Next week, Warner Bros. will release the second trailer of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises. One of the most anticipated films of all time, Nolan’s super-sequel will likely be closely linked to the previous two films, including such thematic concerns as vengeance, faith, justice, sacrifice and hope. In this article, I will look at several key quotes from Batman Begins and The Dark Knight that may or may not be significant to the new film, considering how the dialogue of Bruce, Alfred, Rachel and Ra’s may offer insights into the next Batman adventure.
“When a forest grows too wild, a purging fire is inevitable and natural.”
Ra’s al Ghul (Neeson) – Batman Begins
In this speech, given towards the end of Batman Begins, Ra’s is attempting to justify his violence and terrorism towards the people of Gotham. Although his goals seem noble, Ra’s is a terrorist that thrives on others’ fears, and threatens Gotham with his fear toxin that would surely destroy the city. In this instance, the concept of the fire has both destructive and reconstructive qualities: the phrase ‘purging’ links the destruction with a form of moral cleansing of the ‘wild’ Gotham, hence justifying an extremist response.
In The Dark Knight Rises, the concept of ‘fire’ seems to be directly linked with Bane, and takes on a more religious quality. In a viral video, a group of voices chant “the fire rises,” the prologue ends with a discussion between Bane and a henchman about “the fire” and Gordon tells Batman in the trailer, “now this evil rises.” The prologue accentuates this concept of religious fervour: a henchman willingly commits suicide in devotion towards the ‘fire.’ Such loyalty suggests that Bane may be a religious or cult figure, who can inspire others to commit suicide. Even Ra’s was not this ruthless towards his followers.
“Gunned down by one of the very people they were trying to help. Create enough hunger and everyone becomes a criminal. Their deaths galvanized the city into saving itself, and Gotham has limped on ever since. We are back to finish the job. And this time no misguided idealists will get in the way. Like your father, you lack the courage to do all that is necessary. If someone stands in the way of true justice, you simply walk up behind them and stab them in the heart.”
Ra’s al Ghul (Liam Neeson) – Batman Begins
The eight-year gap between The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises recalls the gaps in chronology in Batman Begins. In Begins, the death of Bruce’s parents occurs during a terrible depression. Later, when Bruce returns to his city, Gotham “limps on” (sic.) despite the increasing problems with police corruption and mob violence. In The Dark Knight Rises, the citizens of Gotham are limping after the traumas of The Joker’s reign and Harvey Dent’s death. In both instances, the deaths of beloved figures have prompted the citizens to save themselves and protect their city: Bruce’s parents represented philanthropic generosity whilst Dent conveyed justice and righteousness. This may help explain why the League of Shadows seem to be targeting the reputation of Dent in the new film, as they seek to destroy corrupt symbols of righteousness like Dent, who was a decent man that fell morally and, as such, could neve represent “true” justice.
The speech also taps into Bruce’s compassion, and his differences from the League of Shadows. Unlike the other members, Bruce was not prepared to kill others in achieving his goals. Bruce’s refusal to become an executioner is key: it fragments him from the League, and prompts him to adopt an original and different persona. Ra’s is a moral absolutist who believes in extremes (there is criminality and justice and nothing in between), and it is likely that Bane shares many of these characteristics. Bruce and Bane – both Dark Knights (to Dent’s seemingly good White Knight) – are differentiated by this key difference: both are driven, borderline type-A personalities, yet Bruce is never willing to kill to achieve his aims, whilst Bane will do anything (including killing innocents) to destroy Gotham’s symbols. Bane – and Miranda/Talia – are “back to finish the job,” destroying Gotham for good.
“You're a good cop, one of the few … now, we’re two”
Bruce Wayne/Batman (Christian Bale) – Batman Begins
In Batman Begins, Sergeant Gordon thought he was alone. His partner Flass was in the pocket of a gangster and the commissioner was uninterested in his theories about crime prevention. As a result, he appeared to resign himself to the corruption of his city. The introduction of Batman changed everything for Gordon. Still cynical (“I think you’re trying to help, but I have been wrong before”), the cop allows himself to believe in his city again: Gotham could be a place of justice and fairness, as suggested in the second last shot of the film, in which Gordon looks with appreciation and hope at Batman.
