We've all fallen in love with the unique romance between the unforgettable Batman villains Harley Quinn and The Joker. But why have we romanticized this relationship, a relationship built upon violence, verbal abuse, and a serious case of Stockholm Syndrome? There might be more to this toxic romance than we've noticed.
This "love" story didn't begin with Harley Quinn, it began with Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel. Quinzel was a psychiatric intern at Arkham Asylum. While studying lunatics, a particular inmate caught her eye. She begged the doctors for three months to analyze him. This patient was known as "the Joker." After getting her to sympathize with him during their sessions together, he began to seduce her, causing her to fall in love with him. She then became his accomplice, and helped him escape from the asylum on multiple occasions. Authorities began to suspect her, and she was no longer allowed in the asylum for work purposes. Instead, she was admitted as a patient. However, during an earthquake that struck Gotham City, she escaped and took on her new role as Harley Quinn. These two have one of the most complex fictional relationships of all time.
The Joker is violent and abusive towards Harley, but it also seems that he has true feelings towards her. But then again, he tries to kill her. It's so hard having bipolar boyfriends, am I right ladies?
The Joker or, as Harley calls him, Mr. J, has broken her heart and betrayed her more than just a few times. Every time she has plotted revenge to take him down, he always sweeps her off her feet, and she falls in love with him all over again. She always comes running back out of the deep affection she feels for him. It's impossible for us to understand why she would go back to a person who treats her so poorly, but we have to realize a few things. Harley Quinn is not Dr. Harleen Francis Quinzel; they are entirely different characters. The Joker is not Harley's love interest, he is her origin story. He is all Harley has ever known, and she will never stop being devoted to him no matter how hard she tries.
While The Joker might actually love Harley, this is not a relationship we can encourage nor wish we had. It may seem romantic to be partners in crime with the one you love, but not with such high costs.
