The Uncertain Death of Aunt May: An Analysis of Spider-Man: No Way Home
The Uncertain Death of Aunt May: An Analysis of Spider-Man: No Way Home
Spider-Man: No Way Home
One of the most emotional moments in Spider-Man: No Way Home is the death of Aunt May. However, the exact cause of her death has been the subject of much discussion and confusion among fans. This article aims to clarify some of the inconsistencies and offer an analysis of the sequence of events leading to her demise.
Setting the Scene
During the confrontation with the Green Goblin, Aunt May, played by Marisa Tomei, is caught in the chaos of battle. Peter Parker, played by Tom Holland, is facing off against the Goblin, who throws a pumpkin bomb which causes an explosion. In the aftermath, Aunt May is found gravely injured. The film does not explicitly show her being impaled by the Goblin's glider, leaving some ambiguity about the exact nature of her injuries.
Corroboration with Fan Theories
Some fans have suggested that Aunt May was hit by the glider while trying to call for her nephew or to help him in his battle against the Goblin. According to one theory, she was pushed by the glider and also cut by it, which caused her to bleed out and die. However, another theory posits that she got hit by the glider and fell and hit her head multiple times, resulting in a concussion.
It is widely believed that to maintain the dramatic tension and avoid a gruesome scene, the filmmakers chose to show a less realistic and theatrical version of the attack. The glider is shown as vaguely pushing her, and she is then filmed walking a few steps while delivering her iconic final lines.
Realistic vs. Cinematic Death
The way Aunt May died in the film is often criticized for being unrealistic. The Green Goblin's glider, while a clever weapon, would have caused much more damage to a non-superpowered human like Aunt May. She should have been completely shredded by the attack, but the film did not depict this due to the fear of losing the emotional impact of the scene.
The use of CGI to simulate the push and subsequent walk by Aunt May is often met with criticism for being janky and unrealistic. In a more realistic depiction, she would likely have been mortally wounded and fall to the ground immediately.
Conclusion
While the death of Aunt May in Spider-Man: No Way Home is a pivotal and emotional moment for the audience, it is also one that has sparked much debate among viewers. The ambiguity in the exact cause of her death can be attributed to the filmmakers' choice to maintain a certain level of dramatic tension and audience engagement. However, this does leave audiences with questions and criticisms about the realism of the scene.