Spider-Man 2 teaches life lessons

Best friend: "She's waiting for you, pal. The way she looks at you or doesn't look at you. However you want to look at it." (referencing Mary Jane)

Spider-man: "I don't have time for girls right now."

Best friend: "Why, are you dead?"

Spider-man 2 establishes Peter in a very frustrating position. First, he is already working double jobs and both of his bosses are threatening to fire him. Add to the fact that he is desperately in debt and his aunt's house is about to be foreclosed. In addition to that, he's a brilliant college student with steadily declining grades, a late paper to do, and professor's that look at him with embarassment and pity. Worse of all, a beautiful girl loves him, but his strong sense of responsibility prevents him from doing what his heart wants him to do. His "best friend" says, "Why, are you dead?" I can feel the heat and frustration from Peter's situation, and to give up girls, I think he has in fact died. So engrossed by all his responsibilities Peter doesn't have time to be alive anymore. And if all of this wasn't enough (I know many college students who already do all of this plus a bit more), Peter also has a job as Spider-man. As spider-man, he does the job of an FBI agent, police officer, and neighborhood watch all rolled into one.

Would I take his life in exchange for his spidey sense, wall climbing ability, and slick web swinging action? Probably not. Dr. Otto said it best, "Love should never be a secret. If you keep something as complicated as love stored up inside... gonna make you sick." Funny thing is, Peter does start getting sick. Finally, after he sees the love of his life get engaged to another man, he really starts losing his powers and confidence. Basically, he goes impotent and chooses to give up being spider-man.

His life gets better temporarily. He even goes to class on time and his professor acknowledges his improvement. Peter shows up to MJ's play on time too. As Peter said, "I shine my shoes, I pressed my pants, and I do my homework now." Though Peter is different, he still has much of the same problems. Though he does better at school, Peter still doesn't get the girl. He still struggles with his responsibilities. He still feels guilty about what had happen to his Uncle Ben. The magic of Spider-man2 is that Peter Parker is a real person that you can relate to. A real person with real world problems. Peter isn't some far off superhero that nobody can understand.

So lies his dilemma. Following his heart or doing the right thing...

The movie's point is summed up with what Aunt May says to Peter Parker,

"...kids like Henry need a hero, couragious self sacrificing people setting an example for all of us. Everybody loves a hero. People line up for them, cheer them, scream their names. Years later they'll tell how they stood in the rain for hours just to get a glimpse of the one that taught them how to hold on just a second longer. I beleive theres a hero in all of us - that keeps us honest, gives us strength, makes us noble, and finally allows us to die with pride even though sometimes we have to be steady and give up the thing we want the most even our dreams."

Though I see Aunt May's underlying point, I don't think that people should have to give up their dreams. Your dreams are what you live for. Despite reality and despite all the circumstances that hold us back, our dreams are what keep us pushing forward. And when the movies comes full circle, Mary Jane tells Peter, "Its wrong that we should only be half alive - half of ourselves." Balancing our circumstances while keep our eye our dreams is what real people do everyday. I can think of several people who do this on a daily basis. One example is my big. Balancing her own set a problems, shouldering her family responsibilities, all while actively pursuing her own dreams (and not to mention spoiling her little all semester). I'm so proud of her too!

My parents are another example. Their my heros that allow me the freedom to study at school, or pursue whatever career goal i wish. They grant me a security net so that I can stand up and walk on my own and know that if I stumble or fall they'll catch me everytime until, one day, I won't need a net, and I'll be the net. They love me no matter what.

Would I take Peter's life in exchange for his spidey sense, wall climbing ability, and slick web swinging action AND I also got the girl? Maybe if I also got an unlimited fund to play poker. But I ask for too much.