In most forms of media regarding heroes and villains, origin stories of characters help to provide context and background. For people either watching or reading about the character, the origin story gives a glimpse into the reasons for the mission and actions that a character undertakes. In regards to the former X-Man and member of the Brotherhood of Mutants Magneto, the chilling images from the opening scene of the first X-Men movie reveals the heartbreaking events that created the anti hero. Without this context, the audience could not formulate a complete rendering of Magneto the individual. As a result of his origin story, Magneto becomes a more well-rounded character, enabling individuals to create a sense of understanding for the often misunderstood mutant.
At first glance, Magneto seems to be the one of the main antagonists of the X-Men storyline. However, as the first scene of the 2000 film X-Men shows, Magneto is not only a mutant, but also an individual of Jewish descent, suffering through the events of the Holocaust during the Second World War. This pivotal scene depicts the selection process at Auschwitz and continues to remain as an enduring image to the opening of the X-Men saga. A young Magneto discovers his mutant powers as a result of the traumatic moment involving the separation from his parents (X-Men). Certainly, such an experience would have a lasting effect on the psyche of the young boy, breeding traits of resiliency, self-reliance, and a desire for safety and control within himself.
For the second time in his life, due to his differences, Magneto has been designated as an outsider, someone who is feared, suppressed, and exploited. Sadly, Magneto lost his family in the events of the Holocaust and witnessed firsthand the lengths that humans will go in order to control perceived enemies. As Magneto himself states in the film X-Men, “Mankind has always feared what it doesn’t understand” (X-Men). Having seen the destruction and sorrow which mankind can enforce on minorities without power, one can empathize with Magneto’s approach to defend and protect his mutant family by any means necessary.
This context helps one to comprehend his actions in the movies X-Men and X2 when he attempts to thwart the Mutant Registration Act as well as join the X-Men in defeating Stryker (X-Men, X2). Interestingly, Magneto does not even view himself as the “bad guy” in the story. In X2, Magneto questions, “Is that what they call me?” when told by fellow mutant Pyro that he is referred to as such (X2). Despite the fact that some would consider him to be a monster, Magneto purely does whatever he feels is needed in order to save his mutant family from the fearful humans. Although one does not have to agree with his actions or methods, Magneto’s backstory aids in humanizing his character and establishing an explanation for his ruthless and often uncanny approach to mutant-human relations.
Sources:
X-Men. Dir. Bryan Singer. By David Hayter. 20th Century Fox, 2000. DVD.
X2. Dir. Bryan Singer. By Bryan Singer. 20th Century Fox, 2003. DVD.
I pledge that I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this assignment. Anthony King
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