Manipulation

In the Pendragon series, by D.J. MacHale, the character Saint Dane has a goal of conquering all of Halla. Bobby Pendragon and the other Travelers work to stop Saint Dane from achieving this goal. However, in Raven Rise, Bobby is manipulated by Saint Dane to kill others. Similarly, in “Batman: The Dark Knight”, Harvey Dent is manipulated by The Joker to kill others who he believes are guilty. The Joker is trying to prove how easily people can fall. Christopher Nolan’s purpose for Harvey Dent in the movie is to illustrate that the strongest can easily be manipulated.

At the start of the movie, Harvey Dent has taken on the role of being the new district attorney in Gotham. He works to keep crime rates down in Gotham, putting many members of The Mob in jail. However, he and his fiancé Rachel are kidnapped and put in separate locations, both in a warehouse containing a time bomb. The Joker allows their “friends” to choose which one of them lives. Batman goes after Rachel and Lt. Gordon goes to try and rescue Harvey. However, the Joker switched the locations of Harvey and Rachel. Batman rescues Harvey, but Rachel dies. After this, Harvey goes near insanity, and he vows revenge on those responsible for Rachel’s death.

While Harvey is in the hospital, The Joker convinces him to seek revenge on those responsible for Rachel’s death. Harvey, on a killing spree, goes after people that “aided” Rachel’s death. He leaves their lives up to chance, flipping a coin to decide if they live. Harvey, now known as two-face says that chance is the only thing in the world that is unbiased. Harvey was easily manipulated, going from the hero of Gotham to the villain.

Everyone can be manipulated. In Pendragon, Bobby Pendragon is manipulated to seek revenge. Similarly, Harvey Dent is also manipulated of seek revenge. People can be manipulated easily by anyone. These two works illustrate this. Everyone has the will to resist pressure, but even the strongest fall eventually.