The Dark KnightThe ending of is suitably epic, but dark enough to be resonant, with a moment belonging to the latter being forgotten amid other brutal moments of the story's conclusion. I admit I still believe THEand Dark Knight to be the best Batman film of all time, mainly because of its darkness. Although I might think that Matt Reeves Batman is a better representation of the DC Comics character, The Dark Knight it simply shines in its execution, realism, and dark yet gripping story driven by one of the best DC movie villains of all time.
This courage is what allows The Dark Knightthe best elements to thrive, from the themes of getting over it and fighting for what's right to the memorable portrayals of its villains. It's not just Heath Ledger's Joker that makes the second film in Nolan's trilogy the best Dark Knight film, but also Aaron Eckhart's Harvey Dent. The end of The Dark Knight focuses more on Harvey Dent/Two-Face, rounding out the film with a grim conclusion that, despite the glimmers of hope and heroism, is suitably bleak. Beneath all this evident darkness, one can find a discreetly brutal moment.
Alfred Burning Rachel's letter is the most brutal cherry on the Dark Knight's ending
Alfred's action is a truly moving moment
The scene in question is Alfred burning Rachel's letter to Bruce. In this letter, Rachel explains to Bruce that she is choosing a life with Harvey Dent over one with the former, something Alfred learns about. However, without telling Bruce, Alfred burns the letter in the final act of The Dark Knight. For many reasons I'll explore later, this moment is brutal and overlaps with other dark elements of The Dark Knightconclusion that I will explore.
One of the aspects that makes The Dark KnightSo dark an ending is Harvey's fate. Harvey is presented as Gotham's incorruptible model of justice throughout the film, helping Batman and Jim Gordon keep the city safe as an incredibly effective district attorney. As we all know, that changes with the onset of Harvey Two-Face and his subsequent fall from grace, from threatening Gordon's family to his ultimate death. To top it off, Batman decides to take responsibility for Dent's actions, reinforcing the desolation of the story's ending for the audience.
Rachel's letter is perfect to make everything sadder about the Dark Knight's ending
Rachel's Letter Concludes the Tragedy of Four Different Character Arcs
As I mentioned, those sad plot points that end The Dark KnightRachel's story only got worse with Rachel's letter. The contents of Rachel's letter and Alfred's decision to burn it make the arcs of four characters infinitely more tragic than they already were, starting with Rachel herself. The letter makes clear the sadness over Rachel's death at the beginning of the film, as it reveals how excited she was to have her life with Harvey Dent. It simultaneously highlights the somewhat unrequited love that Rachel feels for Bruce, given that although Bruce loves her back, they cannot be together.
Then there's the sadness of Harvey's arc that's made worse by Rachel's letter. Instead of having Rachel as his loving partner with whom he could live a happy life, he is left alone, scarred, and mentally traumatized enough to transform into Two-Face. Of course, the sadness of Rachel's letter is felt in Bruce's arc, with the film and its predecessor making it clear how much he loved Rachel; Not only did she choose Harvey, but she also died, meaning Bruce will never see her again.
Finally, Alfred's decision to burn Rachel's letter is heartbreaking as it takes away closure from Bruce, despite coming from a place of love. In light of the most openly and explicitly obscure elements The Dark KnightWith the ending explored previously, Rachel's letter is often forgotten by audiences, myself included. However, when it really delves into the end of Rachel's character arc, it makes Bruce, Harvey and Alfred's all the more disturbingespecially when placed next to The Dark KnightIt already has a dark tone.
Alfred Burning Rachel's Letter Makes The Dark Knight Rises' Ending Even Better
Alfred and Bruce eventually find a sense of redemption
Having said all that, Rachel's letter and Alfred's decision to burn it eventually turn into a feeling of hope in the moment of The Dark Knight Rises' end. The Dark KnightThe ending is very sad, as I've already pointed out several times, but The Dark Knight Rises' The conclusion is almost a complete mirror of this. Throughout the last film, Alfred tries to help Bruce see that there could be a life beyond Batman, one that he could have lived with Rachel, but that it's not too late to achieve.
Alfred, after burning the letter to save Bruce from the pain of knowing Rachel's true feelings, sees the man he calls his son with a woman he loves…
In The Dark Knight Go up' ending, this is proven to be true. Alfred finds Bruce in Florence in one of the film's final scenes, sitting next to Selina Kyle and living a life of peace and luxury. Alfred, after burning the letter to save Bruce from the pain of knowing Rachel's true feelings, sees the man he calls his son with a woman he loves free from the burden of Gotham. Not only does this make Alfred's character significantly happier than in The Dark Knightis ending, but so is Bruce's.