Some movie lines convey a philosophy, the film’s theme, or certain character traits. And then there are some lines that do everything. We got one such line from Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight (2008). It comes neither from our brooding superhero nor the maniacal supervillain. It comes from Gotham City’s “Golden Boy.”At a fundraiser at Bruce Wayne’s penthouse, Harvey Dent says, “You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.”The line highlights the fragile and transient nature of heroism. By doing so, it also foreshadows the film’s plot, as well as encapsulates Harvey Dent’s entire character arc.Let’s explore how this line implies that legacy is like a coin toss and that goodness comes with an expiration date.The Line’s OriginIt would help to know the context. That way, we can find out where the line gets its emotional weight.Julius CaesarIn the movie, District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) can be understood as Batman or Bruce Wayne’s (Christian Bale) symbolic alter ego—they both fight crime, but while Batman works in the shadows, Dent works in legitimate ways. Needless to say, they support each other.At a fundraiser, which Wayne has arranged to support Dent’s endeavors, a guest comments that a democracy needs legitimate protectors like Dent himself instead of a single, masked vigilante who thinks he is above the law. Dent disagrees and gives an example of the Romans, saying that when enemies were at the gates, they would suspend democracy and appoint one man to protect...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Tuesday, 18 November