As a devoted fan of the dark and twisted world of Gotham City, I’ve been captivated by the journey of Arthur Fleck, the Joker, since his inception in 2019’s masterpiece, “Joker.” The complex portrayal of mental illness, societal neglect, and the transformative power of chaos has left an indelible mark on my soul.
Warning: This article contains Joker: Folie ? Deux spoilers. “I just hope my death makes more sense than my life,” Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) writes in his journal in 2019’s Joker. A self-described mentally-ill loner who works as a clown while pursuing a career in stand-up comedy, Arthur’s Joker inadvertently inspires a movement after he murders three Wayne employees on the subway. “If it was me dying on the sidewalk, you’d walk right over me. I pass you every day, and you don’t notice me,” Joker complains just before shooting and killing late night host Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro) live on television, sparking a riot that culminates in the deaths of Martha and Thomas Wayne on the streets of Gotham City.
At the conclusion of the initial movie, Arthur finds pleasure in the chaos and devastation wrought by the troop of masked clowns, who view the Joker as a beacon for those marginalized by society. In the sequel, Joker 2, this group expands to include Harleen “Lee” Quinzel (portrayed by Lady Gaga), one of Arthur’s fellow Arkham patients, who deliberately checks herself into the institution in order to assume the role of Joker’s Clown Princess, primarily within her own imaginative criminal activities.
However, during his televised court case, where Gotham’s Assistant District Attorney Harvey Dent (Harry Lawtey) served as prosecutor, the clown defendant – who had discarded his defense lawyer (Catherine Keener) and chosen to represent himself – eventually admitted his guilt. This admission came after a moving testimony by Gary Puddles (Leigh Gill), a former colleague of his. In this confession, he clarified that there is no separate personality; there is no Joker. Instead, it’s all just Arthur.
Disappointed that Arthur turned down the Joker’s identity, Lee stopped referring to him as Arthur and only used “Joker.” This rejection by not-Joker (Arthur) didn’t sit well with Lee. After being taken back to Arkham State Hospital, Arthur was fatally stabbed by an admirer of the Joker (Connor Storrie). In a twisted joke, the killer then etched a grin onto Arthur’s face. And so, the real Joker survived.
According to director Todd Phillips, speaking with Entertainment Weekly, he conveyed that the world is so deeply corrupted, it seems impossible for change, and the only solution he sees is to completely dismantle everything. When the guards inexplicably kill the child at the hospital, the character realizes that his attempts at transformation through makeup and costume are futile; they aren’t causing any change. In a sense, he accepts that he has always been Arthur Fleck, never embodying the persona that others have projected onto him as Gotham’s symbol, instead seeing himself as a mere representation of their expectations.
Phillips explained that he’s more like an unintentional symbol, not realizing this role has been thrust upon him. He’s tired of pretending and desires authenticity – and that true self is none other than Arthur Fleck.
Ricky’s (Jacob Lofland) demise and Puddles’ testimony strike a devastating one-two punch for Arthur, as he now finds himself entirely friendless. As Phillips put it, “The unfortunate truth is that no one seems to care about Arthur, not even Lee.” This realization leaves her feeling disillusioned, stating, “I’ve embarked on a completely different journey, man; you can never be who I wanted you to be.” According to Phillips, the emotional breakup scene between Arthur and Lee on the stairs is a real occurrence, not just a figment of Arthur’s imagination.
Ultimately, there’s an underlying aspect to understanding that Arthur Fleck is not actually the Joker. People who gave Joker 2 a D on CinemaScore might concur: Arthur only matters when he’s the Joker, but he isn’t really the Joker. (Laughs)
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2024-10-08 04:39