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Study Guide
Thor Humility
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Humility
THOR: When I am king, I'll hunt the monsters down and slay them all! Just as you did father.
It's telling that Thor would say this as a kid: it's something a kid would say. Thing is, grown-up Thor pretty much says the same thing… and boy howdy is that a problem.
THOR: I have no plans to die today.
HEIMDALL: None do.
Just a friendly word that Thor may be biting off more than he can chew, and maybe toning down the swagger a little bit would be in everyone's best interests.
THOR: You dare threaten Thor with so puny—
(Darcy tasers him and he collapses.)
DARCY: What? He was freaking me out!
Nothing makes a character look humble like being the butt of the joke. The audience gets a big laugh here at the sight of big bad Thor getting taken down by little ole Darcy. It also shows us what Thor has to learn, as a handy signpost to show us where the movie is going.
LAUFEY: Your father is a murderer and a thief! And why have you come, to talk of peace? You long for battle, you crave it! You're nothing more than a boy trying to prove himself a man!
THOR: Be warned, this boy grows tired of your mockery!
Better ease up on the snarking there, Thor. In his own twisted way, Laufey's trying to teach him something—you can't just bash your way out of every problem—but Thor just can't seem to get it.
THOR: Why did you bring us back?
ODIN: Do you realize what you've done, what you've started?
THOR: I was protecting my throne!
ODIN: You cannot even defend your friends! How can you hope to protect the kingdom?
Thor's lack of humility keeps him from looking at the big picture here. Sometimes, you gotta swallow your pride in order to be the better king – and keep more people safe.
ODIN: Thor Odinson... you have betrayed the express command of your king. Through your arrogance and stupidity, you've opened these peaceful realms and innocent lives to the horror and desolation of war! You are unworthy of these realms, you're unworthy of your title, you're unworthy... of the loved ones you have betrayed! I now take from you your power! In the name of my father and his father before, I, Odin Allfather, cast you out!
Odin makes it very clear what Thor needs, and more importantly, he explains specifically why. Thor can't pretend he doesn't know why his dad is cranky.
THOR: I had it all backwards. I had it all wrong.
ERIK: It's not a bad thing finding out that you don't have all the answers. You start asking the right questions.
THOR: For the first time in my life, I have no idea what I'm supposed to do.
EIRK: Anyone who's ever going to find his way in this world has to start by admitting he doesn't know where the hell he is.
There's wisdom in humility. It makes you see the spots where you made mistakes and helps you be a better person. It took a lot for Thor to get here, but it sounds like he finally made it.
LOKI: Look at you. The mighty Thor! With all your strength! And what good does it do you now? Do you hear me, brother? There's nothing you can do!
The problem with Loki here is that he doesn't understand that Thor has truly changed. It isn't his strength that Loki should worry about: it's his willingness to cut himself off from Jane rather than let a whole planet get wiped out.
LOKI: I could have done it, Father! I could have done it! For you! For all of us!
Someone wasn't paying attention when Thor went through all that personal growth, was he? Into the cosmic drainpipe with you, Loki. You can come back when The Avengers get here…and we'll see if you learned anything about humility.
ODIN: You will be a wise king.
THOR: There will never be a wiser king than you… or a better father. I have much to learn. I know that now. Someday, perhaps, I shall make you proud.
That's what we're talking about Thor. Feels good to give credit to someone else, doesn't it?