Difference between revisions of "Batman"
From DCAM Wiki
Dr Orpheus (Talk | contribs) (Fixed link) |
m (→Personality) |
||
| Line 26: | Line 26: | ||
==Personality== | ==Personality== | ||
| − | Initially, Batman may appear a dichotomy between Bruce Wayne and Batman. The lives of each are | + | |
| − | + | Initially, Batman may appear a dichotomy between Bruce Wayne and Batman. The lives of each are quite distinct and different, as are the demeanors of each man. While Bruce Wayne is undeniably talented and accomplished, it's sometimes easy to wonder if he's some kind of eclectic idiot savant, so foppish and sometimes unpredictable can he be. Still, he maintains the humanitarian tradition of the Wayne Foundation and surveys the developments within Wayne Industries as closely as he can. One could say that Bruce is eminently concerned, but rather unaffected, leaving the day to day stresses to more interested men. | |
| − | While Bruce Wayne is undeniably | + | |
| + | Sometimes seeming shallow or arrogant, there are immature facets to Wayne that stand in stark opposition with the billionaire philanthropist and cultured socialite facade. Despite his eccentricities, however, Bruce Wayne is quite capable of both intelligent conversation and listening quite intently to the politics and causes of the hour - alert and engaging given the right topic (and a person he doesn't want to manipulate to find him boring and boorish), there is little question how he earned his position as a media darling. | ||
[[Image:bruceparty.jpg|right|300px]] | [[Image:bruceparty.jpg|right|300px]] | ||
| − | The seeming paradox to this charismatic face is the dark presence of the Batman. A phantom of the night with a visage and persona both forged to be, and inherently frightening to many, particularly the guilty hearted. To a large degree, Batman buys into his own image, playing up the dark avenger side of his personality with the criminals he targets, a master of intimidation, interrogation, and manipulation. He is not (quite) as harsh as he makes himself out to be, however: Batman will not kill, ever. He will not touch a firearm, ever. Despite the grim efficiency with which he conducts his personal crusade, compassion remains at the very core of everything Batman stands for. Despite his comrades, Batman is the consumate lone wolf: he is a survivor, a masterful strategist backed up by instinct and experience, with little tolerance for being anything but the pack Alpha in most any situation. | + | The seeming paradox to this charismatic face is the dark presence of the Batman. A phantom of the night with a visage and persona both forged to be, and inherently frightening to many, particularly the guilty hearted. To a large degree, Batman buys into his own image, playing up the dark avenger side of his personality with the criminals he targets, a master of intimidation, interrogation, and manipulation. He is not (quite) as harsh as he makes himself out to be, however: Batman will not kill, ever. He will not touch a firearm, ever. Despite the grim efficiency with which he conducts his personal crusade, compassion remains at the very core of everything Batman stands for. Despite his comrades, Batman is the consumate lone wolf: he is a survivor, a masterful strategist backed up by instinct and experience, with little tolerance for being anything but the pack Alpha in most any situation. He is not well practiced in not getting his way. |
| + | |||
| + | The apparent clear distinction between the two facets of Bruce's psyche is actually something of an illusion, however. In reality, both involve the core values of the true Bruce Wayne (or, as he thinks of himself, the real Batman), and both are tools used by this man to accomplish his goals. Batman is the frightening idea concocted to scare those he combats, to elevate himself above some mortal being in the eyes of the Gotham underworld. His outlook of unrelenting perfectionism carrying into the discipline required to maintain the vigilante's lifestyle... and the dual identity that comes with it. As surely as the Dark Knight's projected persona is carefully crafted and applied in his neverending and HIGHLY personal crusade against evil, the socialite mask is a similar, more subtly potent weapon. Wayne's role in high society keeps Batman informed, connected, influential. His flippancy and chaotic immaturity keeps suspicion away from him. His contacts are often contacts Batman needs, directly or indirectly, and the intentional distance between personas keeps those Batman cares about safe..... safer. | ||
| − | |||
| − | |||
In the end, most run up against one mask, or the other, and never discover what lies beneath. Despite the distance and distrust with which Bruce regards the rest of the world, it is possible to earn his trust, even his friendship. This can be done regardless of which 'identity' was first engaged in the relationship - despite the inherent dishonesty in Wayne's duality, neither persona can really be considered a true lie. One reason he keeps his distance is, of course, the serious intensity with which he treats his responsibility to his friends and loved ones. | In the end, most run up against one mask, or the other, and never discover what lies beneath. Despite the distance and distrust with which Bruce regards the rest of the world, it is possible to earn his trust, even his friendship. This can be done regardless of which 'identity' was first engaged in the relationship - despite the inherent dishonesty in Wayne's duality, neither persona can really be considered a true lie. One reason he keeps his distance is, of course, the serious intensity with which he treats his responsibility to his friends and loved ones. | ||
