“Reputation is what men and women think of us; character is what God and angels know of us.” That was a quote from Thomas Paine, and it seems strangely relevant to the character of Peter Quill, who wishes to be known as a legendary outlaw, but his character is eventually revealed to be far more than that.
Part of what he believes will add to the legend is being known by a special name, Star-Lord. You could argue that wanting to be known as a legendary outlaw is actually a bad thing. After all, this is a reputation that many criminals strive for. What makes this want so charming is the way Peter behaves. He acts so goofy, he is almost like a child pretending to be an outlaw.
Of course, you have seen the movie, so you know what eventually happens. Stop reading right now if you have not, as spoilers will follow.
Peter has a change of heart, and he no longer seems to care about becoming a legendary outlaw. Instead, he becomes determined to save the planet of Xander, despite the fact that he is not emotionally invested in that planet. He could have decided to do what Rocket suggested, and attempt to flee to the other side of the galaxy in order to escape Ronan’s murderous wrath. Instead, he chooses the far more noble option, and convinces his allies to help him defeat Ronan and save Xander.
Of course, this is very heroic, but the apex of Peter’s heroism comes after Ronan’s ship has already crashed onto the surface of Xander. Ronan is moments away from destroying the planet, but Peter risks his life to distract him.
Of course, Peter is going to die anyway in a few moments, so you could argue that he is not risking much. However, the most important thing about this scene is not the fact that Peter distracts him, but the way that Peter distracts him: he dances.
Dancing is definitely an important theme in this movie, as it is one of the ways that Gamora and Peter bond, and I do not need to tell you about the greatest scene in the movie featuring a baby Groot. However, I believe that Star-Lord’s dancing has a lot more significance than it first appears.
Earlier in the movie, Peter tells Gamora about Kevin Bacon, and describes him as a great hero. Of course, Peter is fabricating the truth just a bit, but that does not matter. He is establishing the character of Kevin Bacon as a legend in the eyes of Gamora, with his dancing being the way he is heroic, and legends are not necessarily true.
Later in the movie, after Gamora, Star-Lord, and Drax have done something heroic, Gamora says that they are, “Just like Kevin Bacon!” This line was definitely meant to be humorous, but it is also a set-up for Peter’s heroic act in the end.
You see, when Peter dances in front of Ronan at the end, he is not just distracting him in order to save Xander. He is also embracing the legacy of Kevin Bacon, and becoming the legendary hero that he told Gamora about. He is living up to his own example.
Peter goes a step further in accepting his status as a legendary hero after he has grabbed the Infinity stone. He holds the stone, and holds hands with Gamora, Drax and Rocket. He tells Ronan that they are the Guardians of the Galaxy, which initially appears to just be a way for Peter to throw Ronan’s taunt back in his face. However, it is actually far more than that, as Star-Lord and his other allies have already entered into legendary status themselves by picking up an Infinity stone to save a planet. The name, “Guardians of the Galaxy,” merely adds to that legend.
Do you agree with my assessment? Do you think that Peter should have stayed an outlaw? Do you think that Kevin Bacon is actually a villain thanks to “X-Men: First Class?” Let me know in the comments!