Meaning behind the Joker's qoute "Why so serious?"?

Question

Can you give me a personal opinion about what you believe the quote "Why so serious?" made by the Joker in The Dark Knight?

Answer 1

He was being an jerk. Saying that the Batman was overreacting to what the joker believe he does, 'pranks'.

Answer 2

Why so serious is something you say to someone when you think they're overreacting to a joke or taking a casual conversation or argument very seriously.

When the joker says it, it's for comedic effect, like he thinks his jokes are just pranks and not things that kill people.  

Answer 3

okay well i believe he says that because when he was little his father was in a fight with his mother

and ended up pulling out a knife and killing her

and joker being a little kid just stood there crying

and his father went up to him and said "why so serious? lets put a smile on that face" and cut his cheeks

thats also why he qot the scars

Answer 4

I would crack up when I heard the Joker say this Lol.

My take on it is that it was like a cross btw sarcasm and symbolism and classic use of tragic irony to provide comedic relief). "Why So Serious?"...well the joker (was a symbol) he was a villain who found humor and zeal in torture and violence so he would torture his victims and ask them why they were so serious, when ironically it was a tragic and serious circumstance, the overuse of (sarcasm) along with this effect eventually provides the comic relief.

Answer 5

I believe that the Joker is an extremely dark and twisted person who distorts reality in his own mind. When he says "why so serious?" I think that he is referring to the fact that everyone is very stressed and tense about his actions. He recognizes this and says it kind of ironically. I say it is ironic only because he is questioning why they are so serious about everything while at the same time he knows the answer is himself

Answer 6

He's being sarcastic and making light of the people who seem to be reacting so seriously.  

Answer 7

it's because it's what his dad said to him before he carved the smile on his face. The joker had a few different stories of how it got there, but in that story he explained it was said to him by his father.