One way that "Batman Begins" distinguishes itself from other Hollywood blockbusters is in its surprisingly deft use of themes — deeper messages that recur throughout the story that go beyond the literal plot. There are several themes in "Batman Begins," but the most richly explored one is probably best summarized as "fear is a powerful force which can be wielded as a powerful weapon."
We see the first hints of this theme when young Bruce falls into a well and is attacked by a swarm of bats, leading him to develop a fear of bats. Later, when the Waynes attend a play, the dancers remind Bruce of swarming bats, so he asks his parents to leave. This leads to the family's fateful trip when Thomas and Martha Wayne are mugged and killed not far from the theater. These deaths happen, in Bruce's mind, because of his fear. If that weren't enough, the last thing Bruce's father says to him is "Don't be afraid."
Later, when Bruce gets his earliest inklings of crimefighting, he confronts the mob boss Carmine Falcone to demonstrate that not everyone in Gotham is afraid of him. Falcone responds by drawing a gun and claiming that he could shoot Bruce right then and there, in public, and no one would stop him. "That's the power of fear," explains Falcone. Bruce realizes that Falcone's power lies in the fear his persona inspires in others. Bruce decides that he is going to do the same — create an alter ego that criminals will fear. This is why he picks a bat as his symbol; It's the thing he fears most.
