality which therefore, he would not kill. Within this scene, Joker is locked up in an interrogation room that is dingy and completely blacked out behind him with commissioner Gordon talking to him. During this, Gordon proceeds to unlock the Joker stating that he needs a coffee. This instills an eerie feeling upon the audience as the Joker is unchained now. When Gordon leaves the room, the light behinds the Joker turns on, Batman is there which he then slams the Jokers head on the table. The lighting within this scene is produced from the spotlight in the interrogation room that is illuminating on their faces causing a captivating setting. The camera continues to the alter between the Joker and Batman which emphasizes the focal individual of the conversation. This causes and intense feeling within the audience as the camera circles around the conversation instilling anxiety and fear. The passionate conversation about justice between the two causes the audience to be put on edge to see what the Joker will say to make Batman react. This causes you to understand the concept of justice as no matter what, Batman wants justice and to save the city. The music is quiet and eerie throughout the scene, but begins to pick up becoming more intense, louder, and faster. This causes the audience to be put even more on edge and inflicting the audience with adrenalin. The Joker brings up the dilemma of how Batman is a freak like him and how the cops will drop him once this is all over. Again, the Joker is pushing Batman’s buttons trying to make him snap to bring out the unjust side in him. This scene portrays the philosophical idea that people are fundamentally corrupt and will destroy each other if left alone. Through the produce instilling the Joker probing the idea of justice in humans, it causes the audience to question whether the idea of justice being depicted by the Joker is true.  

In conclusion, justice serves is the main subject of The Dark Knight. The Dark Knight has moral ambiguity since it presents a number of different problems and situations that are connected with the concept of justice. In this paper we made a review of a scene which perfectly portraits some aspect of justice.