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I Have You Now!

date posted: Jan 28, 2006 7:46 AM | updated: Jan 28, 2006 7:23 PM

Power over Death

I've noticed that some movie heroes (or anti-heroes) with supernatural powers believe that they could, or should, have the power to stop death. In the first Superman movie (with Christopher Reeve), Clark Kent's father dies of a heart attack. After the funeral, Clark says to Mrs. Kent, "All those powers I have, and I couldn't even save him". In AOTC, at Shmi's funeral, Ani says (something like) "Mom, I couldn't save you, but I won't fail again". As the heroes state those words, it seems as if they're surprised and frustrated that they can't overcome death. Why do they think they can stop death? Is it as a consequence of all the other feats they've accomplished, that they assume they can cheat death? Is it a function of ego?

Obviously, Clark and Ani choose very different paths. Clark lets go of the disappointment and pain of not being able to save his dad and chooses benevolence and justice, and well, we all know what Ani does!

I can't think of any other hero who deals with the same issue; if anyone can think of another example, please comment.

http://blogs.starwars.com/pscyhwoman/7

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	Tilrem. The deeper meaning of Liff.
date Posted: Jan 28, 2006 8:30 AM Hmmm. Batman perhaps. He doesn't actually have superpowers and such, but in Batman Begins he goes around beeing all badass. (Did that word come through? If not he was a bad lowest-part-of-the-back) But Qui-Gon got him shaped up pretty good in the end.

	suziestardust
date Posted: Jan 28, 2006 9:46 AM ......Superman managed to cheat death later (in the movie anyway) by turning back time/ Earth) and saving Lois after she was buried in the earthquake.

	Son of a Bith The Cantina Corner
date Posted: Jan 28, 2006 10:16 AM Spiderman feels guilty that he could have saved Uncle Ben when instead he was fighting BOOOONESAAAAAW!!!!!

	suziestardust
date Posted: Jan 28, 2006 10:44 AM Bobby Ewing managed to cheat death when it turned out the entire last series was Pam's dream!!!

	ewanandhaydenfan5 I Have You Now!
date Posted: Jan 28, 2006 12:16 PM Suziestardust, I forgot about that part in Superman! Thanks for bringing that up. Bobby Ewing managed to cheat death when it turned out the entire last series was Pam's dream!!! LOL!

	Darth Kore Somewhere Far Far away...
date Posted: Jan 29, 2006 12:25 PM (SMALLVILLE SPOILERS)Clark Kent on Smallville, Lana dies in a car accident, Clark goes back and instead Jonathan dies. D'OH! "It's all my fault."

	Darth Kore Somewhere Far Far away...
date Posted: Jan 29, 2006 12:27 PM also Lex had a (coma)dream where he was good, but Lana died in childbirth. so he stays bad so he has the money and power to keep his happily ever after.

	Jay-Dub Jinn 748 There's always a bigger blog...
date Posted: Jan 29, 2006 1:46 PM That episode of "Smallville" with the Jonathan Kent dying at the end...very sad and depressing. :_ It was, as you said, ewanandhaydenfan5, "inevitable". But it was very comforting to see him die in the arms of the two people in all the world, his wife and his son. John Schneider will be deeply missed on the series.

kesseljunkie
Kessel Korner

date Posted: Jan 29, 2006 3:31 PM

The one major difference between Superman, Spider Man and Batman and Anakin Skywalker is that the latter does not learn a lesson from his pain. Clark Kent decides to take an active role in the world to improve its condition because he knows that he can't stop death - but he can make life a better thing.

Anakin wants to prevent death itself - natural and unavoidable death. Now, what he did to the Tuskens I consider reprehensible (though understandable), because it was murder and he was filled with rage not just at her passing, but at how it came to be.

Padme's death was something that would have been "natural" - death in childbirth is not a burglar murdering a family who calls 911.

Kenobi-fan
The Jundland Wastes Journal

date Posted: Jun 01, 2006 5:20 PM

Why do they think they can stop death?
Death is final. What good are all your powers if you can stop life's greatest enemy: death. The problem is in the heroes understanding of death. Death is not the enemy of life. The enemy of life is fear and greed, not death. Death is no less a function of life than birth is. Perhaps Superman learned his lesson because he had a loving family where as Anakin was essentially an unloved orphan. Sorry I missed this blog when it first came out.

amidalooine
The Emotional Galaxy

date Posted: Jun 01, 2006 6:44 PM

Good blog, e&hf5. I, too, am sorry I missed it.

Not only do superheroes want to cheat death, but in wanting that they also "want more." Just an observation, but since these superheroes can do more than we can, it only makes sense that when they want more, they want the impossible. I mean, "more" for me is wanting to be able to be in four places at one time instead of three. For them...

Back to K-fan's blog!!!

ewanandhaydenfan5
I Have You Now!

date Posted: Jun 01, 2006 8:29 PM

Superman learned his lesson because he had a loving family
Good point. A loving family provides invaluable self-esteem and structure. Ani had the structure, but I think his self-esteem was always in question.

Good blog, e&hf5.
Thanks much.

in wanting that they also "want more."
True. That's why I'm questioning if wanting to cheat death could be a function of ego. But it's all relative, as you said, Ami. Superheroes have so much more to begin with. And, as K-F said, they don't see death as we mere non-superheroes do. Both of these are valid points. Something to ponder! Thanks for the comments.

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