Matt Reeves’ The Batman etches a much grimmer, realistic portrait of Gotham, which is as socio-politically divided as ever. As Batman/Bruce (Robert Pattinson) is only a fledgling vigilante in the film, the true nature of the impact of his actions is gradually unraveled to him over the course of the narrative.
Without explicitly making comparisons with earlier live-action iterations of Batman, it is clear that social commentary has always been an integral part of the narrative. Be it Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight trilogy, which is an allegory on war on terror and its effects on the general populace, or the constant power machinations carried out by players in the Fox TV series, Gotham, the city has always been a cesspool of crime, allowing for perspectives on class warfare and violence. The caped crusader in previous iterations has been a variation of the “instrument of justice” idea, which has been subverted to a great extent in Reeves’ iteration.
This also has been explored in Todd Phillips’ Joker, wherein the transformation of the titular character is propelled by a broken society, which seems to be downright apathetic to those who end up being a by-product of the fractured system. The Batman strikes a delicate balance between exploring Bruce’s psyche and what it means for him to assume the mantle of the masked hero, and how Gotham reacts to his presence in return. The result is a tense, action-packed three-hour runtime rife with scathing social commentary on power politics, the ever-widening gap between the average citizen and the elite, and how Batman positions himself in the crossfires of these issues.
The True Cost of Being A Symbol of Vengeance in The Batman
Bruce, undoubtedly, is a broken young man in The Batman, still healing from the murder of his parents, Thomas and Martha, who are generally viewed as upstanding Gothamites. Determined to further his father’s legacy, Bruce embraces the Batman persona to the point of self-effacement, deliberately shunning his Bruce Wayne public persona unless he absolutely needs to be present in certain social scenarios. Alfred’s reminder that Bruce is going to end up losing everything, specifically himself if he does not manage to strike a balance becomes poignant here, as Gotham needs Bruce Wayne too, which the caped crusader is yet to fully grasp. This ties in with the Riddler’s (Paul Dano) plan to expose the Wayne family, who, although inherently good people, are flawed, offering a refreshing perspective to the oft-repeated storyline. However, this visibly takes a toll on Bruce, as he feels utterly lost and does not quite know who he is meant to be.
These circumstances are heightened when one of the Riddler’s goons repeat the “I am vengeance” line at Gotham Square Garden: the utter stock and realization on Batman’s face, says it all, as it is at that moment that he realizes that he has unknowingly failed the city. Instead of solely being terrified of the masked vigilante (which is also the case, as seen in the opening sequences in the film), some criminals have gone on to take inspiration from Batman’s presence, adapting what he stands for to for their twisted sense of anarchy. Moreover, The Batman's GD, along with the average Gotham citizen, do not look up to him as some sort of hero - they view him as a threat, given how volatile the atmosphere was during the scene in which Batman was surrounded by the police force at the station. Of course, Batman/Bruce never intended it to be that way, but being a symbol of fear has its ramifications, worsening certain situations instead of helping assuage them.
Even Selina (Zoe Kravitz), who works closely with Batman in order to find Annika, calls him Vengeance, as it is the only identity that stands out, eclipsing the nuanced emotions he experiences on the daily. The Riddler addressing Batman directly during his killing sprees is symbolic of this, as he expects Batman to him in his vision to wreak havoc on Gotham city, assuming that both of them share the same ideology somehow. After the floods that isolate Gotham and leave the city vulnerable, Batman realizes that he must become a symbol of hope for the citizens of Gotham — as he does during the flare-shot sequence and while helping the woman out in the end — as the city desperately needs someone to pin their hopes on to. Evoking pure terror is not nearly enough: it never had been, at least for Gotham.
How The Batman Navigates Class Warfare (While Calling Out Bruce Wayne’s Privilege)
On the surface, The Batman reiterates the dominant themes in its previous installments: the rich are utterly disconnected from reality, only hell-bent on maximizing their power and influence, while the neglected often are pushed to such extremes, that committing crimes is the only way to make do in a harsh, terrible world. There are also those who introduce chaos for the sake of it, being both a product of their circumstances and taking pleasure in watching the world burn. Class lies at the heart of Gotham’s greatest evils, as there is a gap between those who have it all and those who are underprivileged and ostracized, while those who are stuck in between have to claw their way through life. The Batman explores these micro-realities in Gotham while trying to explore the complex overlapping inherent within an individual’s socio-personal identity.
Bruce became an orphan at a young age, obviously grappling with a void he cannot fill, which urged him to take such drastic steps to help protect the city. However, despite his pain, his upbringing has been exceedingly sheltered in comparison to someone else who has lost their parents (or is unable to proclaim their identity openly): Selina. After her mother’s death, Selina had to fend for herself, although she was able to make her way without losing her empathy, given the lengths to which she was ready to go to protect a loved one. Bruce has the means and the resources to become the Batman, and although he does not bask in his privilege or partake in it for self-satisfaction, he is constantly reminded of it. The scene in which Selina tells him that he must have come from a lot of money is emblematic of this, as Bruce was initially unable to fully comprehend the dire weight of poverty and neglect that people like Selina or Annika had to undergo.
At the extreme end of this class aspect is the Riddler’s crimes, it is not difficult to understand why he is the way he is: it is a harsh criticism of how reality is, grim and unforgiving and in favor of the privileged, no matter how painful it is for everyone in the spectrum.
How Violence Begets Violence in Gotham (For Some, Without Consequences)
Class and wealth privilege is undoubtedly tied to power and influence, and corruption often goes hand-in-hand in these scenarios. A case in point is Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), a man puppeteering the police force from the shadows, triggering violence in the streets with no consequences, until he is gunned down by the Riddler. Batman’s “no-kill” rule emerges as pivotal here, as he convinces Selina to not take her father’s life, no matter how much he deserves that fate, but despite his best efforts, somebody is bound to emerge from the shadows and pull the trigger anyway. It is a vicious cycle, one that is tricky to dissect and diffuse. Falcone’s power insulated him against takedown over the years, while the Riddler’s plans, fueled by a distorted view of justice, only incite others to him, leaving innocents helpless and terrified. No matter how brutally Batman beats various goons up, there is always more to come, and the helplessness inherent within the situation has no easy answers.
While Batman is more accepting in of adopting a more hopeful stance towards the end, corruption and violence will still need to be dealt with. With Bella Reál taking a fearless stance to protect the city, there might be a temporary vacuum of inactivity. However, there’s also a vacuum of power, with eager players like the Penguin (Colin Farrell) looking for an opening to seize power, while corruption still prevails in the city, emerging like endless hydra heads that keep replicating. Both sides of the spectrum, and those in between, will seek to take back Gotham on their own , and it is up to Batman and his allies to create a semblance of balance, shifting focus from vengeance to justice, while straddling the fine line between idealism and hope. The path ahead is long and arduous, and it remains to be seen how installments of The Batman further its complex symbolism while carving out meaningful, hard-hitting perspectives rooted in reality.
