Title

The title of this drama, The Dark Knight Rises, tells a lot about the plot of the story. From the title alone you can infer that Batman, the main character, must also be known as the Dark Knight (Nolan 1). This makes sense because his favorite color is black, which is the darkest color. It also explains that he is the hero of this story by comparing him to a knight, which is historically a bold & brave man who rescues people. Batman was originally a rich man named Bruce Wayne who decided to use his money and smarts to become a secret hero and protect his city of Gotham from crime (49). The Dark Knight Rises, is the last movie in the Batman trilogy, preceded by Batman Begins, and The Dark Knight, (Child). Since the prior movie ended in a cliffhanger, with Batman keeping big secrets from the public and vanishing into the darkness, the title also hints that Batman/Bruce Wayne will return and rise to success again in this drama. This is in fact what happens, because Batman’s nemesis Bane has effectively turned Gotham into a ticking time bomb, and all of Wayne Enterprises’ beneficiaries have run out of funding due to corruption in the company caused by Bruce Wayne’s absence (O’Hehir). However, his butler Alfred and the sly Catwoman both encourage Bruce that the city needs Batman, and he eventually emerges from his isolation just in time to clean up the mess Bane has made and prove to the city that he really is the hero (O’Hehir). The title is also a play on the word knight/night, because Batman does prefer to work under the cover of darkness in the night.

The Characters of The Dark Knight Rises

The protagonist of The Dark Knight Rises, is Bruce Wayne, or his superhero persona, Batman. Batman is the protagonist because he fights crime in the city of Gotham (Nolan 49). This action in and of itself is not what makes Batman a hero. Batman is a hero because he is truly incorruptible (Fatemi). He is not driven by his emotions, only his moral sense of right and wrong. Because of this emotionlessness, Batman cannot be convinced to turn evil nor turn against Gotham by Bane and even his friends and butler, Catwoman and Alfred.  Alfred Pennyworth, Batman’s butler, not only serves the Wayne household, but also played a major role in the upbringing of Bruce Wayne after the murder of his parents. In The Dark Knight Rises, Batman’s nemesis is a masked man who calls himself Bane (4). He is a major oppositional force to Batman, forcing him to question his motives and the morality of saving a city plagued with crime. However, Batman is still incorruptible. The most defining characteristic of Batman/Bruce Wayne, is his morality. No matter what enemy he faces, no matter how horrible the crime he commits, Batman does not believe in killing. This is exemplified by his use of an EMP to stop a technological robbery of the stock market, and his statement to Selina Kyle/ Catwoman when she shoots a criminal in order to make an escape (62). Batman’s motivation, in its purest form, is justice.

Tone

“The Dark Knight Rises” has a dark, but hopeful tone. The film, like its predecessors, is a dark superhero movie that tries to make the character of Batman as realistic, and gritty as possible. Batman, who is the crime fighting alter ego of Bruce Wayne, symbolizes both fear and hope simultaneously. The criminals of Gotham City see Batman as a monster, and the citizens of Gotham see batman as a guardian (Nolan 158). In the movie Batman never kills, but breaks bones, and fights crime with brutal effectiveness (62). This brutality helps lend the movie its dark tone, the fact that the film also deals with terrorism helps with the dark tone as well. The hopefulness comes from the fact that Batman is defeated, and literally rises up in order to save his city. At first the movie primarily takes place in dark environments, or at night, but at the film's conclusion the final battle between Bane, the antagonist, and his army, and Batman and his team of insurgents the film take place in daylight. The turning point of this film’s tone from dark to hopeful occurs after Batman’s back is broken, and he climbs out of a well in order to escape his prison (127). From this point on the film’s score, and lighting are more hopeful than the dark, brooding sounds of the film's first half. While Batman’s tone is menacing to criminals, and hopeful to citizens Bane’s tone is that of a dictator, his tone commands power despite his odd sounding voice. During the film's first half the Batman that represents fear is primarily seen, but after the transition in tone the hopeful protector is seen in Batman. Batman’s tone changes along with the film’s tone.

Big Idea 6: Focus on the historical context of the work and how that effects different aspects of his writing.

The Dark Rises was written in a modern post 9/11 world, and the effects of that event, and the general state of the current world can be seen in the film. [SLO 2] The films antagonist, Bane, though an exaggerated character, is a terrorist.  Tim Burton’s, and Joel Schumacher’s Batman films featured over the top villains in zany outfits, with crazy ideas.  The villain of Nolan’s final Batman film still features some of the crazier elements of seen in comic book villains, such as his odd voice, and mask, but is much more grounded than his pre 9/11 counterparts.  Bane is cold, calculated, and plans on blowing up an entire city.  Bane even breaks Batman’s back, and becomes a dictator, ruling over Gotham by force.  The Bane of The Dark Knight Rises has more in common with modern terrorists than his comic book counterpart.  In much the same way that “In the Abyss” by H.G. Wells reflected the historical events surrounding its publication (namely artic exploration), The Dark Knight Rises reflects the historical events surrounding its creation. [SLO 4]  Even Batman is a darker, grittier take on the until recently zany character.  The film takes itself very seriously, and never pokes fun at itself, something many superhero movies do often.  This serious attitude is most likely due to the fact that terrorism is a very real, and prominent threat in a post 9/11 world, and the film itself depicts acts of terrorism.  The Dark Knight Rises is a film forged just as much from its source material as it is from the historical events surrounding its creation.