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Fabian Romero
Professor DerOhanessian
English 114B
29 April 2014
Batman: Judged by the Cover of His Book
In Frank Millers Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, Batman returns to fighting crime
when he finds that the city of Gotham is in need of help. With the increase in crimes due to the
rise in temperature and tension, Batman finds it difficult to gain the support from law
enforcement. As he faces villains that test his judgment based on his morals, he reveals a deeper
understanding of why he became the dark crusader. Bruce Wayne suffered traumatic events as a
child, which was a catalyst of why he became the Batman, so he shouldnt be condemned for his
good intentions towards the safety of Gotham.
Batmans character is different from other well-known heroes such as Superman. He has
a darker side than what most heroes are imagined to be. Batman enjoys the suffering of each of
his victims while seeking for justice. The reason for this urge may be his childhood past haunting
him. At the age of six he accidently fell into a hole chasing a rabbit that led to a bat cave.
Coming face to face with such a horrid creature instilled fear in the little boy. He abhors the bat
in his dreams with its stench of dead things, damned things as it is claiming [him] as his
own (Miller 19). Having him go through this experience as a child makes him believe the bat as
the most fearful and horrific animal. Yet he takes on this symbol when he becomes the Batman
to instill fear in his enemies just as the bat he encountered scared him. Sharing the nightmare that
he experienced with his enemies puts his own mind at ease that theyre suffering too. Another
more tragic event was when as a child he lost his parents to a murderer, which severely
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devastated him. As he was walking the streets of Gotham, he found himself where Batman was
born and reminisces of the man who stole all sense from [his] life (Miller.) He begins fighting
crime because he has not felt the equal amount of justice that can ever compensate for the death
of his parents as a child. He has a dark side of him that does not leave him alone and demands to
give in to his darker side to punish those unworthy to walk freely. All of the anger, sorrow, and
hate makes Batman feel obligated to break the law and refuses to be constrained from
unpunished crimes. Batmans intentions are meant to protect the citizens of Gotham and is
regardless turned against as a terrorist vigilante with his. His experience losing his parents to a
murderer make him no longer trust the criminal justice and becomes his own law. The criminal
justice is flawed in his eyes where he sometimes count [their rights] just to make [himself] feel
crazy (Miller 45). He takes matters into his own hands without being constrained by laws, but
guided by his own moral compass.
Batman is viewed as a vigilante and terrorist that is unable to be controlled. Although it is
true that he is defying law enforcement, his good intentions should be justified even though they
are acts of terrorism, but towards criminals. Batman is a symbol of the greater good for Gotham.
Although using Batman as a solution to fight crime isnt the governments favorite choice, he is
their only choice. When only given a few choses you must pick the best option. This can relate to
the nuclear bombing in World War II with President Truman having to make a choice to end the
war in order to lose less lives. The article, The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb by Louis
Morton, deals with the development of the nuclear bomb during World War II and the morals of
whether or not it should be used. Many of the scientists that were making the nuclear bomb
questioned the morality of whether or not it should be used, even though the nuclear bomb
shall in all probability have completed the most terrible weapon ever known in human
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history." The United States, under President Truman, using the atomic bomb was a form of
terrorism that was necessary in order to save American lives and discontinue genocide against
the Jews. With the crimes that took place, Batman was in the position to hurt and punish
criminals to gain information choosing to not acknowledge their rights. Batman terrorizes
criminals to gain information and should be justified for his actions, because without gaining the
information there may be lives in danger without even knowing it. Criminals are arrested as
quickly as they are released of a crime because of how the lawyer manages to set them free. With
criminals being released, when they didnt deserve it, makes it difficult for Batman who demands
those who deserve to be put in jail. Those that oppose Batman dont realize that they are a part
the insidious plans created by each of his villains putting his morals to the test by finding the best
way to protect them. As explained by Lana Lang, Managing editor of the Daily Planet said
[Batman] has risen to show us that the power is, and always has been, in our hands, we are
under siege hes showing us that we can resist.(Miller 66). They are part of something bigger
than themselves and should be able to stand for whats good to do anything necessary for the
safety of Gotham.
Batman was raised on a different set of morals and ideas than Superman. Batman was
forced to make decisions that deals with the innocent lives of Gotham city. He is in a position of
power to make sure that criminals are to be put in jail and not cause harm to the innocent. He is
to do whatever it takes to make sure Gotham is safe. Gotham is a dark city that deals with so
many criminals that Batman does not have time to show compassion or give mercy to heartless
criminals. According to Niccolo Machiavelli The Prince, it is better to be feared than loved. It is
better to be feared, because people expect a consequence or punishment, which will prevent any
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wrongdoing. Although this power may be overturned into a tyrannical use, Batman uses it for
good.
His traumatic events constantly haunts him of what the murderer in his past has done to
his parents and is constantly seeking for all sorts of criminals like him that inflict pain to the
innocent. Although Batman may not be the only who suffered traumatic events like the villains,
the Joker and Harvey Dent, Batman has used his experience for good instead of evil. This gives
Batman the justification being able to use this power and not the villains, because theyve proved
themselves unworthy of obtaining that amount of responsibility. Batman happens to be one of
the exceptions of a man who has gone through traumatizing moments and harnessed his
experiences into a way to serve society for good. Batman faces this double sided personality with
himself that wishes to be set free from his dark side, but knows that he has wrestled long and
hard with his other side.(Miller 46). Just like Harvey Dent. He even finds himself as a reflection
to his villains. Batman will use his power to put fear in criminals for the result of having a safe
society instead of using it for evil. He is aware that he breaks the law even as he his hurting a
criminals who may have committed murders and thats what makes him see himself as a
reflection to the villains.
Bruce Wayne has suffered from traumatic events through his childhood that led him to
become Batman. The emotions that he faces forces him to seek for the punishment of all
criminals. His symbol as the bat helps instill fear in others to do what is necessary for the safety
of the citizens of Gotham. Batmans good intentions has led the law enforcement and parts of
Gotham hate him for his terroristic ways, but shouldnt be outlawed or hunted down to be
imprisoned himself.

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Works Citied

Miller, Frank, et al. Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. New York, NY: DC Comics, 2002. Print.

Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Prince. Florence, Italy: Antonio Blado d'Asola, 1532. Print

Morton, Louis. The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb. Foreign Affairs 1 January 1957. Print.