Arkham (Gotham)

Arkham, in the context of Gotham City, is most often understood as referring to Arkham Asylum (also known as Elizabeth Arkham Asylum for the Criminally Insane), a psychiatric hospital located in or near Gotham City. It serves as the primary holding facility for Gotham's most dangerous and mentally unstable criminals.

Arkham Asylum is characterized by its grim architecture, unsettling atmosphere, and a high rate of patient escape. Its reputation is one of incompetence and alleged supernatural influence, contributing to the instability of its patients rather than providing effective treatment. The methods employed within Arkham are often portrayed as questionable, bordering on unethical, and the facility's staff, while sometimes well-intentioned, are frequently overwhelmed, corrupt, or even driven mad themselves.

Notable inmates of Arkham Asylum include many of Batman's most iconic adversaries, such as the Joker, Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Scarecrow, Two-Face, and the Riddler. The cyclical nature of these villains being captured, committed, escaping, and wreaking havoc again is a recurring theme in Batman stories.

The name "Arkham" evokes a sense of dread and unease, and is likely inspired by the fictional town of Arkham, Massachusetts, created by horror writer H.P. Lovecraft. This connection reinforces the element of cosmic horror and the suggestion that some forces within Gotham and Arkham are beyond human comprehension.

Arkham Asylum is not merely a prison; it represents a failure of Gotham's systems to adequately address the root causes of crime and mental illness. It serves as a symbol of the city's descent into madness and the cyclical nature of violence.