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The joke itself is ambiguous and representative in the literary sense. Each word can be interpreted with different meanings by standing in different angles. But we can aim at the plot and interpret the meaning of the text as a behavioral interpretation. I feel the following explanation is the most complete of these answers for the situation of Batman and the Joker.
1: "Mental Hospital". A symbol of suffering in life. In this bad environment, sooner or later, people will "can't stand it".
2: "mentally ill". Crazy, extreme, different from ordinary people. When the Joker says it's two mentally ill people, what he means is, they're both crazy people.
3: "Escape". Symbol of action. After the pain experienced, after reaching the point of qualitative change, after "it can no longer be tolerated and must take action to escape from the current situation.", they all took action to escape the pain in their hearts. Batman relieves his pain by empowering himself to do "justice". When a similar situation occurs again, he is confident and capable of taking steps to avoid the inevitable outcome. The Joker relieves his pain by empowering himself and paying tribute to "criminal". He believes that those who commit crimes are forced to be helpless. He tried to explain his choice. He was on a road of no return, the road of crime. He didn't want to, nor should he, but he was forced to. And it resulted in an irreversible outcome. Although this includes the inevitability of arrest, and the accidental death of his wife. What he wants to prove is that the choices I made in the past are not wrong, and anyone who encounters my situation will be forced to make such a choice. So one of the clown's hobbies is to force people to sin. The Joker represents life, the endless pressure, under this endless pressure, will anyone be crushed? Anyone commits a crime? Is it just a matter of time and pressure intensity?
4: "Narrow ditch". This word is very interesting. What is this "narrow ditch" that makes Batman become Batman and Joker the Joker? I think it represents "difference" between people. Differences in congenital aptitudes, acquired environments, life experiences, encounters with different people, different choices made, and the "differences" between people are too great. It's so big that no two people can ever be exactly the same. This reminds me of a story. There are two brothers with the same father and mother, who lost their father and mother at an early age. They are each other's only relatives in the world. After the torture of life, the older brother became a criminal. Habits of stealth, specializing in doing some illegal things to maintain a living. The younger brother studied hard, and finally became an architectural designer and lived a life of excellence.
"In the same educational environment, with the same genes, why are two brothers so different?" The question is the difference in details. They also talked about an incident in their childhood that they said was the reason for their fate. As children, they stole a piece of cheese together. The father educated them severely. While the elder brother was beaten, he thought: "You beat me, you beat me, just beat me for stealing a piece of cheese. Sooner or later I will do something bigger! Let's see!" Thinking: "Stealing is wrong, and stealing will be severely punished. It hurts too much, and the price is too high. I will be a good person in the future."
Can we judge that the elder brother is inherently evil and the younger brother is inherently good? possible. But not necessarily. There may be reasons for this, but don't forget, details determine success or failure. Perhaps because of his elder brother's name, his father "broke his younger brother" and beat him a little harder, making his elder brother feel unfair? Maybe... maybe... there are too many congenital and acquired reasons, causing the two brothers to have very different endings. It's like Batman and the Joker, they might be alike. But don't forget their original differences, Batman was born in a privileged environment. He has never been tired of life's firewood, rice, oil and salt, and he thinks about issues that are higher than life. higher than ordinary problems. And the clown is at the bottom of the society... This alone is enough to draw a line between them, and there is an insurmountable "narrow chasm." Besides, there are so many other factors that are innate and nurtured.
5: "The Light of a Torch". Symbolizes the nature of justice and evil. Symbol of the so-called hope. Symbol of humanity. We can see that the Joker is shaken for a moment. But clowns are "rational" after all. Because he knows human nature, he knows that Batman is only Batman now. If time is long enough and the pressure is strong enough, Batman will collapse sooner or later. Batman, will also incarnate into evil. Get on the road of crime. Under such a sincere invitation from Batman, he uncharacteristically said to Batman very seriously, "I'm sorry, I refuse." I think the Joker has fully realized the difference between people. The clown, has become a clown. If I had met you earlier, Batman, maybe I would have been a hero to the world. At least, I will be an ordinary person with hope and kindness in mind. However, I have no way out. The heinous crime has been committed, and even if all the victims forgive me, I myself cannot forgive myself. It can be seen that people are two-sided. Even such a morbid clown still has a trace of kindness in his heart. Of course only a trace. too late.
6: "You'll turn off the flashlight when you're halfway through." Questioning human nature. From this story, we can see that Psycho One wants to help No. 2, but No. 2 actually doesn't believe in No. 1. It's not so much that the Joker doesn't believe in Batman, it's better that the Joker doesn't believe in the world that Batman saves. The clown firmly believes that the vast majority of people in the world are evil and ugly. The reason they're kind at the moment is that they haven't had a bad enough "that day." There are two possibilities, first, the Joker thinks Batman is just a little tougher and he hasn't suffered enough of a "bad day" to destroy his toughness. Maybe Batman suffered "that day" too, but it wasn't bad enough. This day is not that day. Second, the Joker believes that Batman is inherently good. How many "that day" he has lived through, and he will not collapse. Personally, I prefer the second answer. This also explains why the Joker had the opportunity to defeat Batman and kill Batman, but gave up on his own. He might kill anyone, but he wouldn't kill Batman. He believes that Batman is indestructible and inherently good. He hates the society and the people Batman saves, not Batman himself.
At this moment, there is only silence. and whining sirens. Where is justice? Where is justice? Batman seemed to want to stop her, but he didn't. This is purely for the violent beating of the opponent, isn't it a crime? At this moment, there is only silence. I guess the silent Batman men and women are reflecting and thinking. At this moment, is there any difference between us and those who can't bear it and sin? At this moment, there is only silence.
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