The 2019 Todd Phillips-directed film “Joker,” which stars Joaquin Phoenix as the mentally disturbed and alienated Arthur Fleck, offers a deep examination of moral decision-making from several angles (Phillips). In this essay, we explore the intricate story of Arthur Fleck’s metamorphosis into the notorious Joker figure, enabling us to analyze his decisions and behaviors via the lenses of moral development theories, ethical philosophies, and individual, natural, religious, and social morality.
Individual morality is a significant theme in the movie as we follow Arthur Fleck’s descent into lunacy and criminality (Ashour 8-13). At first, he uses his career as a clown to make others happy. But as he experiences constant abuse and social rejection, his morality darkens, and he starts to act violently and chaotically (Phillips). This change emphasizes how one’s moral compass is influenced by their individual experiences and complaints.
The transformation of Arthur Fleck demonstrates natural morality, which is connected to human instincts and reactions to difficult circumstances. His descent into chaos and violence can be interpreted as a representation of what happens to the darkest sides of human nature when people are ignored by society and suffer for extended periods (Phillips). His deeds demonstrate how an individual’s moral decisions can be influenced by their surroundings (Ashour 8-13).
Since Arthur is not motivated by religious principles or beliefs, there is a noticeable lack of religious morality throughout the movie. This absence allows for a more thorough examination of secular morality while highlighting the character’s detachment from conventional moral guidance (Phillips).
The issue of social morality runs throughout “Joker.” The movie presents a depressing image of society’s decline while emphasizing the adverse effects of ignoring the mentally ill and underprivileged. One could interpret Arthur Fleck’s acts as a criticism of the moral shortcomings of a society that disregards the needs of its most defenseless citizens (Ashour 8-13). His metamorphosis reflects how societal morality has collapsed and how the system has failed to provide for the underprivileged (Phillips).
Since Arthur Fleck experienced a significant change in his moral development, his character can be understood in light of Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development. After following social norms at first, he eventually devolves into moral disorder (Ashour 8-13). He adopts a personal code of ethics that puts his sense of justice and turmoil ahead of societal norms. This progression through Kohlberg’s phases illustrates the significant influence that individual experiences have on a person’s moral growth.
Utilitarianism is one consequentialist moral theory that can be used to evaluate Fleck’s conduct. Even though it causes suffering for others, he thinks that, in the end, inciting chaos and violence would result in a better society (Phillips). This consequentialist viewpoint presents ethical dilemmas regarding how a supposedly higher good may be attained and the resulting personal consequences (Ashour 8-13).
The movie plays a subtle part in virtue ethics, which emphasizes the development of positive character attributes. Even though Fleck’s character does not represent virtue ethics in the conventional sense, the film might be interpreted as a critique of a society that does not actively promote virtue in its people (Phillips). The lack of virtuous influences in his life and the disregard he receives from society are contributing factors to his spiral into lunacy and violence (Ashour 8-13).
The movie does not explicitly mention moral principles like those of Benjamin Franklin and St. Augustine. However, some of Franklin’s ideas are subtly addressed by the lack of virtues like work and temperance in Arthur Fleck’s character and the society that ignores him.
In conclusion, “Joker” is an insightful examination of moral ambiguity. The transition of Arthur Fleck into the Joker provides a broad field of study for examining the natural, social, psychological, and individual dimensions of morality and how these dimensions intersect with theories of moral development and ethical philosophies (Ashour 8-13). The movie leaves us with a profound and uncomfortable representation of morality in the face of misfortune and neglect (Phillips). It also encourages us to think about the elements that influence moral decision-making and the effects of social neglect on vulnerable individuals (Ashour 8-13).
Works Cited
Ashour, Ahmad Mahmoud. “Examining the Personality of Arthur Fleck in Joker 2019: The Shift from an Innocent Man Into a Supervillain.” Studies in Literature and Language 25.2 (2022): 8-13.
Phillips, Todd. Joker. Warner Bros., 2019.
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