Bats in My Belfry

Bats in My Belfry: An Introspective Essay

"The bleak rain clouds hung hauntingly overhead, blocking all the light of the night sky. A lone figure ran through the dim alleyway in desperation. He avoided the eerie glow of the street lamps so as not to expose himself as he fled. He was sweating profusely, more from fear than temperature, and the night's sea breeze chilled him even more. He turned the corner onto a street that was deserted at this midnight hour and he kept to the shadows cast by the tall high-rise apartments. He knew that he couldn't stop to catch his breath lest his pursuer catch him. Only he wasn't exactly sure who or what was chasing, only that he was being hunted. He glanced around him, seeing nothing but a few stray drunks and waifs but feeling the presence of his foe, above him, surrounding him. He decided to take another dank alleyway but as he entered it, a dark silhouette suddenly dropped in front of him. He took a few startled steps backwards before tripping over himself and falling to the ground. The obscure shadow towering over him showed hints of a blue and grey outfit and what looked like devil horns on its head. As the wind whipped through the long cape draped about the figure, the man glimpsed a symbol on its chest that sent shivers of terror through his body. It was the symbol of the Bat."

Since the comic industry is geared towards males, I suppose it isn't often that you find a young woman so intrigued by a dark hero like the Batman. I don't even remember exactly what it was that got me started on Batman in the first place, though I know that I can shift part of the blame on my older brother. What I am sure of though is why I love the Dark Knight so much. First off, the Batman is undoubtedly America's most heroic crimefighter, yet he is often considered as dangerous and evil as the infamous criminals that he captures. (But who wants a perfect goodie-two-shoes hero? …ahem …Superman …cough …cough) Batman epitomizes people's wildest dreams and most terrifying nightmares. He exemplifies the strength that they find in their most desperate straits. Batman shows the slight balance there is between good and evil and that there are no absolutes in the world. Another reason I like Batman so much is because he is the most realistic of all comic book superheroes, since he doesn't have the advantage of superpowers. Thus he proves that with courage, determination, and willpower, anything is possible. So, somehow, this fantasy world of right and wrong has taken root deep in my soul and become a part of who I am. I know that this obsession of mine shows that I like to live in a dream world. Yet when someone has such a penchant for something like this, it must have some greater meaning to the person as a whole.

I know I'm not really an adventurous person, though I may like to think that I am. Still, deep down inside, everyone has qualities and traits that aren't necessarily dominant, but they are certainly there. Sure I've had some both interesting and heart-stopping moments in my life (who hasn't?). But I'm not planning on going sky diving any time soon. Nor will I run around in a cape and tights at midnight fighting crime. (Though I do sometimes wear a cape while I write essays.) All joking aside, I really do believe that the stories of Batman have brought out a part of me that isn't so obvious on the surface. I think that most people perceive me as quiet, polite, and often very unique; And most people know that I'm obsessed with Batman, which will probably be the only thing they'll remember about me ten years from now. Still, my quietness just covers the fact that I live in a dream world. In this dream world my alter ego takes over and I'm brave, outspoken, and strong. But simply daydreaming about my alter ego was never enough for me. I needed a way to express these hidden feelings of mine. So I've created complete worlds of fantasy through use of the written word. There, my alter ego thrives, as real to me as anything else in this world. There, my rules of right and wrong apply. There, the heroine, as mystifying as the Dark Knight himself, keeps order from chaos. There, where I spend my nights in the hopes of making some sense of life. There is where I've found what could easily sum up who I am and my whole life's philosophy; It is best said in this quote:

"Doing what is right means doing what is not stupid. Follow your heart and it will take you to many great places and on many great adventures. Just remember who is the bad guy. Sometimes it may even be yourself, but it is always conquerable, always defeatable. Good must always triumph, because if it doesn't, then humanity will be lost forever. There is no surrender, only victory."