Justice vs Revenge: Morality in 'Batman Begins'

00:06:13
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu9m2btjIe4

Résumé

TLDR'Batman Begins' explores the moral complexities of justice and revenge through the journey of Bruce Wayne. After witnessing his parents' murder, Bruce seeks vengeance but is challenged by his friend Rachel, who emphasizes the importance of accountability and the distinction between justice and revenge. The film delves into Bruce's internal struggle with fear and anger, ultimately leading him to adopt the Batman persona as a means to confront his past and protect Gotham. It raises questions about vigilantism, the nature of morality, and the impact of corruption on society, suggesting that true justice requires understanding and active participation.

A retenir

  • ⚖️ Justice vs. Revenge: The film explores the distinction between these two concepts.
  • 🦇 Bruce Wayne's Journey: Bruce evolves from seeking vengeance to embodying justice as Batman.
  • 💔 Emotional Release: Revenge may feel cathartic but often leads to a cycle of harm.
  • 👊 The Power of Fear: Bruce learns to confront and control his fears to gain strength.
  • 🔄 Moral Complexity: Morality is not black and white; it varies with circumstances.
  • 🗣️ Accountability: Rachel emphasizes the need for Bruce to pursue justice responsibly.
  • 🔫 Symbolism of the Gun: Bruce's rejection of the gun signifies his commitment to justice.
  • 🏙️ Gotham's Corruption: The film highlights the layered nature of corruption in society.
  • 🤝 Active Participation: Good people must act against injustice to create change.
  • 💡 Understanding Criminals: Bruce's journey involves understanding the motivations behind crime.

Chronologie

  • 00:00:00 - 00:06:13

    The dialogue between Rachel and Bruce highlights the distinction between justice and revenge, with Rachel asserting that justice is about harmony while revenge is self-serving. The narrative of 'Batman Begins' explores Bruce Wayne's transformation from a vengeful son to a figure seeking true justice for Gotham. After the murder of his parents, Bruce's desire for revenge leads him to a narrow-minded perspective, but Rachel's intervention prompts him to reconsider his approach. She emphasizes the importance of accountability and the need to pursue justice through the right means, rather than succumbing to the cycle of retribution. Bruce's journey involves confronting his fears and understanding the complexities of morality, as he learns that actions deemed wrong in one context may be justified in another. The film ultimately questions the nature of justice in a corrupt society, suggesting that true change requires action from those who are good, rather than inaction amidst despair.

Carte mentale

Vidéo Q&R

  • What is the main theme of 'Batman Begins'?

    The main theme is the exploration of morality, particularly the distinction between justice and revenge.

  • How does Bruce Wayne's perspective change throughout the film?

    Bruce learns to differentiate between justice and revenge, ultimately choosing to embody justice as Batman.

  • What role does fear play in Bruce's journey?

    Fear motivates Bruce to confront his past and understand criminals, leading him to conquer his own fears.

  • What does Rachel argue about Bruce's intentions?

    Rachel emphasizes the importance of accountability and urges Bruce to pursue justice in the right way.

  • How does the film portray the concept of vigilantism?

    The film questions whether vigilantism is heroic or villainous, highlighting the moral complexities involved.

  • What does Bruce learn about morality?

    Bruce learns that morality is not black and white; it is influenced by circumstances and context.

  • What is the significance of Bruce throwing away the gun?

    It symbolizes Bruce's rejection of revenge and his commitment to a higher moral ground.

  • How does Gotham's corruption affect the characters?

    The corruption creates a cycle of violence and injustice, complicating the characters' understanding of right and wrong.

  • What does Rachel mean by 'What chance does Gotham have when the good people do nothing'?

    It highlights the need for active participation in justice to combat corruption and crime.

  • What is the ultimate message of 'Batman Begins'?

    The film conveys that true justice requires understanding, accountability, and the courage to confront one's fears.

