What is Harvey's true nature? Is he a hero, villain, or something in between? Does doing bad automatically outweigh all of the good he's done? Does temporary insanity excuse his actions?
When Harvey was putting away mob bosses and other criminals, he had his own way of doing it by the book but also without the help of others which some people may think is the best way to clean up the city. He was a symbol of freedom, authority, and pure goodness. But, just because he's done so much good doesn't necessarily mean he's pardoned from all of the bad he's done. Doing that kind of bad I would say does outweigh all of the good he's done. Temporary insanity I think shouldn't excuse his actions because they were severe and completely over-the-top, plus an insane person would never admit they're insane and he hasn't been to a psychologist or lived long enought to know if or when he became insane. He knew what he was doing was wrong but yet he still chose to do it for revenge and revenge doesn't solve anything. He lost someone he loved as have we all but most of us didn't go on a killing or torturing spree. I'll admit his accident will make the rest of his life extremely difficult but, "two wrongs don't make a right."
I think you've got some good points about Harvey and whether the good can outweigh the bad. I especially like your "pardoned" word choice since that legal language recalls his work in the criminal justice system.
ReplyDeleteSome of your sentences are not quite saying what you want them to say, however. Take this sentence: "Temporary insanity I [think] shouldn't excuse his actions because they were severe and completely over-the-top, that's why it's called temporary." The "temporary part of "temporary insanity" means that it only lasted for a while; it doesn't deal with the severity of a crime. Harvey didn't live long enough to determine if the insanity was temporary or if it would pass.