What is the relationship like between Harley Quinn and the Joker?

Answer 1

The relationship could best be described as abusive and obsessive. Dr. Harleen Frances Quinzel, aka Harley Quinn was an Arkham Asylum psychiatrist who became fascinated (as a psychiatric intern at Arkham Asylum) with the brilliant by psychopathic Joker and asked to be assigned to treat him. She fell obsessively in love with him and aided him repeatedly in his escapes. Eventually when he was returned to the asylum badly injured after a battle with Batman, she donned her harlequin costume and became his devoted sidekick, assisting him in his criminal activities. She definitely displays all the symptoms of hybristophilia, basically getting turned on by associating with a partner known to have committed an outrage, or crime - especially something such as rape, murder, or armed robbery.

Quinn's relationship with the Joker is really twisted. The Joker is typically abusive and manipulative towards Harley, but, there is still a lot of (really weird - as only the Joker could be) playfulness between them, sometimes camaraderie and even affection towards her. Harley is the only person who every managed to get close to the Joker emotionally. This fascinates, confuses and irritates the Joker - which has led him to sometimes save her at his own risk and sometime try to kill her. She has gotten so angry with the Joker that she once teamed up with Batman to help defeat him - intending to kill the Joker in revenge for what he had done to her, but when he apologized, she fell head-over-heels for him again and rejoined him. Their relationship is both hot (very hot!) and cold (as in literally trying to kill each other).