Abuse:
People will argue that Joker has tried to kill Harley on several occasions and this alone is proof that he does not love her. I argue it is proof that he does.
For someone who has walked so solitary a path as The Joker, having feelings for someone, no matter how small, would be disturbing. Joker's mind is a mess of rambling thoughts and ideas; feelings for someone would also require a degree of focus, which must be distracting to him. Finally, it would make The Joker question his control over his own reality. This would annoy and perturb him.
In 'Harley Quinn' Joker himself admits this in a one-on-one with Harley: "I've felt some changes coming over me since you entered my life. I've been reminded of what it's like to be part of a couple, to care for someone who cares for me - it's the first time in recent memory I've had those feelings... and I hate having those feelings! They're upsetting, confusing and worse, distracting me from getting my share of Gotham now that the getting's good!"
This confession was made when he believed Harley about to die; there was no reason therefore for him to be lying to her.
By setting out to kill Harley, Joker proves to himself he is in control and rids himself of a perturbing distraction. There is no doubt in my mind Joker could kill Harley and comfortably live with himself afterwards, even reflect on her with affection but ultimately not be bothered by the fact of her death. He might even succeed one day. But I do think Joker tries to kill Harley because he cares for her and it upsets him.
In fact, with this perspective, you could even argue it is Joker's ultimate expression of love!
It is also interesting and noteworthy that, several pages later, Joker, still believing Harley is dead, initiates a conversation about women with his henchmen. He does not mention Harley of course, but I feel he does this because he is thinking about her - and missing her. In his way. Not enough to regret what he has done, naturally - but nonetheless, the emotion is there.
Further, his attempts on her life are occasional, and Joker’s response to their failure is not especially perturbed, nor does he reject her absolutely afterwards. Perhaps Joker even feels some degree of relief that they fail – possibly they even prove to him that, much like Batman’s continual triumph demonstrates he is the perfect foe, Harley’s survival demonstrates her as the perfect partner. Although I do believe Joker would not regret it if he ever succeeded in ending her life, I also feel he may feel some degree of pleasure that she continues to live on and return to him. It proves her worth, as his partner. Not everyone can escape a Joker-made death-trap.
Perhaps, in their way, they are even a challenge or a test of some sort – and Harley’s continual survival cements her further into his life.
The fact he has tried to kill her has also been highly over-played by objectors to the relationship. He actually has not attempted deliberately to kill her all that many times. Most of her near-death experiences at Joker’s hands have come during a fit of temper so fierce he simply lashes out at her. His intention is not to kill her, simply to vent his fury. The two times he has intentionally set out to kill her has been because she was moving on without him and insulted his pride by writing a romance novel in which the two main characters could be perceived as being Harley and Batman (Gotham Adventures #10) and because he found himself beginning to care for her (Harley Quinn).
People will also argue his persistent abuse of her does not speak of love. But this is The Joker we're speaking of. This is not someone who is a healthy, normal person. Of course he does not treat her with respect or consideration. He treats everyone exactly as it occurs to him to do so; Harley gets an extra heapingful because she is unusually closer to him than the majority of people and possibly because again, it reminds Joker he's in control. Joker also enjoys inflicting pain and is probably amused by it, no more so than when she scurries back a few moments later. It would be an endless stroking and petting of his ego. Additionally Joker would be irritated by the inconvenience having feelings for someone would cause, and would therefore take this out on the person causing them. In this sense, Harley is going to be subject to abuse simply for existing. (1)
Joker’s abuse of Harley works on two levels: one level is his definite sadistic streak and the enjoyment he gets out of hurting and manipulating people. The other is that he is accustomed to acting simply as his compulsions dictate. In this way he will cheerful and cracking jokes one second, furious and ripping someone to shreds the next. Harley is not exempt from this behaviour simply because they’re in a relationship. Whatever feelings he has for Harley, Joker does not truly understand how to relate and interact normally in human relationships.
Someone like Joker, with his insanity and desire to do harm on a grand scale, is not going to provide any sort of stable environment, reliable affection or indeed, any hint of normalcy. What he does give Harley is a place by his side, which is what she wants most, ultimately. And he allows her to come back , which is more than can be said for most who've worked with The Joker - as most of them end up dead.
