Mythic Archetypes and Spider-Man 2 (Spoilers)

Cafe Society
1

So a pal and I had this exchange this morning via email:

At which point the debate degenerated into accusations of being and ‘uber-geek’ and such similar pointless comments.

But I’m thinking I’m right here. Octavian is a mythic archetype in his character and its flaws whereas the screenwriter appeared to leave that sort of character issues to the side with the lead character.

As with most people, the basic myth structure resonates with me very strongly. And this brought out a lot of interest in Octavian for me but less in Parker.

Of course, as my pal pointed out, Parker DOES get to have Kirsten Dunst at the end of the movie. That makes up for a lot of lighter character development.

2

I’ll throw in a couple theological-symbolic observations also-

Osbourne’s “Green Goblin mask” and Octavius’s “tentacles” are presented- not as technical enhancements to their madness, but as physical agents of demonic influence.

And in 2, Spidey stretched cruciform to stop the train with his webbing, till he collapses, his costume GASHED IN THE SIDE… The Passion of the Spidey indeed!

3

I do feel rather sorry for Oc… Even at his worst, his overriding goal is to give the world free energy. But I don’t think it’s deniable that he was a hubric creature. His redemption through death at the end was tragic, but it was the only possible dramatic resolution.

4

Don’t forget the passengers passing him over their heads with his arms outstretched.

5

I think you hit the nail on the head regarding Ock, Jonathan Chance.

As for Spiderman/Peter Parker - who would “With Great Power Comes…Great Responsibility”?

One could say that he is the classic hubristic character at the beginning of his origin story, too - it’s just that instead of dying, he is “cursed” to do good with the weight of his uncle’s death on his shoulders…

I don’t seem him as “just a schlemiel”

6

Spidey became a Christ-like mythic figure when the people on the train passed him down over their shoulders to an open spot on the floor. Well, maybe not Christ-like, but it IS an archetype of some sort, and besides he ahd his arms stretched out crucifix style.

Doc Oc is also emblematic of the multi-headed hydra, a problem that could not be solved with simply whacking off its head. Spidey had to effectively whack off all the limbs first, which he did by appealing to Doc’s humanitarian side.

7

Interestingly enough, Peter’s hubris is not really an act, but an omission (not stopping the evil robber who killed his uncle).

The story does make him somewhat Christ-like; he has superpowers, and is a relatively good kid. When he tries to make some money with them for a pretty routine and non-horrible thing (get a car to impress the girl he was too shy to meet), we get the vibe that in itself is somehow horribly wrong. The movie (and I assume, comic book) almost punish him for being anything other than a martyr, rather than simply for using his powers for evil. He is destined to actively suffer, he cannot even lead an ordinary life.

8

As for Dr. Octopus in this movie – I have no sympathy for a man who knows he’s invented chaotic-evil mechanical arms, and chooses to inhibit their control over his mind with a microchip that’s exposed on the surface of the arms and is trivially easy to accidentally break.