In the new film, Gordon looks to be truly alone again, a devastating low considering his previous optimism. In The Dark Knight, Gordon paid the price for standing against corruption and criminality: he felt shame and guilt for his part in Dent’s destruction, his family where threatened and he lost his sole ally – Batman – in order to defeat The Joker. The Dark Knight Rises offers a world-wearier Gordon (“a war hero”) struggling with several moral dilemmas: he has lionised a man that almost-robbed him of his family (the line “I believed in Harvey Dent” oozes irony) and vilified the only person that truly understands the hollowness of the city’s victory. Can a cop still be considered “good” if he is living a lie? Can he grow beyond his self-loathing to become the man he once was?
“When I told you that if Gotham no longer needed Batman we could be together, I meant it. But now I'm sure the day won't come when ‘you’ no longer need Batman. I hope it does; and if it does I will be there, but as your friend. I'm sorry to let you down. If you lose your faith in me, please keep your faith in people.”
Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal) – The Dark Knight
In The Dark Knight, Bruce had two goals: win over Rachel Dawes and return Gotham to its former glory. In his mind, he simultaneously succeeded and failed in achieving those objectives. Because of Alfred’s deception, Bruce thought that Rachel was going to be with him, so – despite her death – he still has that sentiment to cling to. Moreover, Bruce also defeated The Joker but at terrible moral costs: although he never killed his “one rule” – murder – he undermined the city’s civil liberties by spying on them and constructed a mass deception in the form of the Harvey Dent fraud.
The Dark Knight Rises will feature the inevitable consequences of Bruce’s confusion. A soldier in a “peace time,” Bruce has lost his purpose in life – the role of the Batman. In ‘The Man in the Iron Mask,’ the ‘good’ Louise is shocked that he must impersonate his vile, cruel twin brother for his entire life. Thematically, Bruce must wrestle with the same concerns. Bruce is still pretending to be the uncaring, aloof billionaire – a personality completely divorced from his character. Both Gordon and Bruce are living lies and wrestling with their own self-loathing because of their half-accomplished goals and wilful deception. Hence, Bruce may have lost his “faith” in people – including himself.
Catwoman/Selina Kyle may figure strongly in Bruce’s growing faith and confidence in himself. In the previous two films, Bruce is perpetually attempting to prove himself and impress Rachel Dawes. This may serve as an interesting contrast between Rachel and Selina. Earlier, Bruce wanted to leave his Batman personality behind and return to normalcy with Rachel (becoming the type of hero that he wants to be like Dent or his father), whilst – in The Dark Knight Rises – Bruce may be able to accept who he is – Batman – and be with someone that completely accepts that side of him, Selina. As such, Bruce may experience a deeper, more rewarding relationship with Selina than Rachel, as both are looking for acceptance and both will likely understand each other’s dilemmas (duality, trickery, self-loathing) better than anyone else ever could.
“I give a damn, because a good man once made me responsible for what was most precious to him in the whole world.”
Alfred Pennyworth (Michael Caine) – Batman Begins
In the Nolan films, Bruce and Alfred experienced their greatest conflict in Bruce’s early adulthood. When Bruce is at college, he is angry and seething over the deaths of his parents. Bruce refuses to accept the mantle of his parents, pushing away Alfred when the butler challenges him to grow: “why do you give a damn, Alfred?” In this moment, their relationship seems difficult given Bruce’s resentment and nihilism, yet Alfred returns Bruce’s antagonism with fatherly affection.
From the trailer, it seems that Nolan and co. will return to that sequence in The Dark Knight Rises. The term “precious” links the previous speech with the new one (“You are as precious to me as you were to your own mother and father”), and suggests that Bruce and Alfred may experience a new difficulty in their relationship which Alfred may have to overcome again with compassion and understanding. There may be several reasons for their difficulty: Alfred has kept a key secret from Bruce for eight years (Rachel), Bruce may no longer believe in himself, Bruce may be lost in the caddish, selfish ‘Bruce Wayne’ persona or Bruce may not be able to forgive himself for the events of The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises. What is clear is that The Dark Knight Rises will feature Bruce having to re-examine who he is and what it means to be Batman, hence Alfred’s comments and generosity will be vital in the superhero’s understanding of himself.