Motivation and Addiction
Quite simply, Joker has become Harley's reason for being. He provides her motivation. Without him, there was nothing that would've inspired her to become Harley Quinn, or to stay that way. I argue that Harley remains Harley because she remains hopeful she will always end up back with Joker. I feel that nothing short of Joker's death would sever her ties with him and allow her to be truly rehabilitated. So long as he lives somewhere in the world, no matter how she tries to move on, all it would take is him crooking his finger for her to rejoin him joyously by his side. And even if we are not shown it in the comics at the moment, I believe her love for him and separation from him continues to haunt and pain her and affect her life.
When I think of Harley's love for Joker, I feel it is something that is entirely overwhelming and all-consuming, that her identity has become inextricably tied to him, that her happiness ultimately comes from seeing his, especially if she has a hand in fulfilling it.
Many people view this as something negative and there can be no doubt between Joker and Harley it is not enacted in a healthy way (if it can be said such love can ever be enacted healthily). However, it is important to acknowledge that people are unique and have different driving motivations and urges. What may seen illogical, insane or beyond belief to many actually makes a good deal of sense to the person demonstrating such behaviour. What many fail to do in their criticism of this relationship is take into account the fact that Harley is fulfilled by it, which she expresses on a number of occasions. She is not an unwitting partner, nor is she without manipulativeness and calculation of her own. She is capable of manipulating the Joker herself and lashes back at him – violently – when he transgresses the accepted boundaries of their relationship. She is not incapable of asserting herself or of giving back to Joker when he ‘really’ misbehaves. Given the way their relationship evolved over time and Harley’s obvious need and enjoyment of her thrilling, charming, seductive and dangerous man, it is naïve to believe she does not get satisfaction from the relationship, just as it is.
Whilst I like seeing Harley act solo, I believe it is out of character for Harley to be 'over' Joker or truly separate from him. Once that happens, her motivation literally falls away. And indeed, the times we have seen Harley “rehabilitated” it is when things are on the down and out between her and Joker.
While Harley has learned to carry on when he is not by her side, I don't believe it has been adequately explored the sort of impact being away from him would have on her psyche.
I believe Joker is literally her drug, her addiction. That just being near him is a rush and being away from him is agony; no matter how well she outwardly copes or tells herself she is over him.
Why did Harley fall in love with Joker in the first place? Was she attracted to the glamour of his fearsome reputation? Harley must’ve been a little bit kooky to begin with. Stirring the attention of someone so notorious must also have tickled her a touch. Joker, being so perceptive, would’ve known which buttons to push to bring out the submissive masochist in Harley, the latent obsessive streak, how to twist and manipulate her into enslaving herself to him. But, apart from all this, Harley also believes in The Joker. She believes in whatever she sees that no one else does, and whilst she doesn’t try to change him, she tries to bring it out in him. It’s a big part of what keeps her anchored to him.
Quite simply, Joker has become Harley's reason for being. He provides her motivation. Without him, there was nothing that would've inspired her to become Harley Quinn, or to stay that way. I argue that Harley remains Harley because she remains hopeful she will always end up back with Joker. I feel that nothing short of Joker's death would sever her ties with him and allow her to be truly rehabilitated. So long as he lives somewhere in the world, no matter how she tries to move on, all it would take is him crooking his finger for her to rejoin him joyously by his side. And even if we are not shown it in the comics at the moment, I believe her love for him and separation from him continues to haunt and pain her and affect her life.
When I think of Harley's love for Joker, I feel it is something that is entirely overwhelming and all-consuming, that her identity has become inextricably tied to him, that her happiness ultimately comes from seeing his, especially if she has a hand in fulfilling it.
Many people view this as something negative and there can be no doubt between Joker and Harley it is not enacted in a healthy way (if it can be said such love can ever be enacted healthily). However, it is important to acknowledge that people are unique and have different driving motivations and urges. What may seen illogical, insane or beyond belief to many actually makes a good deal of sense to the person demonstrating such behaviour. What many fail to do in their criticism of this relationship is take into account the fact that Harley is fulfilled by it, which she expresses on a number of occasions. She is not an unwitting partner, nor is she without manipulativeness and calculation of her own. She is capable of manipulating the Joker herself and lashes back at him – violently – when he transgresses the accepted boundaries of their relationship. She is not incapable of asserting herself or of giving back to Joker when he ‘really’ misbehaves. Given the way their relationship evolved over time and Harley’s obvious need and enjoyment of her thrilling, charming, seductive and dangerous man, it is naïve to believe she does not get satisfaction from the relationship, just as it is.
Whilst I like seeing Harley act solo, I believe it is out of character for Harley to be 'over' Joker or truly separate from him. Once that happens, her motivation literally falls away. And indeed, the times we have seen Harley “rehabilitated” it is when things are on the down and out between her and Joker.
While Harley has learned to carry on when he is not by her side, I don't believe it has been adequately explored the sort of impact being away from him would have on her psyche.
I believe Joker is literally her drug, her addiction. That just being near him is a rush and being away from him is agony; no matter how well she outwardly copes or tells herself she is over him.
Why did Harley fall in love with Joker in the first place? Was she attracted to the glamour of his fearsome reputation? Harley must’ve been a little bit kooky to begin with. Stirring the attention of someone so notorious must also have tickled her a touch. Joker, being so perceptive, would’ve known which buttons to push to bring out the submissive masochist in Harley, the latent obsessive streak, how to twist and manipulate her into enslaving herself to him. But, apart from all this, Harley also believes in The Joker. She believes in whatever she sees that no one else does, and whilst she doesn’t try to change him, she tries to bring it out in him. It’s a big part of what keeps her anchored to him.