Reddit user ciociosanvstar has posted a message on the "Fan Theories" board suggesting that Banes actions in The Dark Knight Rises were actually meant to make Bruce Wayne into a better person. Bane believed in Batman as a symbol who could put an end to crime and corruption in Gotham City and inspire others. Even though during Batmans eight year absence the crime rate plummeted to an all-time low, Bane knows that Gothams problems are still under the surface, which will leave it vulnerable. This leads Bane to enact a plan involving three steps: convincing Bruce the city needs Batman, showing him that Batman is more effective as a symbol than a mere man, and convincing the citizens of Gotham that they need Batman. Think of him as the tough love Dark Knight.
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