Welcome readers! Today I'm introducing a new series I'll be periodically publishing from time to time called "In Defense Of" where I do as the title implies, defend something that's commonly criticized. Today I'm tackling the "Martha" scene from Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice to tie into Justice League's release this weekend, and I'm sure many of you are already appalled that someone could think this moment has any merit whatsoever, but hear me out. I'm not going to be telling you this film is some misunderstood masterpiece, it has many flaws that I'm well aware of. However, I don't think the "Martha" scene has more substance than people give it credit for.
In Defense Of: 'Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice' (The "Martha Scene)
So for starters, let's dismiss this notion that Batman simply stopped because their moms have the same name. I think there's a lot more to it than that, but people refuse to look past the surface level so alas this meme was born.
Also, Superman doesn't seem to be saying his mother's name as an effort to stop Batman from killing him. I view the scene much differently than most. So over the course of the entire film, Batman is hellbent on killing Superman because he believes that Superman powers are too dangerous based on what he witnessed firsthand in the Battle of Metropolis. This Batman is darker than most and completely unlike the one we're used to seeing in the pages of comics or even onscreen because he straight up murders people with no remorse.
However, I think that's one of the film's central themes... Alfred acknowledges the shift himself when he says "Everything's changed. Men fall from the sky, the gods hurl thunderbolts, innocents die. That's how it starts, sir. The fever, the race, the feeling of powerlessness that turns good men... cruel."
Essentially in Batman's pent-up aggression, he's fallen so far into darkness and despair that he can't even accurately judge Superman's true character. In his rage, Batman only sees Superman as a monster who's going to eradicate humanity and Batman is becoming the very thing he feared as he was being manipulated by Lex Luthor to kill a good man. I'll tie this back in a moment...
On the flip-side, Superman is in a moment of vulnerability. The strongest, most powerful man in the universe is essentially on the ground unable to do anything to prevent his death, and what does he do? He doesn't plead for mercy, instead he simply requests that Batman save the life of another.
This completely throws Batman off-guard. In that very moment, Batman realizes he's been tricked and sees Superman's character shine through. He sees Superman's inner humanity as opposed to the alien he's so afraid of. He realizes that he's become so obsessed with stopping Superman that he never stopped to think if he even should be doing that. This all powerful being is in a moment of weakness and instead of begging for his own life, he asks Batman to save another. Batman's now in a moment of self-reflection and confusion where he realizes what he's become while generally just confounded how he, the world's greatest detective, could have been so wrong.
When Lois steps in and informs him that Martha is his mother, Bruce then reflects to a time when he was powerless to prevent his own mother's death. Lois then lays down atop Superman and Batman must process why someone would possibly give their life for Superman, only to come to the conclusion that Superman is truly a man of good character.
Batman then realizes that the right thing to do is to save Martha. He promises Superman he will do this because he knows what it's like to have his mother taken away from him when he could do nothing. The fact both their "mothers" have the same name is pure coincidence that people have kind of turned into a joke. I don't really think Batman stops because their mom's have the same name. It's because he saw Superman's virtues when he least expected them.
Now I realize many of you may still disagree with me, and that's perfectly fine. Film is subjective to every viewer, and the purpose of this post is to communicate my own perspective upon watching this scene. I'm simply making a case for why the moment works for me as well as explaining what I get out of the scene every time I watch it.
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