The Mythology of Bane in The Dark Knight Rises (2012) | Article

Introduction

Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy has been blessed with many memorable villains. Liam Neeson’s Ra’s Al Ghul was a perfect balance between Good and Evil, Cillian Murphy’s Scarecrow was chilling and Heath Ledger’s joker was Oscar worthy But Tom Hardy’s Bane isn’t renowned like the others. Unfairly his brute muscle is what defines him but the truth is Bane was the perfect counterpart to Bruce Wayne and more importantly the mythology of Nolan’s Batman.

At the very beginning with Batman Begins, Chris Nolan established what he wanted his Batman to stand for – that anyone could be Batman. It was all about crafting the mythology of the caped crusader and this set up comes to fruition with Nolan’s The Dark Knight and is challenged in The Dark Knight Rises where Batman’s mythology has crumbled under the lie of keeping Harvey Dent the hero. With this Gotham is under no serious trouble as the Dent act keeps prisoners in prison by not allowing them parole and the poorest in Gotham are still undervalued. Gotham is open for an uprising. 

Enter Bane. 

A similar figure to batman – with mystery surrounding him and stories such as legends told about him. Bane is the key to bring Gotham back to the people but most importantly to the people Gotham has forgotten. But it isn’t his plan that makes Bane special, it’s what he means and symbolises to Gotham and the prison pit. 

Mythology

Just as Gotham is Batman’s – the prison is Bane’s and as the people of Gotham make stories about Batman – the prisoners in the prison make stories about Bane. As Batman became a legend in Gotham, He became a legend down there. Nolan used the idea of building a mythology to Bane to make him an equal presence to Batman. Both a mythical figure in their respected homes. In essence Bane is what Batman could have been. With similar backstories with pain being their connection – Bane is what Brue could have been if things went down a certain path. And I mean not physically with the mask but what Bane represents to the people around him. In that prison and to his followers Bane is the server of justice – a justice that is very similar to Batman. They both fight against what they deem as not right. Batman fights against the crime that threatens his city while Bane fights against the corruption that brings a city down. Let’s not forget that Batman fights alongside the corruption and even upholds that corruption for the greater good of his city – while Bane will fight that corruption in favour of good or bad – and the reason I say that Bane fights the corruption in favour of good or bad is because he follows the beliefs of Ra’s Al Ghul – a person that isn’t motivated by morality but what he deems is right for the world. As he said – who sunk Atlantis to the sea, who burned London to the ground and who wanted Gotham destroyed. It didn’t matter if the city was good – if the means was necessary then they had to go. 

It isn’t a coincidence that both Bruce and Bane were saved whilst being trapped. But it is the people that saved them that defined their life. For Bruce it was his father Thomas Wayne whose words guide his every move. And for Bane it was Ra’s whose beliefs left Bane with a raw passion to achieve what Ra’s set out. 

This leads me too;

The Plan & Death

When I watch The Dark Knight Rises – it is hard to forget that Bane is just part of the plan and nothing more because of his presence and authority he is given a greater meaning by the fans. But the plan of destroying Gotham is bigger than Bane and bigger than Talia Al Ghul. They both are just pawns to fulfil Ra’s Al Ghul’s destiny. So when comparing Bane to the Joker – you can’t because they both serve different means. With The Dark Knight the Joker was in control of everything because he is the plan. Whatever he wants he’ll get because he’s the mastermind and it’s easy to forget that Bane and the Joker are miles different. The Joker’s chaotic run at Gotham was to make Gotham crumble while Bane is there to put in place a plan that he believes in. The plan is bigger than everyone. That is why Bane and Talia’s deaths were lacklustre because the movie isn’t about them. They are just there to move the plan forward – The Dark Knight Rises is about Batman and his story. So when people complain about Bane’s death remember that he isn’t what the movie is about – he’s just a pawn in the plan. 

Relationship

The relationship between Bane and Talia has been controversial – I have heard arguments that Bane loved Talia in a sexual way – and with Bane meeting her when she was a child there have been unpleasant connotations about their relationship. But I don’t see their relationship like that. This is where Nolan’s trust in the audience comes in to fill in the blanks. Because he doesn’t add a five minute scene where they discuss their relationship it is up in the air and any argument can technically be correct. But I think his use of “Love” in the scene isn’t about love in a sexual way but “Love” like a father would love his daughter or he uses it in a respectful way – for example I love the Dark Knight rises means I respect the film. Remember Talia is the one that escaped from the prison where escaping was impossible. To Bane she represents the freedom and hope in his life. Without her – he would have been stuck in the pit for life. He owes her his life. So their relationship is one out of respect and admiration. She represents everything Ra’s believes in, so it isn’t hard to believe that he’ll execute the plan with her. Their relationship is bonded by their urge to fulfill Ra’s’ plan.  

With The Dark Knight Rises – it wasn’t about the villain but Nolan crafted such an interesting character that I believe Bane deserves more than being the muscle guy. His on-screen presence was felt in every scene and his purpose was fulfilled to a tee. This has been Understanding Bane from The Dark Knight Rises.