Joker

At the climax of the film, Arthur Fleck, fully embracing his transformation into the Joker, arrives at Murray Franklin’s show dressed in full clown makeup. Throughout the film, Arthur’s descent into madness has been fueled by a lifetime of social alienation, mental illness, and the corrupt, indifferent city around him. When he takes the stage, he begins by performing morbid jokes and confesses to the subway murders—acts motivated by his anger at societal neglect and the rich elite who feed off Gotham’s suffering. His breakdown intensifies as he blames Murray for mocking him and reflects his feelings of being misunderstood and discarded by society. In a violent outburst, Arthur shoots Murray on live television, turning the show into a scene of chaos and slaughter. This act sparks a riot across Gotham, as the city erupts into an outright rebellion; mobs loot, burn, and kill, embodying the chaos that Arthur’s actions have incited. During this chaos, the young Bruce Wayne witnesses the murder of his parents, Thomas and Martha, in Crime Alley, an event that establishes the origin story of Batman. Arthur is eventually captured but is seemingly unbothered as he relishes in the chaos he’s caused, dancing freely in the streets with a bloody smile painted on his face, symbolizing his complete embrace of his identity as the Joker. The film ends with Arthur in a psychiatric facility, laughing uncontrollably when questioned by a psychiatrist, indicating that his sense of madness and violence remains unchecked. His joy in the destruction and his refusal to share the reasons for his laughter suggest that he has found a twisted sense of liberation in his nihilistic worldview, leaving his future actions and the chaos he’s unleashed open to interpretation.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:44