Dark Knight cast and characters.
 Alfred / Propp's HelperAs the Helper Alfred gives guidance and help to the protagonist (Batman) as his butler, not as his sidekick. Alfred took care of Bruce and watched grow up from a baby to a crime fighting hero and therefore feels like a fatherly figure almost, and cares a lot for him. He is has a lot of influence on Bruce and always supports him with his crazy ideas, even if he does not agree with them. |  Batman/Bruce Wayne |  Harvey Dent / False HeroFalse Hero: Harvey Dent conforms to Propp’s character stereotype of a false hero as at the beginning at the film he appears at first to be an untarnished hero who is the public face of law and order in Gotham. He has an ambition to clean up the streets of Gotham and is given the title of the White Knight by Commissioner Gordon. There is a contrast between Harvey Dent and Batman as Batman hides in the shadows whereas Dent does not and is prepared to surrender himself to bring the Joker down. |
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 Commissioner Gordon / HeroCommissioner Gorden is an example of a hero in the dark knight according to propp's theory of character types. He is one of the few honest cops in Gotham City and wants to fight corruption and the mob. He fakes his own death in the aim only to come back and arrest the Joker. At the end of the film he is prepared to sacrifice himself over his family when threatened by Dent/Two face. he is persuaded by Batman to uphold the reputation of Harvey Dent as a crime fighting hero. |  The Joker / Propp's VillianThe Joker is a prime example of a villain in the dark knight, he is a character who struggles against the hero. Typically the villain has some sort of scarring and wears dark and mysterious colours. This is to juxtapose between the hero and the villain; to highlight their differences. |  Lucius FoxHe is the helper in the film who also provides Batman with the gadgets that he uses to fight crime. |
 Rachel Dawes / PrincessThe Princess: She is shown to be an object wanted by multiple characters. Her role as the princess is made clear throughout the movie with some ‘damsel in distress’ moments. She is shown having intimate discussions with the Batman but it is easy to see that there isn’t a clear path for them because she is seeing Harvey Dent. She is the forth most shown character highlighting her importance and position to the narrative. |
Claude Levi-Strauss - French university teacher - anthropologist
The human brain needs to catagorise and order our understanding of the world around us by looking at characteristics and stating binary oppositions. Lévi-Strauss stated that all naratives operate on a system of conflict such as good versus evil.
Does this apply in the Dark Knight? Which of the characters are good or evil? Are there shades of Grey?
The story itself is the battle between good and evil. The forces of good which are Rachel, Harvey Dent at the start, Batman and Gordon are lined up against the forces of evil; The mob, Russians and the Joker.
The character of Two face/Harvey Dent is a good example of binary opposites within one man.
Batman has a civilian alter-ego in the disguise of Bruce Wayne. Bruce is a carefree billionaire whereas batman is the night-time vigelante crime fighter. Lévi-Strauss' theory therefore applies well to the film.
How does the interrogation scene fit in with the theory of opposites?
The Joker and Batman are opposites - The Joker even said that they need eachother and that they complete eachother.
In the stills from the film below, it is evident that the Joker and Batman are completely seperate characters. The Joker is seen to be laughing histerically whilst batman is seen to be cold and unemotional.
Batman is not into breaking rules whereas the Joker believes in anarchy.
The interrogation scene is a good example of juxtaposition as it does not follow the rules of a normal interrogation.Joker is calm and answers questions in the way he wants to. he is in control of the scene. Batman resorts to brutality and loses his temper when the Joker does not comply.
