Hero's Downfull

Hero’s Downfall

In the pandemonium of society, people always need heroes who can stand up for what’s right and lead them to get out of the trouble. In Gotham, District Attorney Harvey Dent is just such a hero, the symbol of hope and justice. But unfortunately, he burns his half of face and loses his fiancée in Joker’s conspiracy. Therefore, he totally degenerates into indulgence and immorality, revenging the people who are responsible for Rachel's death one by one. Finally, he falls off and is killed instantly. But Batman covers up what he did, so he still continuously brings positive effect in people’s mind. Compared with Oedipus, the king of Thebes, both of them are tragic heroes, bringing the peace and stability for citizens but finally suffering from great misfortune. For Oedipus, he is defeated by fate. He marries his mother and kills his father unconsciously. But for Dent, when facing the Rachel’s death caused by Joker, he loses his willpower and faith, which bring the real tragedy by his own.

In our impression, heroes are always invincible with firm belief and powerful ability. But in reality, there are still some stronger enemies they cannot beat them. For Dent, with the help of the Batman, he arrests the entire mob and brings peace and justice for citizens. But it attracts the master criminal of Gotham- Joker who is adept at grasping the human frailty and attacking it. Also according to Sarah Lyall (2007), Joker is psychopathic, mass-murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy. Therefore, facing such a brilliant villain, Harvey Dent as well as Batman suffers one defeat after another. More important is that Dent burns his face and loses his fiancée Rachel, which directly contribute to his crime, revenging the murder. Joker clearly knows that Dent is Gotham’s white knight and as long as destroying him, this city will die with his reputation. Therefore, under the conspiracy from Joker, such an invincible enemy, Dent failed and lost his head. For Oedipus, his enemy seems a little inconceivable, fate, which we cannot prove that exists. People more believe that fate is in our hands and hate to be controlled by it. But in the story, fate is such a god who can set the predetermined future of Oedipus. Also the prophecy the fate given is horrible that Oedipus will kill his father and marry his mother. I do believe that once this prophesy will happen