The Dark Knight Rises : Analysis

The Dark Knight Rises shows Batmans vulnerability, bringing him on grounds with any other mortal,
which is quite unusual for a Superhero figure. He is always in search of the ever elusive inner peace.
The events of the movie take place 8 years after the The Dark Knight. Bruce Wayne aka the Batman
has taken up the responsibility of the murder of Harvey Dent.
This again brings forth the selflessness of Wayne, who is ready to sacrifice his own image for the greater
good. He harbors a guilt for the incidents. Not only did he lose his love Rachel Dawes , but also Harvey
Dent, who was supposed to be the face of fight against crime in Gotham . Rachel was the only link to
Bruces life without the Bat mask. She was his only hope. These incidents left him damaged, physically
and emotionally. He's filled with remorse, has become a recluse and has almost given up and quit being
the Batman.
Bruces psychological struggles to deal with his past are a recurrent theme in the movie.
Physically too Bruce is in a very poor state of health. He is unable to stand without a stick and is shown
to have brain concussions and missing cartilages in legs .
Bruces unwillingness to step out of his mansion has put his family business in danger.
Selina Kyle is introduced as a clever thief. She too has a troubled past and has become a thief to serve
her needs. She is hurt by the way the world has treated her and is herself waging a struggle to define her
entity. Like Bruce, she questions herself, which helps bring out the good in her.
Bane is introduced as almost impossible to defeat baddie, who has no emotions . Bane too supports a
mask. Bane embodies the dark path, that also defines the Batman. Born in darkness, with no love or
comfort from the beginning, his pain is perhaps the greatest, and is full of hatred.
So when Bane poses a trouble to the very peace he had given up his entire life for, Bruce again puts on
the suit.
Miranda Tate, fellow business mogul expresses interest in Wayne Enterprises Nuclear Fusion Project
and Bruce, unknowing of her true intentions , asks her to take control of Wayne Enterprises, while he
concentrates his energy to get the city rid of the new wave of organized evil, under Bane.
Bruce being physically weak, and not at his prime, is easily defeated and is thrown into the pit that Ban e
had lived in throughout his childhood. This punishment and loneliness turns out to be a boon to Wayne,
where he re analyses his life and his goals, his promise to his parents and his duty towards Gotham.
He overcomes his fear of Bane and of losing the city he had given up everything for. He escapes the pit,
only the second person to do so. The first is revealed , later to be Tate, who was Ras al Ghuls daughter.

Bruces decision to trust Wayne Enterprises fate into Tates hand backfires when it is revealed that
Bane worked for Tate and she wanted to destroy Gotham using the Nuclear Reactor.
This adds to Waynes guilt and he takes upon himself to save the city, ready to sacrifice his own life in
the process, realizing it was his weakness that led to the situation in the first pl ace.
He is aided in his quest by Selina and Gordon. Just as Bruce was able to find order and peace in his own
life, he was also able to help Selina do the same . Some attraction does develop between the two.
When Bruce finally defeats Bane, it symbolizes his victory over his own fear. This is made possible only
after he is able to master his own self, and accept his past.
In the final act against crime, Bruce is shown flying off the Nuclear Reactor away from Gotham,
representing the indifference Bruce has for his own life. He puts his own life in danger, once again, to
save the city he has sworn to protect.
Later, while the city mourns over Batmans death and gives him the long due status of a Hero, he is
shown to be with Kyle having lunch peacefully at a caf , which had earlier been described by Alfred as
the place where Alfred always wanted Bruce to be, away from the troubles of his past, away from the
memories of the night his parents died, away from Rachels memories and living a quite, peaceful life as
Bruce, without the Batman in him.

By Prateek Gauba
B12108
ME, 4th Year