Monday 31 March 2014

Thought 13: A Note on The Dark Knight


DENT
When their enemies were at the gate, 
the Romans would suspend democracy 
and appoint one man to protect the city. 
It wasn’t considered an honor. 
It was considered a public service.

RACHEL
And the last man they asked to protect 
the republic was named Caesar. 
He never gave up that power.

DENT
Well, I guess you either die a hero 
or you live long enough 
to see yourself become the villain.

***

JOKER
He’s at 250 52nd Boulevard. 
And she’s on avenue X at Cicero

***

As is known, the Joker duped Batman and the police force. It is Dent who is on avenue X at Cicero. It is thus on avenue X at Cicero that Dent turns into the villain, where Dent becomes Two-Face. The reference to Cicero ('avenue X at Cicero') here is no accident. 

Marcus Tullius Cicero, a contemporary of Julius Caesar's, has been regarded by tradition as the last Republican of Ancient Rome, as the last key player who stood against the rise of the Empire and one-man rule, and was duly persecuted by his enemies and eventually killed by order of Antony who, at the time, was in league with Octavian, Caesar's heir. 

That Dent, the white angel of Gotham, should perish in a place called Cicero means nothing other than this: there the last of his republican, democratic nature is brought to an end, and from there on out, he lives long enough to see himself become the villain, à la Julius Caesar according to the script, leading to the last third of the film where Two-Face goes on a revenge killing spree.

Friday 14 March 2014

Thought 12: Mother & Son


Heather Carmen

&

Tom Romer