The Dark Knight Rises Pt. 1: How To Climb Out of a Deep Pit

At points in each of our lives we have our own dark nights where we feel trapped in the proverbial pit without the ability to escape.  In The Dark Knight Rises, each of the characters must climb from the physical, mental, and spiritual pits they find themselves in starting with Bruce.  

Alfred, as the magnanimous mentor, leads by example.  Alfred makes a personal sacrifice (his relationship with Bruce) in order to help Bruce's façade of hope give way to something real.  Along the way Alfred and Bruce teach us that to climb out of the pit we must let the truth have its day, let go of the past, and make the climb without the rope (let go of the safety net).