Sabiya Kathiria Week 10: Heroes and Villains
Heroes and Villains
Whether it be Superman, Ironman, Thanos, or the Joker, power is the ultimate prize in the iconic genre that is Superhero movies. Whether it’s shown in the form of physical strength, mental capabilities, monetary wealth, or control over others, the power depicted in the most famous superhero movies is the lifeblood that makes the movies so memorable and integral to popular culture worldwide. Whether it be the hero fighting to defend power for the sake of moral good or the villain desperate to take it for personal gain, one thing is sure: power corrupts and inspires, and how one wields it shapes their identity forevermore as a superhero or a master villain.
“With great power comes great responsibility.” Ironman said it best; power and responsibility are intertwined indefinitely. Ironman understands that his power comes with consequences, both good and bad. He knows that it is his duty as a powerful individual to use it the right way—in his case, to protect and defend Earth in a morally justifiable way. Superheroes, like villains, have power—the distinction between the two lies in how they view it. Ironman refrains from viewing his power as a personal advantage, instead realizing that oftentimes, power is a burden meant to be in the hands of individuals who do not want it but rather deserve it.
Villains, on the other hand, desperately seek out power for their own morally ambiguous reasons. They crave power, seeing it as a means to control, dominate, or destroy. Villains operate by their own ideologies that they believe to justify their actions; Thanos, for example, believes that wiping out half the universe is an act of mercy. Feverishly seeking out power in the form of the all-powerful Infinity Stones, he uses all means necessary to obtain them and follow through with his ideology. It is by these actions and morally unjust use of power that Thanos is classified as a villain—even though he means to be “merciful,” his desperation blinds him, his power enabling and escalating his evil acts.
In these epic, futuristic, and, above all, iconic battles between heroes and villains, power is the double-edged sword that destroys and strengthens. This thirst for power in our favorite comics often mirrors power-hungry figures in real life, such as corrupt politicians and maniacal CEOs. But, these stories also parallel those of real-life heroes: activists, philanthropists, and advocates that use their power and voice to ignite change throughout the world. These stories of heroes and villains not only caution us against power but inspire us to do good with it.
Superheroes never exactly want power—ironically, this makes them the perfect individuals to have an immense amount of it. Those who want power should not have it, and those who view power as a burden must be burdened with it.
Hi Sabiya! I think that power is often viewed as such a “corrupt” ideology that is used for “wrong” actions in society, so we tend to forget that power can manifest both ways, particularly since there are many people in positions of influence that have used their abilities for good as well. I appreciated that you acknowledged the different ways power can be manifested–whether that’s from “physical strength, mental capabilities, monetary wealth, or control over others.” Your point about power having both positive and negative manifestations is so important, especially in a world where we overlook the people that use their power for good in favor of those with corrupt intentions. I especially loved how you discussed both superheroes and villains with a neutral tone and emphasized that they illustrate how power itself isn’t inherently good or bad, and that it’s more so the actions or intentions behind it that determine how it’s personified. Your examples of Thanos and Ironman really made me think about how power is exemplified in the real world, and how people like activists or politicians use their power to either contribute to or bring down a part of society. I look forward to your future insights!
ReplyDeleteHi Sabiya, I love how you examine the duality of power and how that duality changes depending on the individual who wields it and their intentions of using that power in your blog post for this week. The examples you provided that are based around iconic Marvel figures like Iron Man and Thanos helped get your message across and make more concrete the consequences of power and how intentions and morals influence those consequences. I never thought that power can be seen as a burden until you mentioned it, and I relate to that statement a lot. I am currently holding leadership positions in a few clubs at school, and sometimes I feel burdened by the responsibility of the power entrusted to me. However, I find it motivating that there are people who are relying on me and others to lead them in the right direction, which makes me grateful for upholding that power. Thank you for writing this blog post, and I look forward to more from you!
ReplyDeleteHi Sabiya! I adore this take on power and I agree with you that "how one wields [power] shapes their identity." While a superhero may take their power as a sign of responsibility and duty to protect the world, a villain might see their power as a way to achieve their personal goals. I really love that you pointed out how power should be handed to the person who deserved it, not who wants it. This actually echoes a line from Harry Potter, where Dumbledore said that "perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it." I also like how you pointed out that the motivations of a villain are morally ambiguous and not just evil for evil's sake. Some of the worst villains in both history and literature have been firm in their belief that they are doing what is right. No good villain, as far as I know, is evil just for the sake of being evil. So what would distinguish a hero and a villain if they both believe in their goodness? Superheroes, as you said, don't want power. They treat it as a burden. Overall, I really enjoyed reading your post and look forward to more!
ReplyDeleteHi Sabiya! I completely agree with your take on power and what hands are worthy of having it. Those who seek power are often more likely to exploit it, to become blinded by finally reaching a goal and spiral off into corruption. I always taught placing power in the hands of those who are humble, who do not look for it, often has a much better outcome than giving it to an individual that is ambitious and power-hungry, though that may seem appealing. Thank you so much for sharing!
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