Finding Life Lessons in "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-verse"
Dr. Sara B. Frawley
A Naturopath’s Perspective on Entertainment
“With great power, comes great responsibility”. This saying became part of mainstream culture since Sam Raimi created the first Spiderman movie back in 2002 but the aphorism has been around in some variation in history (and in comics) for centuries. While the ‘Peter Parker Principle’ is an extremely edifying proverb that is essential to this movie’s context, Spider-Man; Into The Spider-verse is filled with life lessons and undertones of true enlightenment synced up to a killer soundtrack.
“We are all Spiderman.”
At the press conference in the movie, Mary Jane points out that Peter Parker “was just a kid who happened to get bit.” Really, anyone could’ve been Spiderman. We have proof of this thanks to the ‘multiverse’. Peter and Miles Morales (and Gwen and Peni and Peter Porker), were just in the right place (or depending on how you see it, the wrong place) at the right time.
This great reminder presents the theory that there's a hero in all of us. MJ goes on to comment that “we all have powers of one kind or another.'' We really all have some potential to help others. And it doesn't take great acts of heroism to be a hero.
Actively being kind to others can change someone's day, even their lives, as well as your own, for the better. Think about how nice it feels to receive a compliment or have a door held for you. And research shows that the lives of those who practice kindness and generosity are happier overall.
While simple acts of kindness such as smiling and saying hello to a complete stranger can feel awkward at first, as the animated Stan Lee reminds us, “it always fits, eventually.”
“That person who helps others simply because it should or must be done, and because it is the right thing to do, is indeed without a doubt, a real superhero.” - Stan Lee
“A Leap of Faith”
Getting out of our comfort zones takes courage, but it’s the only way to truly grow. Courage and vulnerability go hand and hand. There is not one without the other. In the book Daring Greatly by Brene Brown, she states that “vulnerability is our most accurate measurement of courage.” And what is more vulnerable than trust.
In the case of Miles, he had to take a literal leap of faith to become Spiderman. He had to trust in himself to leap off that building, to know that he was ready, to know that he could do what he had to do. Sometimes we just need to trust in ourselves, in others, in the universe, or in God, if you will, to get to the end goal. Believe that your instincts are right because whatever decision you make is the right decision.
“All Men Are Mortal” - Even Spiderman
During the classroom montage at Miles’ new school, “All men are mortal…” is written in the background. This has become a theme throughout the Marvel Universe shows and movies; most recently in the Avengers’ films. But this is not just a reminder of our inevitable deaths. It’s a reminder that we all have our faults, our flaws, our ups, and downs. Forgetting this fact can lead to perfectionism in ourselves and an inability to forgive others' mistakes. This is a sure-fire way to be miserable. So next time someone cuts you off in traffic, take a breath and remember, we are just mere mortals.
All villains arise from shame and disconnection.
More and more research is showing that having a sense of connection to someone or something else is essential for a healthy, happy life. We see that a lack of this basic need leads to anger in both real life and in entertainment. Think about Frankenstein’s Monster, Maleficent, and Elphaba, Carrie White, Jason Voorhees, Darth Vadar... the backstory of all of these characters have the same things in common; loss, isolation, and shame.
In this movie, Uncle Aaron comments on how his brother pulled away from him and shamed him in some way for not meeting his “potential”. Could Aaron’s life have been different if Miles’ dad had just appreciated his brother for who he was? Their relationship definitely would have been different. Look how the dynamic between Miles and his father changed at the end of the film, when he finally accepted Miles as an artist.
Expectations are in the subtext throughout the entire movie; from the underlying themes to Miles having to do a book report on Great Expectations. Holding high expectations for others (and ourselves) hurts everyone involved. Accepting and loving others (and ourselves) for who they are and where they are in their lives creates a sense of belonging for both parties.
I’m not saying this is an easy thing to do. It takes practice. So the next time someone disappoints you, remember my favorite quote from Tony Robbins, “trade expectations for appreciations.”
"When I'm feeling alone, I remember my friends who get it."
The movie emphasized the necessity of connections with Miles’ final quote at the end of the movie. This quote is not only about how important support systems are but also an important reminder to reach out to those in your life when you are in need.
We are all on our own journeys. Those closest to us might not know when we are struggling. Don’t wait for them to call you, for them to check in on you. It's really OK to reach out to them to ask for help.
Even superheroes do it sometimes.
Dr. Sara B. Frawley is a chemist, human biology professor, and personal holistic doctor. She is the owner of Ground Force Medicine, LLC in Wallingford and Cromwell, CT as well as the founder of Ground Force Supplements LLC.
Dr. Frawley uses her medical detective skills to understand the underlying causes of disease. She works with adults with chronic diseases, such as cancer or Lyme utilizing counseling, botanical medicine, anti-inflammatory diets such as the “Blood Type Diet” and through genetic analysis.