Behind the line
What it means
Our interpretation.
The film opens by asking who Peter is and closes by answering: a lonely teenager who has chosen the mask over the girl. The answer is delivered as a vow rather than a boast, with the gift and the curse in the sentence before it. Fans quote it as the line that turns an origin story into an identity, and it is a standard way to end a self-introduction with a flourish.
Context reviewed
In context
Spoilers for Spider-ManShow the scene
Spider-Man (2002, directed by Sam Raimi, released in the US on 3 May 2002) ends after Norman Osborn's funeral. Harry Osborn vows revenge on Spider-Man, wrongly blaming him for his father's death, and Mary Jane then tells Peter she loves him. Peter, believing he must protect her from his enemies, says they can only be friends and walks away. As he leaves, he recalls Uncle Ben's words about power and responsibility and closes the film in voiceover with the line, then swings off through New York. The film's first line, also Peter's, opens with a different 'Who am I?' that asks whether the viewer really wants to know.
Sources (2)
- Spider-Man (2002) movie script transcript, Springfield! Springfield!opening line and closing lines of the transcriptReference checked
- Wikipedia, Spider-Man (2002 film)Plot, final paragraph; release sectionReference checked
Context reviewed
