Batman Is A Psychopath, And That's Why He's Great | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

Batman Is A Psychopath, And That's Why He's Great

Batman's psychosis and mental state are not only what set him apart from other heroes, but they are also what make him such a great hero.

39
Batman Is A Psychopath, And That's Why He's Great

Comic books have been something that I have enjoyed ever since I was a little kid. My grandfather first introduced me to Superman when I was about two or three years old, and that led me to other heroes like Spider-Man, Green Lantern, the X-Men, and especially Batman. Batman was and still is, my favorite comic book superhero of all time. His status as an icon is also burned into our cultural zeitgeist, but Batman isn't just your typical superhero. He's damaged, obsessive, paranoid, and his rogues' gallery is filled with criminals whose crimes are much crueler and darker than the crimes of villains like Lex Luthor, or Weather Wizard from the Flash.

However, Batman's most defining trait is his major and permanent psychological damage. Let's face it, Batman is insane, albeit mildly insane, but even then, that sets him apart from his Justice League compatriots in a defining way. The tragedy of Bruce Wayne's youth damaged and changed his psyche to make him what we know him as today.

Batman's whole motivation as a hero is revenge; he's looking to avenge his parents. Every criminal encounter he stops is symbolic. He feels like he's saving his parents again and again. It's an intriguing obsessive-compulsive behavior that Batman can't stop on his own.

He also takes on an entirely different personality when he's got the cowl on. Bruce Wayne is the true mask that he wears, but Batman isn't his true face either. The true face of Batman is still the afflicted youth that has lost his parents. Batman is an identity he adopts to escape that trauma and make him feel like he's correcting the wrongs of the past. It makes him feel like he's capable of stopping another situation of death, which he is indeed perfectly capable of doing.

Batman is also incredibly paranoid. He's hatched plans to contain and defeat the rest of the Justice League in case they become villains and he continually has authoritarian tendencies for obtaining information and keeping tabs on people. He doesn't trust anyone but himself. That is central to the entire facade of Batman. His obsession with revenge leads him to put in almost every possible effort to stop crime, and that includes paranoia. The only rule that Batman has is that he does not kill.

That rule put into comparison with his psychosis, is the most interesting and important point of Batman. Although he is distant, cold, obsessed, paranoid, and at times cruel, he's still committed to justice. That's the strength of Batman. He has suffered the tragic deaths of his parents and the psychological impact of that and still maintains his ultimate sense of rationality and morality. This presents a compelling dichotomy: Batman is sane because he is insane.

As I've said, Batman is damaged, greatly so, but his moral code keeps him in check and helps keep his head about his shoulders, and that precarious balance presents a fundamental tension in his character that is not present in many other comic book heroes. All of the stories about the Riddler, the Joker, and even Kite-Man are just allegories for the mental state of Bruce Wayne. Batman isn't a comic book character that you read to watch him fight baddies, he's a character that you read about to see how his state of mind develops and whether or not he'll slip and lose what keeps him a hero. You read about him to see the eternal anguish he feels because of his parents' deaths. You read about him to see how he succeeds in his mission and how he fails.

What makes Batman compelling, in short, is that he is a psychologically damaged individual who ultimately maintains his sanity. His life is a balancing act, and that is the fundamental message and theme of every Batman comic you will read.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Lifestyle

10 Things Only Equestrians Understand

Yes, it IS a sport. Yes, I fall all the time. No, I do not ride in jeans with a cowgirl hat on.

331
horses
Barn Pros

Growing up I have always wanted to own a horse. My grandparents own a well known equestrian facility in Georgia, so I have been riding since I was born. A bond between a person and their horse is a bond so strong that it cannot be broken. Everywhere I went I wanted to be around horses, even forcing my family to go on trail rides during vacations. Horses have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember has taught me great responsibility, as well as 14 things that all equestrians can relate to.

Keep Reading...Show less
man wearing white top using MacBook
Photo by Tim Gouw on Unsplash

College is super hard. Between working, studying, and having a social life, it feels like a struggle to just keep afloat.

I understand. When you feel like your drowning and there's no way to stay afloat I understand that it feels like everyone else is doing just fine. I understand all the frustration, long nights in the library, and that feeling that you want to just throw in the towel. I understand that sometimes it's too hard to get out of bed because your brain is already filled with too much information to remember. I understand because I am also feeling pretty burnt out.

Keep Reading...Show less
No Matter How Challenging School Gets, You Have To Put Your Health First — A Degree Won't Mean Anything If You're Dead
Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

Some of the best advice I've ever received was from my social studies teacher in sophomore year of high school. He stated, "If you don't know it at midnight, you're not going to know it for the 8 a.m. exam, so get some sleep."

It's such a simple piece of advice, but it holds so much accuracy and it's something that the majority of college students need to hear and listen to. "All-nighters" are a commonality on college campuses in order to cram in studying for an exam that is typically the next day.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

Warnings About College To Incoming Freshmen As Told By Gifs

College is hard, but you will make it through.

548
college just ahead sign
Wordpress

1. You will have that special "college" look to you.

2. You will feel like an adult but also feeling like a child.

3. You will have classes that are just the professor reading from their lecture slides for an hour.

4. You will need to study but also want to hang out with your friends.

5. Coffee is your best friend.

6. You don't know what you're doing 99% of the time.

7. You will procrastinate and write a paper the night before it is due.

8. Money is a mythical object.

9. It is nearly impossible to motivate yourself to go to classes during spring.

10. The food pyramid goes out the window.

11. You will have at least one stress induced breakdown a semester.

12. Most lecture classes will bore you to tears.

13. You will not like all of your professors.

14. You will try to go to the gym... but you will get too lazy at some point.

15. When you see high school students taking tours:

16. You will try to convince yourself that you can handle everything.

17. Finals week will try to kill you.

18. You won't like everyone, but you will find your best friends sooner or later.

19. You actually have to go to class.

20. Enjoy it, because you will be sad when it is all over.

Obsessive Thoughts Keep My Brain Stuck On A Loop And Me Stuck On My Couch
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Sometimes my brain just starts turning on an idea and it doesn't want to stop.

I don't know if it is related to my anxiety, perfectionism or depression. I don't know why it happens. It's frustrating, it's painful and it stops me from functioning.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments