Mind
The Benevolent Assassin
Sep
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The Line Between Good and Evil
Natasha has walked this line for most of her existence. Remember, in the comics she actually started as a villain, not a hero! It’s only through camaraderie and friendship (insert “the power of friendship” meme here) that she eventually came to the side of good. Even then, she’s existed mostly in a morally gray area, willing to work in the shadows towards what she sees as a greater good.
Often government agents must walk this line in order to accomplish their goals. You can argue that it’s a morally questionable area to live, but the idea of needing morally flexible people to do things that the hard-line ethicists would not is a trope that is quite common in fiction and real life. The question is, what cost is inherent in such flexibility? What nightmares and regrets keep Natasha up at night? Is “the greater good” a cause worth committing evils for?
Nightmares and Daydreams
Natasha definitely has some regrets, even if they’re just from her time as a KGB agent. Chances are, though, with the number of times she’s worked for both sides of a conflict, she has some more recent ones, too. This important thing, however, is that she doesn’t allow this “red ink in her ledger” (to borrow a phrase from the MCU) to impair her ability to act in the present.
We all have our own sins, mistakes, and accidents in our history. Some of us have more than others, sure, but everyone who’s spent some time on this planet knows the pain of regret. It’s one of the deepest pains there is. The important thing here is to not allow these regrets and pains in your past to impede your progress into the future. Natasha may regret some things she has done as the black Widow, however she has also done a lot of good in her times with the Avengers, S.H.I.E.L.D., and other groups.
Don’t allow your nightmares to overshadow your daydreams.
Flexibility is Empowering
Listen, for some people, a world of black and white choices is the easiest way of interpreting reality. For the rest of us, however, the world is more shades of gray than anything else (no, that’s not a reference to a certain awful book series.) Natasha’s willingness to see the world as a morally flexible arena actually increases her utilities, abilities, and options.
The phrase “perfect is an enemy of good” often holds very true. By accepting that the world is a series of degrees, rather than an absolute right and wrong, you open up your chances to do good in it. If you spent all the time looking for the best or perfect solution, you will always miss chances to implement good or better solutions. It’s almost always better to rapidly implement and improve than it is to seek out the perfect solution for every problem.
Increasing your mental and moral flexibility can greatly increase your ability to help people in this world. Sure, if you can save a million people, that’s fantastic! But if you pass up on a chance to save a dozen people because you’re waiting for a better solution to save a million, are you really doing the most you can to help others?
Crowdsource Your Worldviews
As a person who’s switched nations, organizations, and causes on more than one occasion, Black Widow has definitely played both sides of a conflict before. She and Hawkeye share this similarity. She doesn’t flippantly flip positions, however. Her motivations and loyalties are well researched, well founded, and usually based upon her own beliefs, and those she associates with.
Having hardcore, staunch beliefs on things can sometimes be good, sure. Sitting on a fence perpetually, or switching sides rapidly on issues or beliefs can lead to a weak character and perception of self. However, it can be equally or more harmful to never be willing to change your views on things. Black Widow has a strong moral code, but she also looks to Steve Rogers, Clint Barton, and others to temper her worldview, influence her decisions, and help her decide what paths to choose.
Allowing those you trust to influence and alter who you are as a person is something that we do innately as humans anyway. You tend to carry bits and pieces of others with you. But consciously making an effort to understand, interact with, and learn from those around you is an even better step to take in this direction.
Black Widow definitely carries some baggage, she’s definitely done some questionable things, and she definitely has darkness in her past. I don’t think anyone can argue, however, that she hasn’t had a positive influence on the Marvel universe and its inhabitants. Remember, you can have a positive effect on others as well, regardless of your history, regrets, or mis-steps. Don’t allow your past to limit your future. Don’t allow perfect to become the enemy of good. Don’t allow your own limited worldviews to pen you in, and keep you from expanding your own positive influence.
That’s it for our time with Black Widow! I’ll see you again tomorrow, with a new character!
Live boldly, change the world, and continue to be awesome!
