Harley Quinn. When we hear the name most people think of that crazy comic book character who was in a relationship with the Joker. I believe most people would describe her as hot, but insane. That seems to be the way she’s portrayed in the new movie "Suicide Squad." She plays a big role in this movie, and her character both with and without the Joker is analyzed greatly. DC managed to leave out most of the dirty bits of their relationship, but I believe this movie portrays mental illness in Harley Quinn in a new and interesting way.
Harley Quinn is a character that is very openly psychotic and she lives life how she sees fit, which is empowering in a way. She’s a very important mix of mental disorders, and she’s a good example for the world that mental illness are nothing to be scared of. Yes she’s crazy, and yes she does enjoy killing people, but she is looked upon lovingly in the movie, almost creating her in a positive light to the viewers. Harley speaks of voices telling her to do things, and suggests that she may have multiple personalities. She brings these parts of her up in a joking manner, which is a new way to present such a delicate topic to the public.
The way she introduces her issues brings new light to people who suffer from mental illnesses like these. I personally felt as if it normalized them just a little bit more, that sometimes though we may feel a little crazy (to the point where we almost identify with Harley), we’re still recognized as an important part of society. Personally I think Harley Quinn empowers those who suffer from mental illnesses, she makes them feel heard and represented, which I believe is very important.
The film also subtly portrays the abusive part of Harley’s relationship with the Joker. Yes she is madly in love with him, but this love is blind, and part of her knows that he will never be what she wants. There is a scene in the movie where Harley dreams of raising twins with the Joker, and it is believed that she is fantasizing about this because she knows that the Joker will never be who she wants and needs him to be. There is another theory that in the time period before the movie starts Harley lost twins because of the Joker’s abuse, clues towards this are left all through the movie. You just have to look closely.
Personally I think she feels stuck in her relationship. On the one hand she is madly in love with him, but on another she knows how badly she treats him and that he will never be what she needs him to be. Having been in this sort of relationship before I feel as if she could be used as a wake up call to those stuck in these sorts of abusive relationships, and even though she goes back to him multiple times she’s living proof of what it is like to be stuck in that sort of relationship.
The film paints Harley Quinn and the Joker as this star couple, but they subtly hint at the abusive parts of their relationship for those people who actually understand what it is like to be in this kind of situation. In all, Harley Quinn is an outrageously insane character that portrays the outliers in society who are difficult to represent, and in my opinion she does a very good job of showing that it is possible to be in these tough situations, but also be strong and independent; that is what’s really important about her.
