Wonder Woman Is the Hero We Need

*SPOILERS FOLLOW, OBVIOUSLY.

Nearly every comic book movie these days has some sort of ancient/cosmic being trying to destroy the world/universe. Wonder Woman is no different, as it presents the god of war, Ares, as its villain who wants to end humanity. There’s a simple reason for this: these movies represent our real-life, current sociopolitical climate. There is a constant fear of the world ending due to forces seemingly completely out of our control.

The heroes in these movies save the day because they are the only ones who can do it, or out of some duty or moral obligation. Wonder Woman does not merely save the world because of capability, obligation, or even destiny. Wonder Woman saves the world out of love and compassion. By doing so, Wonder Woman shows she is the hero we need. Not the one we deserve, not the one we want, but the one we so desperately need.

Throughout the entirety of Wonder Woman, Diana aka Wonder Woman’s love and compassion is prevalent. Diana takes it upon herself, not knowing it is what she’s made for, to venture into the world and kill Ares. Diana does this so that the pain and suffering Ares is causing can end. Diana cares about this group of living beings that she does not know anything about besides the books she’s read, the few moments she has spent with Steve Trevor, and the brief encounter with the German soldiers.

Diana directly challenges all the British generals and higher ranking officers when they plan on doing nothing to stop the intending attack. Diana is idealistic, but she represents the ideals that we need. To Diana, sacrificing lives in order to achieve peace isn’t peace at all.

When Diana sees the wounded and dying soldiers, we see her empathy shining through. Diana wants to help the wounded heal, and even help horses out of a puddle so they do not get beaten. Diana cares about all of these beings so much.

When Diana finally gets on the battlefield, she cannot let a village of people suffer. Diana storms ahead and leads the charge into taking back Veld from the Germans.

The point that shines through is not that Diana knows she is capable of doing all of this. The point is the reason she does all of this is because she cares. She cares so much about the world and everything in it that she cannot let anyone suffer. Yes, she fights the Germans because they are the enemy. But she is fighting for a greater cause, so that there can be peace for everyone.

We see Diana’s desire for peace as she is fighting Ares. Instead of killing Doctor Poison and in doing so avenging Steve’s sacrifice, Diana recognizes that humans can be better than the horrible crimes and atrocities they commit. It’s the classic “hero who wants to give the world a chance” vs. the “villain who wants to get rid of everyone and everything because that will mean the end of suffering.”

Diana kills Ares instead of joining him because she believes humans can be better. Her love and compassion is so great that Diana knows that giving humans a chance to be better is the right option. Death is not peace. The answer to end all suffering is not death. Diana gives the world a chance to live life.

This is why Diana is the hero we need. She represents the undying necessity for love and compassion that the world needs today. In fact, by the film taking place during WWI, we see that this need has existed for at least 100 years (but we know it has existed since the beginning of humankind). Amidst global catastrophe, the only quality that can redeem us and save us is love. That’s what Wonder Woman represents.

While current day America is doing their utmost best to turn into Nazi Germany, it’s incredibly important that Wonder Woman is not an American hero. No offense to American superheroes, but Wonder Woman is a global hero. Wonder Woman is here to save the entire world, and for once, it shows that the world does not need America/Americans to save them.

Yes, I know Steve Trevor sacrificed himself to blow up all those bombs, and that he is American. But when Wonder Woman killed Ares, the entire war stopped. She actually made peace in the world. I don’t think any other superhero can say that. Certainly, no other superhero can say that they saved the world out of love. Thank you, Wonder Woman. #LoveWins