Introduction
Natasha Romanoff was put into the Black Widow Project when she was a young girl. From there she became the villainous Black Widow, who worked to destroy Iron Man. Today, Natasha Romanoff is the hero Black Widow. A regular agent of S.H.I.E.L.D and member of the Avengers, the Black Widow spends her days spying and gathering intel, as well as helping save the day around the world.
Unlike her superhero counterparts, Black Widow has no super human abilities, beyond a heightened ability to heal when injured. Without superstrength, the ability to fly, or a mechanical suit to protect her, Black Widow has to use her skills, knowledge and intelligence to get her through troubles. For example, in the first Avengers film, it is Black Widow who realizes that in order to end the war they would need to close the portal. Without the ability to fly, she hitches a ride on a Chitauri craft. This creativity and quick thinking that makes her an effective and efficient spy and hero.
Government Control vs. Personal Freedom
If there is one simple way to explain how Natasha Romanoff understands the world it would be the following conversation in “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”:
Natasha Romanoff: The truth is a matter of circumstances, it’s not all things to all people all the time. And neither am I.
Steve Rogers: That’s a tough way to live.
Natasha Romanoff: It’s a good way not to die, though.
Steve Rogers: You know, it’s kind of hard to trust someone when you don’t know who that someone really is.
A Russian spy from the Soviet Union turned American secret spy gathering information on the latest super human. The last thing that Black Widow would do is fully trust anyone, especially a government. She has seen what governments can do, and she knows those who work outside of the law. This has made her fully aware of what secrets are and can do.
This has created a figurative wall between her and the government, even when she is working for them. Then if you consider the fact that she could be anyone at anytime shows how much she appreciates choice as well as privacy, which the government would take from her if they really had control. Ultimately, Black Widow would choose personal freedom over government control.
Social Issues
Russian girls, like Natasha Romanoff, were being placed in the Black Widow Project in order to make the perfect spies. It is never fully explored exactly what happened during the Black Widow Project, but considering Natasha Romanoff abandoned Russia a long time ago it would be easy to think that she does not believe or trust Russia.
Pussy Riot is a women led punk rock group in Russia demonstrating against political corruption and unjust treatment in Russia. Several years ago three members of Pussy Riot demonstrated at the largest orthodoxy church in Moscow, and were arrested. Two of those members were sentenced to two years in prison for hooliganism. Since their release those Pussy Riot members have traveled much of the Western world talking politics, creating activist music and giving Pussy Riot a more public name. Most recently they joined an anti-censorship campaign with Amnesty International.
Pussy Riot and similar activists in Russia, like LGBTQ activist, want to change Russia and Russian culture to be more inclusive and less corrupt. These are sentiments would inspire Black Widow, and coincide with the terrors of her Russian past. As such Black Widow’ support of personal freedom would pair well with Pussy Riot’s arguments.
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