Identity is a mysterious entity. One may believe that identity is a solid and unchanging entity, but Doctor Strange shows that one’s identity is much more complex than one may believe. The film uncovers the profound transformation of the identity of the main character, who turns from a gifted doctor to a handicapped and ultimately to a superhero. Profound changes that occur to the body and capabilities of the main character mirror his identity, which transforms and evolves along with his physical capabilities.
Guilt is one of the main sources of remorse that drives people to commit acts that would make them feel less guilty about what they have done in the past. Remorse urges people to try to change their past errors. Keeping their past errors that cause the feeling of guilt in mind, people make decisions that aim at easing their internal sufferings and getting rid of the feeling of guilt. To get rid of the feeling of guilt, one may not necessarily make some decisions that would remedy somehow past errors or help people, who suffered from past errors that cause guilt. Instead, people may change their life and worldview.
Therefore, guilt has the power to change one’s worldview and system of values. At this point, it is possible to refer to the case of Doctor Strange, who has discovered the new universe, when he has managed to overcome the boundaries of his beliefs and scientific worldview and move on to uncover the universe, where conventional scientific laws do not work. He used to be an arrogant, self-assured, wealthy neurosurgeon. He did not even take into consideration non-scientific approaches to medicine. He neglected people, including his patients, whom he viewed as mere tools which he used to earn his wealth and fame. However, his life changed completely after the car accident, which caused severe damage to his hands to the extent that he could not continue his work. After such an injury his identity changed completely. He felt remorse about people, whom he neglected or just treated as unworthy of his attention. Instead, he felt that he was useless without his hand working well. The drastic change in his life caused a drastic change in his identity: he turned into a desperate, depressed, and useless man, while he used to be a prosperous, ambitious, and successful neurosurgeon, who seemed to be capable of invading the whole world with a mere move of his hand. The moral downfall of Doctor Strange is deep and traumatic which causes changes in his identity.
The changes to the identity of Doctor Strange caused by his injury and related changes in his life urge him to reconsider his system of values, views, and beliefs. He was very close to becoming desperate but he was still looking for chances to change his life for the better. He always believed that there would be an opportunity that could change his life completely and help him to regain his success and to raise him to the top position in society again.
The story of Doctor Strange proves how important it is to not close oneself off to new opportunities. He has managed not only to change his life but also he has managed to cure an incurable health problem. As he suffered from severe injury after the car accident, he could not use his hands to conduct surgeries as he used to do in the past. However, after the discovery of the new universe of magic and supernatural after the acquaintance of Ancient One and learning the ancient teaching, he has managed to restore and multiply his capabilities. His example is inspiring because it shows how people can change their lives, when they do not stay enclosed in their tiny universe but always remain open to something new, to new ideas and experiences.
The open-minded approach allowed Doctor Strange to cope with his problems and to become a true superhero, whereas he could live the routine life many people live, especially if they experience serious injuries and suffer from disability. At this point, it is possible to estimate that Doctor Strange had two ways in his life, one of which he has chosen, while another he could easily choose and many people do choose after the injury he has suffered. After the accident, Doctor Strange lost his ability to conduct surgery and his hand became virtually useless to him. This is why he suffered from professional disability and he spent almost all his money on his recovery but nothing has brought him positive changes. In such a situation, he could and was growing desperate. Many people in a similar position, being unable to continue their career, which they struggled for during their entire lives and running out of money slip into poverty, start consuming alcohol, and drug abuse, destroy their social ties, ruin their families, and slip to complete degradation. For example, Doctor Strange could give up and slip into poverty since he has spent almost all his money on the treatment of his hands. He could run bankrupt and slip into poverty, while poverty is the greatest challenge for one’s identity. Doctor Strange could give up and drift on as his life carried on, purposeless and in limbo. At this point, I can refer to my personal experience since I knew a woman, who was quite successful and dedicated her life to her career. She was a successful manager in a fast-growing company but she married and got a child which became the turning point in her career. I should admit that motherhood has ruined her career. After the birth of her child, she failed to return to her work and ultimately she gave up her career. At this stage of her life, she reminds me of Doctor Strange after the injury and loss of his capability to conduct surgeries.
Doctor Strange was on the edge of such a brave new life, but the encounter with Ancient One has changed his life and his ability to open his eyesight and mind to new ideas and new teaching has inspired him to change his life completely. Such a change brought him considerable change and multiplied his capabilities. As a result, he became even more capable and powerful than he used to be before the accident. Such experience is very inspiring and shows how important it is to stay open to new ideas.
Thus, transformations and changes that occur to Doctor Strange reveal the fact that identity is a dynamic and constantly changing entity rather than a rigid and unchanging one. Doctor Strange undergoes profound transformations as his once successful life down turned completely as he suffered severe injuries in a car accident. His identity has changed too because he realized that he is not a successful neurosurgeon anymore, but he is a mere human struggling for survival. His strife for new opportunities ultimately led to his success and further transformation of his identity. He has broadened his eyesight and changed his worldview completely. He became a true superhero with universal, humanistic values. His example shows that people should keep progressing all the time and change their views, values, and ideas as they learn something new, acquire new experiences, and come up with new truths of life, which they either did not know or neglected before.
Works Cited
- Derrickson, Scott. Doctor Strange. Walt Disney Studios, 2016.
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Essay on Doctor Strange Hero’s Journey.
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