People try to make unrealistic goals into reality all the time. People marry drug addicts or workoholics all the time, thinking that they will manage. Trying to make the impossible possible is a very human trait.
Exactly. But as we all know, that doesn't work out. Some how readers foolishly expect the life of Peter Parker to run smoothly, even though you have admitted righ there that people attempt real life marriages, knowing that a better outcome is highly unlikely. Marriage requires a couple to focus on the success of the marriage. That means equal contribution, similar goals and a very similar direction in life. Chris Rock once said you can't have a crack addict married to a born again Christian. You can't have a sunday morning where the conversation goes "Where you off to? Church?" followed by "Where you off to? Hitting the pipe?" It just doesn't work.
Marriage is a paratnership. It is the "ultimate team-up." Spider-Man may save the day, but he is an absolutely terrible husband. Sadly, childish and selfish fans fail to realize that. All of the concern is over Peter and what Peter loses. "Who will Peter confide in" or "Who will comfort Peter" or "Peter would logically progress into marriage." Nobody thinks about what Mary Jane has dealt with as a wife. Cooked meals that go uneaten because Peter is out as Spider-Man. Nights spent alone in bed because Peter is Spider-Man. The nights she doesn't get any sexual gratification either lustful or romantic, because Peter is out being Spider-Man. What about the stress of seeing here husband brought to near death all of the time. Even police officers have days off and insurance. Peter has neither in his role as Spider-Man.
New Avengers showed this brilliantly, when Peter left MJ in bed, to run off to the prison. She asked him to stay and he still left. You know why? Because his marriage to her can't compete with his duty to being a super hero. He has ethics above love. Which may be fine if you are somebody like Batman, who purposely avoids deep relationships (see: Marriage) so that he can be Batman, but it makes no sense for a guy who is supposed to be married.
How can he support Mary Jane? He can't work any regular job. Teachers have to be up early in the morning. High schools usually start their days at 7:45am, which means Peter has to be up before then. Even if they let out at 2:45pm, you still have to stay after class to help students, submit reports. You have to attend PTA meetings, meetings with other faculty members and bosses. What if a crime breaks out during class? He can't just slip away and tell his class to read over the notes. He has to be a responsible
adult and do his job. If he is trying to make a marriage work, then even if he gets off campus at lets say...3:30pm...he'd go home, have a meal with his wife...and spend the night with her. But that isn't Peter's life. Because even though Peter may want to take a break, evil never does.
Childish and selfish people want to imagine this idea where Peter can hold a real job and be married, but some how he never has to answer to the duties of marriage. People are so selfish, that MJ has become this object for Peter's benefit, rather than a character that is supposed to be treated with respect. Obviously the fans have none of that for Mary Jane. This is why I say the marriage contributed nothing. Who wants to read about an objectified woman who does Peter's laundry and has a failed career, while her husband frequently ignores her because "duty calls"? That isn't a life, love or marriage. That is a sham, disgrace, disrespectful and pitiful. It not only disrespects a formerly impressive and independent character, but it is disrespectful to the institution of marriage as a legal entity, a body of ideals and a religious perspective.
But fans will persist in reading the adventures of "The Amazing Peter Parker: Absentee Husband" because who cares about Mary Jane Watson-Parker so long as she cooks Peter's meals, washes his clothes and continues to be his eye candy. So three cheers to realism and that genuine love people swear was floating in the air. If Peter loved Mary Jane as a wife and not just as a person, then he would have retired long ago. Then again, we wouldn't be reading the adventures of The Amazing Spider-Man, if that were the case.
But don't worry folks...here's one last look at the submissive, Peter focused, self depricating woman you've all come to apprecaite over the years, doing what she's done best. Supporting Peter and playing the role of his hot, formerly independent and docile wife.
Yep...Peter loved her and fans loved that marriage. Because who doesn't dream of getting an impossibly proportioned woman who just does your laundry and worries about your problems while she used to be successful and now can barely muster any respect in the job market. I'd love to see that return...
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