The Duality of Human Nature as Expressed Through the Batman

Just to show we here at 'What would Doom do?' are in no way guilty of favouritism, this article will be focusing on Batman.

There are two key aspects to us all, our ability and our drive. On the one hand we have what we are capable of, our ability, actions we are able to make or simply put, our bodies. On the other hand we have our will, our drive and motivation to act, or in other terms our mind. Two aspects that are shared by everyone, aspects that can be best exampled through Batman, through the Batman we can see how well these aspects can work together when taken to their highest points.
He has his drive and motivation (mind) from his parents death (and if that's a spoiler then really, what have you been doing with your life?). His mind is forcing him on, driving his actions.
Actions that come from his body, his ability to act on what his mind wants due to the extensive training of his body to increase his capabilities.
With both these aspects  we can achieve what is needed, we can act, not necessarily successfully but we at least have a chance.


An example of how crucial both these aspects are can be found in the JLA story arc Divided We Fall by Mark Waid and Bryan Hitch, in which members of the JLA find themselves quite literally split into two beings, the superhero and the secret identity. Again I suppose this could be seen as a spoiler, but considering the age of the story arc I don't think its too much trouble, but if you haven't read it, go read it now, you'll thank me.
Batman is split into two beings, the Batman (body) and Bruce Wayne (mind), and we see how neither can function to its fullest extent without the other. The capability with no drive leads to stagnation, the ability to act but with no motivation to do so. There is the Batman, with all his power and skill, but with no drive to use it, no motivation to act, what use is this skill with no drive behind it?
Then we have the drive without capability which leads to an endless struggle, the constant striving to act but without the ability to do so. Bruce Wayne with all his torment and motivation to act lacks the sufficient capability, or 'body'. No matter how driven you are, without the appropriate capability you will only struggle against your own inability to act.
And so we see that it is only through the combination of drive and capability that we can truly act, only with a balance of the two is it possible for us to escape stagnation or an eternal struggle with ones self.

The point of all this? None, I just thought it was interesting.
Now go read Divided We Fall, and if you've already read it go read it again.