When Harry Osborn arrives at Midtown High School in his father’s Bentley, he asks Norman Osborn, "Dad, could you drive around the corner?" Trying to convince his father to not let him off in front of the school, Harry pleads, "These are public school kids. I’m not showing up to school in a Bentley." His father responds, "What? You want me to trade in the car for a Jetta just because you flunked out of every private school I sent you to?" Hurt, Harry replies, "They weren’t for me. I told you that. It wasn’t for me." His father finally tells him, "Don’t ever be ashamed of who you are."
Although Norman loves his son, Harry continues to be a disappointment to him. Harry did try his best to be what Norman wanted him to be – smart, successful, scientific, and full of drive. Unfortunately, Norman did not think that his son was any of these. When Harry finally graduated from school, Norman’s only comment was, "You made it. It’s not the first time I’ve been proven wrong."
After meeting Harry’s best friend, Peter Parker, Norman fawned over him at the expense of his own son. To Norman, Peter was all the things Harry was not. Harry endured all this along with his father’s indifference. After Harry finally thought he was secure in his father’s love, his father tragically dies.
Best Friends: Peter and Harry
Harry’s life resembles one famous man’s–former Prime Minister Winston Churchill of Great Britain. This short, dowdy, red-haired man with a stutter led his country in the darkest days of World War Two, and inspired a world with his famous speeches. Churchill is considered to be one of the greatest leaders of the 20th Century, and one of the most democratic statesmen ever.
Like Harry, Winston Churchill was a disappointment to his father, Lord Randolph, a brilliant Conservative leader who had been the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Like Norman, Lord Randolph was distant and rather forbidding. Writing to Winston’s grandmother, he wrote that his son lacked "cleverness, knowledge and any capacity for settled work. He has a great talent for show-off, exaggeration and make-believe." Always a problem in school, Churchill desperately wanted to prove to his father that he was not a prodigal son.
Young Winston graduated in the bottom of his class from Harrow. Like Harry, he was kicked out of several prestigious schools for various infractions. He failed at Latin and mathematics, subjects considered important for the ‘educated British man.’ Churchill excelled at English, a ‘lower class’ subject. Winston stuttered and lisped while his eloquent father Lord Randolph could hold the British Parliament in thrall.
Young Mr. Osborn and Mr. Churchill
After graduating from school, Churchill entered the British Army. While serving in the army, he read as many books as he could in his spare time. Churchill also kept journals in which he wrote about his experiences and thoughts. Later when he entered Parliament, he sought out a teacher to help him with his lisping and stuttering. The result was a self-educated man who used his stutter to make memorable speeches. By the time he left Parliament in 1964, his political career had spanned nearly 65 years.
Churchill went into politics to restore his father’s honor in Parliament. Lord Randolph had resigned from office under a cloud, and shortly later died. Thirty years after his father’s death, Churchill wrote, "All my dreams of comradeship were ended. There remained for me only to pursue his aims and vindicate his memory."
So is Harry Osborn a future Churchill? He lost his father while a young man reaching manhood, like Churchill. Like Churchill’s father, Harry’s father died under tragic circumstances. How will Harry vindicate his father’s memory? Will he be able to let go of his desire for vengeance against Spider-Man?
One indication of what Harry could do next is another characteristic that he shares with Churchill - a loving heart. Harry is generous and compassionate with his friends. His best friend, Peter, is poor and orphaned, while Harry is rich and living with his father. But the two formed a fast friendship that survived their sharing the same girl and losing their loved ones.
Harry has the seeds of greatness in himself, if he can find his way. However, he still holds his father up as a standard of achievement. He screams at Mary Jane Watson, his girl friend, "If I’m lucky, I’ve got the brains and guts to become of half of what he is, so you keep your goddam mouth shut about things you don’t understand."
Instead being of a pale shadow of his father, Harry can blossom into something far finer and nobler. He simply needs to remember his father’s words, "Don’t ever be ashamed of who you are." Starting with that, Harry can go further than he or his father could ever imagine. Perhaps he will not be a future Prime Minster but he could be destined for greatness. He just does not know it yet.
Peter Parker has become Spider-Man through a spider bite. Norman Osborn has become the Green Goblin through a failed experiment. But Harry can equal them all with his talents. All he needs is the courage and moral grounding to achieve greatness in his own way.
Sir Winston Churchill
Pictures of "Harry Osborn" and "Peter Parker" copyrighted by "Spider-Man", the Movie, Sony Pictures. Marvel Comics own the copyrights to the characters of Norman Osborn, the Green Goblin, Harry Osborn, Spider-Man, and Peter Parker.
Churchill photographs are courtesy of the Home page of the Winston Churchill Society. (The right mouse click has been disabled to prevent copying of these photos.)
Va. Carper
July 2, 2004