This article examines the psychological transformation of the character Arthur Fleck by focusing on Todd Phillips’ 2019 film Joker. The analysis explores how Arthur’s personal struggles—such as his uncontrollable laughing fits—combined with external factors like social exclusion and systemic neglect, gradually transform him into the iconic villain Joker. The article aims to present the emergence of the Joker not as a story of individual madness, but as the outcome of social neglect, systemic failure, and an absence of empathy.
Invisibility, Misunderstanding, And Social Exclusion
Arthur Fleck, who lives on the streets of Gotham City, is not only invisible but also constantly misunderstood. One of his most tragic circumstances is his uncontrollable laughing fits, which occur at the most inappropriate moments due to a neurological condition. This disorder prevents him from forming even the simplest connections with society.
For example, when he bursts into laughter while trying to entertain a child on a bus, he is perceived as a threat by the child’s mother and is immediately ostracized. Arthur’s attempt to explain himself using a card that reads “I have a laughing disorder” becomes a painful testament to society’s tendency to judge rather than understand. Such encounters repeatedly reinforce his exclusion and gradually cause Arthur to withdraw into himself, eroding his remaining faith in human connection.
Systemic Abandonment And The Collapse Of Support
Arthur’s loneliness deepens as institutional systems abandon him. Already living under severe psychological strain, budget cuts in the city lead to the closure of the social services that provide his mental health support. As a result, Arthur loses both his therapist and access to the medication that helped regulate his mental state. He is left without a space to speak, reflect, or be heard.
Simultaneously, he is betrayed by his colleagues and loses his job, eliminating his last sense of stability. Arthur is systematically excluded by every layer of society—social, economic, and institutional. This accumulation of abandonment leaves him psychologically unanchored.
In this moment of profound helplessness, the killing of three men who attack him on the subway becomes a psychological turning point. For the first time in his life, Arthur is no longer positioned as a passive victim. Violence offers him a sense of power and visibility—an experience he has never previously known.
The Death Of Arthur Fleck And The Birth Of The Joker
Following the subway incident, Arthur Fleck begins to psychologically disappear, and the Joker identity emerges. He no longer seeks social approval, conformity, or love. His primary desire becomes being seen—at any cost.
This transformation reaches its climax when Arthur appears on the television show of his idol, Murray Franklin. In this public space, he fully declares his new identity. His on-air confession encapsulates his psychological shift:
“What do you get when you pit a mentally ill loner against a society that abandons him and treats him like trash? Let me tell you what you get: You get what you deserve!”
These words function as a manifesto. They reflect the collapse of remorse, the loss of empathy, and a complete rejection of social norms. Arthur no longer seeks understanding; he demands recognition through chaos.
A Societal Portrait Of Psychological Destruction
Arthur Fleck’s transformation into the Joker is not merely the story of an individual’s psychological collapse. It is a broader portrait of how an empathy-deficient society can systematically destroy its most vulnerable members. The film illustrates how persistent neglect, humiliation, and institutional failure can deform the psyche and redirect suffering outward as violence.
A world that ignores the pain behind Arthur’s laughter and fails to hear his repeated cries for help is ultimately confronted with the consequences of its indifference. The Joker’s story operates as a powerful warning—reminding society of its ethical responsibility toward psychological suffering and the dangerous outcomes that can arise when vulnerability is met with neglect rather than care.