Fifteen years ago, Iron Man would not have been a household name across America. Tony Stark even less so. But in 2008, Marvel introduced audiences everywhere to “a visionary, a genius, and an American patriot” who would eventually become a hero. He was brash, chauvinistic, and self-obsessed as soon as he appeared on our screens. And he was just the character who could deconstruct the cookie cutter superheroes we had before to usher in a new age for modern blockbusters and the superhero genre.
In this first post of the discussion series, I will be analyzing the themes and characteristics of the man behind the machine in Tony
Stark and how his character evolves throughout the series. In many ways, his story is the central story to the Marvel Cinematic Universe; it is his ideals, his actions, his speeches, his recklessness, his mistakes that help to shape this superhero franchise around him as its main character. A sentiment that I am sure the playboy, billionaire, philanthropist would agree with. We will be exploring how Tony Stark’s character arc begins in his origin movie. I hope this article gives you more insight into the Iron Man character and his story.
*There will be spoilers for the first Iron Man movie below, so read at your own risk.
A Hole in His Heart
When we meet Tony Stark, he is a character who hides his personal demons in a figurative hole, buries them so that he can focus on his selfish, lavish lifestyle. He is egotistical, self-absorbed even. He acts in his own self-interest, building his empire with weapons that cause destruction across the globe, and hides his doubts and the pain he causes behind alcohol, women, and partying. His genius and charisma intimidate those around him, even the disciplined soldiers assigned to protect him in the military convoy, as, in his own words, “Is it better to be feared or respected? I say is it too much to ask for both?”.
Tony is an empty person, clinging to false ideals of what he thinks his father and the world would want him to live. He is afraid to claim an identity for himself, until he is confronted with the missile that reads “STARK INDUSTRIES”. For the first time, he is looking at how the rest of the world sees him: The Merchant of Death, the most famous mass murderer in the history of America, a weapon of destruction. He is confronted with the harsh reality that his actions have consequences, and as he has been living his life of luxury and debauchery, the world has been dealing with those consequences. But as he walks among the rows of Stark Industries weapons at the terrorists’ base, he realizes that the weapons he built to ensure peace are actually being used to escalate conflicts across the globe.
Before Afghanistan, Tony would have deflected these harsh realities of the world. He was always somewhat aware of the pain his weapons caused, hiding behind an idealistic wall that his weapons were being used to save lives and prevent conflicts. His father was called a hero during World War II, so if he followed his father’s path, he must also be a hero. So, when confronted with controversy and critique of his and his father’s mission, he rehearsed answers that would allow him to continue his luxurious, guilt free life. But when his missile created a physical reminder in him of the damage his decisions had left on the world, he realizes something had to change. He had to change. He could no longer be what the world wanted him to be or what he thought his father’s legacy was. He had to become someone new. Something new.
What is the Tin Man’s Heart Made of?
Yinsen, the doctor who saved Tony’s life, is instrumental in Tony’s awakening of who he wants to be. He asks questions that Tony can no longer run from. “Look what you just saw. That is your legacy, Stark. Your life’s work in the hands of those murderers. Is that how you want to go out? Is this the last act of defiance of the great Tony Stark? Or are you going to do something about it?” Captured in a cave, surrounded by men who want to use his weapons to cause harm, Tony is forced to address all of his doubts and concerns about who he was before. Rhodey told him he needed to do something meaningful with his life, but he refused to listen to him because that would mean admitting he has not done anything meaningful yet. Because he’s always used the people around him, he has no family. Or as Yinsen put it, “So you’re a man who has everything and nothing”.
But in that cave, he slowly realizes that he needs to be more trusting of others if he wants to make real change in himself. Throughout the montage scenes of Tony and Yinsen building the first Iron Man suit, he begins to trust Yinsen more, more than he has ever trusted anyone in his entire life. He realizes that he needs Yinsen’s help to escape the cave, which is symbolic of the fact that he needs other’s help to escape from the person he used to be. But he also needs put in the effort on his part to become a better person. Yinsen only started the process of rebuilding Tony’s heart and starting his new life. After the cave, Tony would need to use what he learned about himself to change his life direction.
At the press conference when Tony gets back to America, we get his thesis statement on the person he used to be: “I saw young Americans killed by the very weapons I created to defend and protect them. And I saw that I had become a part of a system that is comfortable with zero accountability.” He is eager to change that. But the change he seeks does not come without conflict. Rhodey immediately rejects the new Tony because he thinks he is turning his back on his country. When he defunds the weapons division, Obadiah shuts him out of his company. His legacy, who he was before the cave, continues to haunt him. He will need to face who he was going to be before he can start a new path for his future.
Claiming a New Name
Obadiah Stane represents who Tony would have been if he kept going down his old path. He would have been an iron monger, using whoever he could in order to get ahead and double crossing anyone that gets in his way. Tony easily could have sat back and lived the lifestyle he was used to while his weapons caused conflict in all regions of the world. But he knew his company needed to protect the people he put in harm’s way. Unfortunately, his armor still inspired more corruption. To Obadiah and the rest of the world, Tony had just created another weapon. “How ironic, Tony! Trying to rid the world of weapons, you gave it its best one ever.” The final conflict between the Iron Monger and the Iron Man is a battle to control Tony’s legacy. If he loses, then his legacy would always be about destruction. But winning this battle and changing who he could be ensured that he could continue to amend for his mistakes, continue to protect people, continue to be a better person.
No one ever said turning over a new leaf would come with acceptance. The people who knew the old you may not believe your new direction is genuine. Tony tries to make amends with Pepper at the end of the movie, but she cannot trust yet that this change in him will be permanent. He was still the guy who left her on the roof. But she is hopeful that maybe this Tony can do some good in the world. He is more compassionate now. This Tony Stark has a heart. Tony is committed to his new life mission. Yinsen told him, “Don’t waste it. Don’t waste your life.” And he is not talking about Tony’s old life as a selfish, war profiteer. He is telling him to not waste this new perspective on life. Make a difference in the world. And know in your heart that it is right.
Tony Stark’s story is a redemption arc. He has made a lot of mistakes, and he is not proud of who he was. He is not the hero type. His flaws are still there. In an interview, Robert Downey Jr. said, “What was really important to me was to not have him change so much that he’s unrecognizable.” He has not changed much, but his priorities have shifted. He is not afraid to see his mistakes anymore, and more importantly he is working on them. He is trying to be someone that other people will be proud of. He is trying to be someone he can be proud of. He still has a lot to work on (good thing he has gotta couple more movies to work on it). So, by the end of the movie, Tony Stark is not a hero. He is Iron Man.