Narrative Theory
Theory 1: Levi - Strauss - Binary opposites
e.g. Good VS Evil, Protagonist VS Antagonist.
Theory 2: Todorov - Equilibrium > Disruption > New Equilibrium
Theory 3: Propp - Character types
e.g. Hero, Villain, Helper, Princess (and/or Hero's motivation)
Theory 4: Bathes - Codes
- Action
- Enigma
- Symbolic
- Semic
- Cultural
Using Levi - Strauss believes his theory of binary opposites is what makes a narrative. In 'The Dark Knight' it is clear to the audience that the film consists of a Protagonist (being 'The Batman') and an Antagonist (being 'The Joker'). We know, as an audience, that these two characters are against each other as 'The Joker' causes chaos in Gotham City and Batman is the one who has to save the city from his troubles. Levi - Strauss' theory links in well with Propp's theory of character types. As an audience we use different coding to recognise the different characters in a narrative, we have the idea that Batman is the one who is saving the city from evil, therefore we know he is the hero. We also know that 'The Joker' is the one who is opposes Batman and therefore we know him ti be the villain. Propp's other character types are also made clear in the film;
- The Donor = Lucius Fox. Fox provides Batman with personalised armour and any other weapons he needs.
- The Dispatcher =
- The False Hero = Harvey Dent. He was seen as the cities 'White Knight', however when we see Dent pointing a gun towards James Gordon and his family, innocent people and a mass killing of prisoners, the audience begin to see that Dent is portraying traits almost like a villain. He is not a villain in this narrative however because he is still someone who is trying to help Gotham City, her believes what he is doing is really genuinely good, which is why is nit seen as a villain. He is also seen as the false hero because his flaws point out what is better about Batman. For example, Harvey Dent kills people, whereas Batman does not.
- The Helper = Alfred Pennyworth. Alfred is Batman's trusted butler. He supplies useful advice to Bruce (Batman). He is seen as the one who saves Batman from himself, he is also seen as the father figure in this narrative because of this. During the film we find Batman to be struck between being with his love (Rachel Dawes), or being 'The Batman'. When Rachel writes Bruce a letter saying that she is choosing Dent over him, Alfred burns it before Bruce can read it because he knows that Gotham City needs a hero but he also knows that if Bruce knew that he had to give up being the hero to be with her, he would have. So Alfred was helping Bruce to stay true to himself.
- The Princess = (love interest, damsel in distress) = Rachel Dawes. As we already know, Rachel is Bruce Wayne's love interest. He would have given up everything just to be with her, she was also his motivation (which is another reason to why Alfred burned the letter). She is also the princess/damsel in distress because she is someone who Batman has to save many times within the narrative.
