Case Study: Joker. Warning SPOLIERS

Joker is a new view on Gotham's Prince of Crime, with a heavy emphasis on how unchecked mental illness can seriously turn dangerous. 

Arthur Fleck, the protagonist of the film, is a mentally ill party clown and aspiring stand-up comedian. He suffers with a mental disorder that causes him to laugh uncontrollably at inappropriate times, which leads to an altercation with three young bankers.

Initially in self-defence, Arthur shoots the men but then he becomes exceedingly more violent, eventually killing them. 

Instead of being distraught or feeling guilty for his actions, the act of violence empowers Arthur, finally taking control of his life. 

The attack triggers a wave of rebellion throughout Gotham, giving Arthur more confidence in himself but he dives deeper into insanity. Learning that his mother and her boyfriend abused him as a child being the cause of his strange condition; he takes his anger out on her, killing her and any one else he deems that has done him wrong.


Arthur's story is one that hits very close to home, as it is such a gritty and truthful portrayal of severe mental health, how if it goes unchecked it can be a very dangerous and scary for the victim and the ones around them.

Even though Arthur is meant to be the bad guy in this film, the actor and director paint him in such a sympathetic light that you cannot help but feel sorry for him. The steps he takes to act like a normal citizen of Gotham are met with some many obstacles and he is not given the tools to overcome them, ensuring his descent into madness and to becoming homicidal.

Arthur's mannerisms change drastically during the film, from a meek and timid man, to becoming the unhinged and unpredictable Joker. The other focus of the film besides Arthur is his mental health, being a major part of his character, determining his actions and how he deals with them. He fabricates scenarios in his head, unable to identify what is reality and what is fantasy. He shows very clear signs of Psychosis, Schizophrenia, Manic Depressive Disorder and Antisocial Behaviour. 

Arthur Fleck is a prime example of well thought out character with mental illness but just so happens to be bad.