People will argue that Joker has tried to kill Harley on several occasions and this alone is proof that he does not love her. I argue it is proof that he does.
For someone who has walked so solitary a path as The Joker, having feelings for someone, no matter how small, would be disturbing. Joker's mind is a mess of rambling thoughts and ideas; feelings for someone would also require a degree of focus, which must be distracting to him. Finally, it would make The Joker question his control over his own reality. This would annoy and perturb him.
In 'Harley Quinn' Joker himself admits this in a one-on-one with Harley: "I've felt some changes coming over me since you entered my life. I've been reminded of what it's like to be part of a couple, to care for someone who cares for me - it's the first time in recent memory I've had those feelings... and I hate having those feelings! They're upsetting, confusing and worse, distracting me from getting my share of Gotham now that the getting's good!"
This confession was made when he believed Harley about to die; there was no reason therefore for him to be lying to her.
By setting out to kill Harley, Joker proves to himself he is in control and rids himself of a perturbing distraction. There is no doubt in my mind Joker could kill Harley and comfortably live with himself afterwards, even reflect on her with affection but ultimately not be bothered by the fact of her death. He might even succeed one day. But I do think Joker tries to kill Harley because he cares for her and it upsets him.
In fact, with this perspective, you could even argue it is Joker's ultimate expression of love!
It is also interesting and noteworthy that, several pages later, Joker, still believing Harley is dead, initiates a conversation about women with his henchmen. He does not mention Harley of course, but I feel he does this because he is thinking about her - and missing her. In his way. Not enough to regret what he has done, naturally - but nonetheless, the emotion is there.
Further, his attempts on her life are occasional, and Joker’s response to their failure is not especially perturbed, nor does he reject her absolutely afterwards. Perhaps Joker even feels some degree of relief that they fail – possibly they even prove to him that, much like Batman’s continual triumph demonstrates he is the perfect foe, Harley’s survival demonstrates her as the perfect partner. Although I do believe Joker would not regret it if he ever succeeded in ending her life, I also feel he may feel some degree of pleasure that she continues to live on and return to him. It proves her worth, as his partner. Not everyone can escape a Joker-made death-trap.
Perhaps, in their way, they are even a challenge or a test of some sort – and Harley’s continual survival cements her further into his life.
The fact he has tried to kill her has also been highly over-played by objectors to the relationship. He actually has not attempted deliberately to kill her all that many times. Most of her near-death experiences at Joker’s hands have come during a fit of temper so fierce he simply lashes out at her. His intention is not to kill her, simply to vent his fury. The two times he has intentionally set out to kill her has been because she was moving on without him and insulted his pride by writing a romance novel in which the two main characters could be perceived as being Harley and Batman (Gotham Adventures #10) and because he found himself beginning to care for her (Harley Quinn).
People will also argue his persistent abuse of her does not speak of love. But this is The Joker we're speaking of. This is not someone who is a healthy, normal person. Of course he does not treat her with respect or consideration. He treats everyone exactly as it occurs to him to do so; Harley gets an extra heapingful because she is unusually closer to him than the majority of people and possibly because again, it reminds Joker he's in control. Joker also enjoys inflicting pain and is probably amused by it, no more so than when she scurries back a few moments later. It would be an endless stroking and petting of his ego. Additionally Joker would be irritated by the inconvenience having feelings for someone would cause, and would therefore take this out on the person causing them. In this sense, Harley is going to be subject to abuse simply for existing. (1)
Joker’s abuse of Harley works on two levels: one level is his definite sadistic streak and the enjoyment he gets out of hurting and manipulating people. The other is that he is accustomed to acting simply as his compulsions dictate. In this way he will cheerful and cracking jokes one second, furious and ripping someone to shreds the next. Harley is not exempt from this behaviour simply because they’re in a relationship. Whatever feelings he has for Harley, Joker does not truly understand how to relate and interact normally in human relationships.
Someone like Joker, with his insanity and desire to do harm on a grand scale, is not going to provide any sort of stable environment, reliable affection or indeed, any hint of normalcy. What he does give Harley is a place by his side, which is what she wants most, ultimately. And he allows her to come back , which is more than can be said for most who've worked with The Joker - as most of them end up dead.