Hawkeye: Aiming for identity Article by Stafffighter, 11:39 PM 03rd May Disclaimer: The following opinions are those of the author and do not reflect the views of the other endless crew staff. In fact they all disagree with me and persecute me regularly. Quick overview: Clint Barton was a young orphan who fulfilled the childhood dream of running away to join the circus. For him neither the running nor childhood would ever seem to end. Clint, along with his brother, went from life at home to children’s home to carnival at a very young age. While the death of parents is of course traumatic for any young child it is the course of events after this that shaped the boys. Growing up without proper parental figures is known to leave an individual lacking a sense of identity. Add to this the highly transitory existence of carnival life and one can only go to extremes. Of course there are still choices to make as to which extremes. Traveling troupes, through design or shunning, tend to look at themselves are communities and even families unto themselves. This clearly provided the modicum of structure the boys needed as each grew to be strong young men. Each boy, Clint and his brother Bernard were taken under the wings of the descriptively named Swordsman and Trickshot. What happens next is an interesting point. When the mentors, one and then the other, failed Clint by turning out to be villains Bernard chose a life as a common thug. These two individuals with the same family and same upbringing up to that point made radically different choices. While free will cannot be denied it is likely that Bernard, being younger, was more easily led. This moment cemented the path Clint would take as he could now no longer trust elders or genetics. The title lone gunman would fit him if he didn’t use a bow and arrow. The bow and arrow were the preferred weapons if his fallen idol Trickshot so why would Clint take up this weapon? The differing schools would say either to spite Trickshot or prove he was better at the same game or that it was simply what he was best at in a field he requires nothing but the best of himself in. As Clint, now adventuring by the name Hawkeye is of a hot blooded nature the first idea cannot be ruled out. However given that he would come to fight along giants and gods the latter takes precedence. As a member of the Avengers Hawkeye fought along the mightiest heroes the earth has ever known. To serve in such an esteemed rank would seem satisfactory for most people but in some there is an urge for more. This can come from simple ambition, thirst for power or the more sympathetic feeling of lacking. Given the particulars of his troubled youth, namely the betrayals, it becomes clear what drives him. He fought on par with neigh unimaginable powers using gear and skill because he wouldn’t let himself be less. It is the nature of those with inferiority complexes to demand nothing short of perfection from themselves. Plus he did a stint using borrowed gear to grow into a giant, which is as clear a case of overcompensation as one could ask for. As was said before serving as such would be enough for almost anyone, yet Clint felt the need to lead. It may seem unusual for one of such an isolated nature to desire this but it fits with his failings perfectly. Those who lack identity in youth seek to make them for themselves as adults. Leading heroes is even bigger than being a hero and as we have seen Clint feels the need to be big. What makes this even clearer is his unflinching style of leadership. Whomever Clint leads be it the earths mightiest, willingly reformed villains or plain jokes his style does not change. It is classing inferiority complex behavior to “muscle through” objectives to prove your strength rather than depend on methodology. Any good leader knows you have to lead for the people you’re leading, thus making personal charisma secondary. Clint might have this ability if he was more willing to see people. This does not only affect his professional life. Clint was betrayed early in life, making it understandable that he would keep people at arms length, but he was also left parentless even earlier, leaving him feeling abandoned and in need. People with lack of parental affection from either lack of parents or lack of good ones often feel the need for love. The failing to this is they have no realistic context of what love is. Clint displays this to heroic levels rushing headfirst into relationship after relationship with any female teammate who’ll have him, including a brief marriage. Add to this unstable base the self absorption of someone who needs to feel alone and you have disaster waiting to happen. This is the ultimate tragedy of Hawkeye, he could have everything he wanted if he had the patience with people that he does to fire a bow. Disagree? Bring it up on the forum. Suggestions? E mail me. But don’t write an essay. If I use who you suggest I’ll only say what I have to say Back to Rants