Film Theory: Was The Dark Knight's Joker Actually A SPY?!

2. The Symbolism Of Wearing A Mask

It's important to address the Joker's identity fluidity in The Dark Knight, too. His look is striking, but it's only part of the story - more important is the idea of him disguising his true identity wilfully.

A significant part of this iteration of the Joker's mystique is his unwillingness to reveal "how he got these scars" and while that evasiveness suits the projection of chaos that serves his agenda it isn't because there is no definitive answer. It's because his look is no more than a mask, just as the rubber clown mask he wears in the opening heist is.

The symbolism of that scene confirms that the clown mask he wears is an adopted persona designed to hide his true identity. Why else would he wear the mask? He has no need to hide his identity - he's trying to make a statement about his arrival. The mask element is for the audience - a trick to show that his whole character is a mask: just as Bourne, Hunt and Bond adopt disguises to complete missions.

And underneath that mask is the black ops veteran who set his crosshairs on Gotham, pulled on his disguise and went to work. But why would he? What's his ultimate goal?