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You have seen here our most comprehensive texts dealing with themes related to comics. This time, we have a psychological analysis of the impact of the Avengers film on viewers. This movie is a atemporal every on the modern cinematographic industry and its never too late to talk about it!

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Psychoanalysis, for those who do not know, is a psychological theory of the unconscious. In other words, it is a theory of the mind based on the assumption that there is always something inaccessible to our conscience. Something related to repressed sexual desires, unacceptable by the current social order. In this way, sexuality is considered as something beyond the sexual act, comprising every way of obtaining pleasure. Although unconscious contents cannot be addressed directly, it is possible to verify their manifestations through dreams, flawed acts, etc. In this context, cultural productions would be attempts to elaborate human experience and, consequently, its unconscious issues as well.

The success of superheroes in our culture seems to be related, for example, to the psychoanalytic concept of infant omnipotence that is experienced by the baby, to be in total dependence, through the satisfaction of their basic needs for survival. As his being is still mixed with those of his adult caregivers, he does not differentiate between the benefit arising from his caregiver’s action and what was caused by his shout or gesture. In this way, the baby believes that both he and his parents would have ‘superpowers’. The superhero figure, in this context, could represent the nostalgia for our young age when everything seems to be possible and our parents are all-powerful.

Marvel superheroes, specifically, despite having superpowers, have human characteristics, creating greater closeness and identification with their fans and being able to explain their popularity with the adult audience. Because if children are the most impressed with the superpowers of the characters, it is adults who have the most fun with the superhero jokes during the film.

Bruce Banner / Hulk

He is divided in two: a scientist genius who tries to control his aggression at any cost and ‘the other guy’, a green creature of phenomenal strength, totally hostage to his aggressive impulses. The human being, according to psychoanalysis, is a fundamentally divided being. On the one hand, there is awareness and social conventions that allow you to live among others. On the other hand, there is the unconscious, the unknown forces of our sexual and aggressive impulses that try to overcome repression and be satisfied in some way, either by fantasy or by reality.

In this sense, the Hulk figure would be admired by children for the possibility of obtaining satisfaction from their desires from aggressive force. This strategy is widely used by them who are still in the process of formation, not having sufficiently internalized social rules and that is why they find in screams, slaps and bites ways to express what they want. Adults, on the other hand, identify with the dilemma faced by the character between giving in or not giving in to aggression, finding in the Hulk the possibility of giving in to the destructive aggressiveness that exists within each one of us.

Thor and Loki

Not biological brothers, they are characters drawn from Nordic mythology, Thor being extremely strong and responsible for thunder, lightning, storms, oak trees, strength, protection of humanity and also sanctification, healing and fertility. While Loki would be the god associated with fire, trickery, mischief and magic. As is known, mythology emerged as a way of explaining humanity and the world through narratives based on traditions and legends. Thus, the main issue represented by the two gods in the film is the relationship between brothers. Freud explains that the fraternal relationship is marked by an ambivalence of feelings. The arrival of a brother represents, for the baby, the loss of his parents’ exclusive love. However, in addition, the bond between siblings favors the identification, sharing of references and learning.

It appears that, throughout the plot, Thor shows respect for his brother, even though Loki configured himself as the villain of the story and trying to persuade him of his idea of ​​dominating the world, until the end. However, when looking for possible references to write this text, I came across an article that mentioned the controversy generated by the joke in an excerpt from the film that justified Loki’s wickedness for being Thor’s adopted brother. According to the psychoanalytic definition of projection, we tend to project what we find unacceptable in ourselves in others. So it is easier for Thor to justify Loki’s cruelty by adopting him, denying any kind of kinship with him, than to realize that he may have some responsibility for the evil caused by the villain.

We observe, in this way, that the film manages to characterize the ambivalence of the relationship between brothers highlighted by Freud. This would happen through the figure of Thor who sometimes tries to reach an agreement with Loki, sometimes disregards his own family. But, in the end, he becomes responsible for taking him to Asgard to be tried and punished for the crimes committed. Therefore, once again the identification of the public, both adult and child, which is always subject to fraternal conflicts in their families.

Tony Stark / Iron Man

He failed the S.H.I.E.L.D. agency personality assessment for being ‘volatile, self-obsessive and not playing well with others’. These characteristics are, to a certain extent, present in all human beings, especially during childhood, since in this period we still believe that the world revolves around us and that others are an extension of ourselves (which, previously, was explained the concept of child omnipotence). However, we know that it is a lifelong challenge to learn to deal with differences and to measure the narcissism resulting from childhood experience.

His initial disapproval, however, did not prevent him from being drafted into the Avengers thanks to his business and scientific genius. In addition, throughout the film, he learns to work as a team and to consider the potential of his teammates. Especially from Bruce Banner, stating that he was saved by Hulk and his uncontrolled aggression in the radioactive accident that generated his power, which Banner itself considered a defect. And in fact, Hulk is the one who guarantees the victory of the Avengers. Which supports the idea that there are advantages and disadvantages to everything.

Steve Rogers / Captain America

The character emerged at the time of World War II to increase American self-esteem during the conflict. He was a small, frail young man with health problems who had great potential for heroism. Thus, he agrees to participate in an experiment to become a super soldier and fight against the Nazis. However, at the end of the war, after his plane crashed, he remained frozen for the past few decades. His call to the Avengers is explained by Agent Coulson: ‘People need something old-fashioned’.

What could be more old-fashioned than a captain in today’s world, where there are no absolute limits, values ​​and ideologies to follow? However, it is clear that a certain direction is necessary to position oneself in the face of day-to-day impasses. In the film in question, Steve Rogers becomes the team leader by requesting focus from others and coordinating group actions. Drawing a parallel with family life, it could represent the authority that parents should represent to their children, by imposing limits and rules that facilitate the introduction of children in life in society.

Natasha Romanoff / Black Widow

She is one of the world’s greatest spies and quite possibly also the most skilled killer. Armed with an extensive arsenal of specialized weapons such as spider stings and cluster bombs, as well as a vast repertoire in martial arts, Romanoff’s unique talents make her one of the principal agents of director Colonel Fury and an important part in the formation of The Avengers. Her dark past and ultimate seriousness reflect a personality that is originated from trauma and so decided to close itself from the world. I think we can agree that we all know someone like that right? And again, the character allows for others to feel less out of the spectrum.

We can conclude, then, through the psychoanalytical analysis of the main characters of ‘The Avengers’, that the success of the film between parents and children could be explained by their identification with the conflicts and questions presented by the superheroes who, even having superpowers, do not they would be immune to human problems related to social ties, while, since they are superheroes, they present the possibility of solving human issues without giving up child omnipotence. In other words, they would represent our contradictory desire to grow, remaining with the superpowers of our childhood.