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  • 00:00:00
    [Rachel] “You’re not talking about justice, you’re talking about revenge.”
  • 00:00:03
    [Bruce] “Well, sometimes they’re the same.”
  • 00:00:04
    [Rachel] “No, they’re never the same, Bruce.
  • 00:00:06
    Justice is about harmony. Revenge is about you making yourself feel better.”
  • 00:00:11
    Is it immoral to take justice into your own hands?
  • 00:00:15
    Or maybe the better question is: who gets to decide what justice looks like?
  • 00:00:21
    Christopher Nolan’s ‘Batman Begins’ is the first of The Dark Knight trilogy.
  • 00:00:25
    We all know the story of Batman.
  • 00:00:27
    After the young Bruce Wayne witnesses his parents’ murder, he seeks to learn the art of fighting evil.
  • 00:00:33
    He later adopts the Batman persona in his quest to protect Gotham from the criminals who terrorize the city.
  • 00:00:39
    ‘Batman Begins’ is an insightful exploration of morality.
  • 00:00:44
    Is Batman right or wrong in what he does?
  • 00:00:48
    Is vigilantism heroic or villainous?
  • 00:00:51
    Fourteen years after Bruce’s parents died, the murderer, Joe Chill, is paroled when he testifies against mafia boss Falcone.
  • 00:00:59
    Bruce wants to avenge his parents and kill Chill, but Falcone’s men get to him first.
  • 00:01:05
    Bruce’s subsequent conversation with his friend, Rachel, is what changes the course of his entire perspective.
  • 00:01:11
    Bruce is wrapped up in his pain, understandably so, but it makes him narrow minded and his vision filtered by anger.
  • 00:01:19
    Bruce confuses justice and revenge for each other because he’s looking for an actionable way to make things even.
  • 00:01:26
    The desire to exact retribution is a powerful internal force.
  • 00:01:30
    Inflicting revenge allows for an emotional release that may feel cathartic,
  • 00:01:34
    but in actuality it just incites a cycle of retribution.
  • 00:01:38
    A cycle that may never end.
  • 00:01:41
    And the psychological pleasantness it may bring you is only temporary,
  • 00:01:45
    as it just reopens wounds instead of allowing them to heal.
  • 00:01:49
    In essence, revenge does more harm than good long-term.
  • 00:01:54
    Rachel argues that Bruce needs to step back and reassess where his attention is placed.
  • 00:01:58
    The enemy of your enemy is not always your friend.
  • 00:02:02
    Gotham lies victim to more than one criminal,
  • 00:02:05
    it’s overrun by a system of crime which inflicts a much larger scale of harm on the city.
  • 00:02:11
    [Rachel] “Good people like your parents who’ll stand against injustice, they’re gone.”
  • 00:02:15
    What Rachel is doing is placing accountability on Bruce.
  • 00:02:18
    If he feels he has the energy and desire to make things better, go about it in the right way.
  • 00:02:24
    Rachel slaps some sense back into Bruce when she learns of his very serious intention to kill Chill.
  • 00:02:30
    He carried the same weapon used to murder his parents, symbolically stooping him to the same moral level as Chill.
  • 00:02:37
    We see Bruce’s mindset change in real time, as he throws away the gun.
  • 00:02:42
    To him, guns are the thin line between criminals and vigilantes.
  • 00:02:47
    ‘Batman Begins’ goes on to weave together the concepts of fear and revenge.
  • 00:02:51
    Bruce confronts Falcone, who threatens him with a gun.
  • 00:02:54
    [Falcone] “You’ll see two councilmen, a union official couple, a couple off-duty cops and a judge.
  • 00:03:01
    Now, I wouldn’t have a second’s hesitation of blowing your head off right here and right now in front of them.
  • 00:03:05
    Now that’s power you can’t buy.”
  • 00:03:07
    From this moment, Bruce learns the power of fear.
  • 00:03:11
    Falling victim to fear greatly debilitates you, but having the ability to evoke it gives you endless control.
  • 00:03:18
    Bruce has been ruled by fear his whole life and he blames himself for the death of his parents
  • 00:03:23
    because he was scared of the bats in the theater before they left and got killed.
  • 00:03:28
    This sets Bruce on a journey to conquer his fears and become a stronger person.
  • 00:03:33
    [Falcone] “And you always fear what you don’t understand.”
  • 00:03:38
    Bruce takes up a life of crime in order to better understand criminals.
  • 00:03:43
    He never wants to be physically or emotionally vulnerable to anyone ever again,
  • 00:03:47
    so he trains in several forms of martial arts and involves himself in danger to better grasp how criminals think.
  • 00:03:54
    Bruce’s search for revenge existed because he hadn’t really come to terms with the death of his parents.
  • 00:03:59
    He still held onto fear over the situation and thus thought that vengeance would put his heart and mind at rest.
  • 00:04:05
    [Ducard] “You fear your anger. The drive to do great or terrible things.”
  • 00:04:12
    Bruce’s frustration and anger at the situation is ultimately his biggest weakness.
  • 00:04:16
    It leaves him thinking rashly and acting without reason.
  • 00:04:20
    Until he learns to control his feelings, he’s vulnerable to others and his own impulsiveness.
  • 00:04:26
    Bruce’s adoption of his Batman persona symbolizes the conquering of his fears.
  • 00:04:31
    He’s literally embodying the fear that has haunted him since childhood.
  • 00:04:36
    ‘Batman Begins’ continues to examine morality as Bruce learns that it isn’t a black or white matter.
  • 00:04:42
    When living in a bubble of wealth and privilege,
  • 00:04:44
    it’s easy for your view of righteousness to be pretty clear-cut
  • 00:04:47
    because you haven’t experienced what desperation can lead you to do.
  • 00:04:52
    [Ducard] “When you lived among the criminals, did you start to pity them?"
  • 00:04:56
    [Bruce] “The first time I stole so that I wouldn't starve, yes.
  • 00:05:00
    I lost many assumptions about the simple nature of right and wrong.”
  • 00:05:06
    Morality is all about circumstance.
  • 00:05:09
    The same action of one individual can be disgraceful, but from another, it can be reasonable.
  • 00:05:16
    Millionaires committing fraud and theft is shameful.
  • 00:05:20
    It's selfish. It’s unnecessary.
  • 00:05:22
    But those stealing to keep themselves or their loved ones alive,
  • 00:05:26
    now that’s arguably brave, maybe even noble.
  • 00:05:31
    Two wrongs don’t make a right,
  • 00:05:33
    but the line is blurred when there is an  individual or organization masterminding the suffering of the masses on a larger scale.
  • 00:05:40
    [Rachel] “Falcone floods our streets with crime and drugs, preying on the desperate,
  • 00:05:44
    creating new Joe Chills every day.”
  • 00:05:46
    Multiple characters in ‘Batman Begins’ mention how corrupt Gotham is.
  • 00:05:50
    They say it’s beyond saving.
  • 00:05:53
    But corruption is always more layered than it seems.
  • 00:05:56
    There may be a lot of injustice and violence, but sometimes, the true villain is the puppeteer.
  • 00:06:03
    And if there is one thing that is certain…
  • 00:06:07
    [Rachel] “What chance does Gotham have when the good people do nothing?”
Tags
  • Batman Begins
  • morality
  • justice
  • revenge
  • vigilantism
  • fear
  • Gotham
  • corruption
  • accountability
  • Christopher Nolan