Interpretation Continued

The most important themes of the story are how mental illness, and the corruption of life can drive a person to the edge of no return. Arthur must live his entire life unfairly as the actions of people in his past and present have shifted him into becoming a man capable of murder. His life could have been completely different if he had just been raised in a better environment and surrounded by the right people who could help him rather than damaging him more and more to the point of no return. This is significant not just in the movie, but also in real life. There are people who struggle every day from their past trauma and let it sneak its way into affecting how they treat others. 

The soundtrack not only helps elevate the story but is also as much part of it as Arthur is himself. Throughout the film, as the music progresses, so does Arthur. Going back to the Murray show as an example, when Joker reveals he killed the wall street guys, a light violin comes in as he begins to explain his actions in a calm, almost rational way. The music dies off when Joker rants about his poor experiences with people, until he comes to the realization his idol was like everyone else. The music gets louder and louder tense as Arthur gets increasingly angry until the point where he snaps and kills Murray. The music then fades away back into the background again so that the complete focus can be on Arthur and what he has done.  

Cinematography is like music as it is constantly changing throughout the film to help show Arthur’s emotions and thoughts. For instance, when Arthur is in the bathroom after killing the Wall Street guys, the camera is moved around in such a way that complements the music, creating a feel of elegance from him that would not be as strong if it were poorly shot or the lighting was any different.