Obsession may be described by one as a fixation- one that may take over a personal life. Obsession to me happens when a person loses sight of what should matter most. The Medical Dictionary defines obsession as a persistent and recurrent thought or idea with which the mind is continually and involuntarily preoccupied and that cannot be expunged by logic or reasoning. Commitment is much different than obsession, a person who shows commitment is impelled to do an activity. A person with commitment may spend a lot of time and effort on an activity, but at the end of the day that person can go home and forget about their work or goal. They can relax and spend time with their family. Commitment is defined in The Medical Dictionary as a sense of responsibility and dedication. "To pledge (oneself) to a position on an issue or question; express (one's intention, feeling, etc.)," Dictionary.com. The Joker is obsessed with his work in The Dark Knight. If the Joker ever had a life before he became a villain; one where he actually had a family, he gave that life away to cause destruction in Gotham. The Joker spends every moment we see planting evil into the city, nothing matters more.
Bruce is also obsessed with his work in The Dark Knight, he cannot leave his life as Batman even for his love Rachel. Good comes from Batmans obsession but it also has trade offs. Batman's obsession allows him to save many people, but deep inside Batman feels empty. His emptiness comes from the fact he cannot have much of a personal life. Rachel was not going to wait for Bruce, even though origianlly Rachel told Bruce she would wait. She knows Bruce's role as Batman is much more important than her. Check out this scene to the right. Bruce wanted to be with Rachel but he sacrificed that option. If Bruce would have chosen Rachel, I'm sure The Joker would have taken her away once he figured out Batman's identity. Even though Batman and Rachel may not be an item, the Joker realizes their connection. The Joker takes Rachel away, so Batman has no chance of living a full filling life, even being friends. In every situation of obsession trade offs exist. These trade offs are usually linked with ones personal life. In High Noon Kane reaches obsession when he trades for his obsession over his personal life.
In the film High Noon Kane spends every moment worrying about the towns safety, just as the Joker spent every moment ruining the town in The Dark Knight. Kane focuses much more on his situation with Frank Miller, rather than focusing on his new wife and her safety. Kane is committed to safety. Kane shows obsessive tendencies but never becomes fully obsessed, because he his able to walk away from his commitment. By the end of the movie the author represents obsession through Kane. Kane realizes his commitment has become an obsession. Check out the video to the left to watch this scene from High Noon. When Kane put his situation with Frank Miller before his wife, Kane crossed the line of obsession. Kane lost sight of what should have mattered most to him, in the end Kane does not continue. In comparison with the Joker, Kane is not obsessed. The Joker is unable to leave his destructive life, where Kane was able to walk away from his commitment. A person may be committed to a situation, but when that person loses sight of what matters most because of an uncontrollable longing to something, they have become obsessed.
The line between commitment and obsession is clearly seen in High Noon. We know that Kane is commited to his work, and only shows obsessive tendencies when he sacrifices his wife for the town. Obsession will eat a person a part as we see in the Joker's corrupt acts, and also in Batmans longing for more in his life. In the film The Prestige, Angiers and Borden became so obsessed with their work. Borden gave up his personal life for magic. He shared one life with his brother. As an egotistic and self centered person, Angiers continued his inhumane trick without remorse for human life. What the viewer does not realize until the final scene is the extent Angiers and Borden take with their obsession. Check out this scene to the right from The Prestige. Not only does Angiers let Borden die, but he kills a clone of himself each night during his Transported man acts. Murder is an radical extent of obsession.
