Spider-Man: No Way Home - Characters & Cast

Initially, his motivation is to restore the lives of his friends, which were ruined by his identity reveal. After May's death, his motivation shifts to honoring her belief in second chances by curing the villains, and ultimately, to protect the multiverse by making the ultimate sacrifice.

Peter begins the film as a teenager desperately trying to hold onto his personal life and fix a mistake he made. His arc is a painful journey from youthful irresponsibility to mature self-sacrifice. He learns that heroism isn't about having it all, but about giving it all up. He is forced to confront true loss with the death of Aunt May, which solidifies his moral compass. He ends the film completely alone, having erased his existence from everyone he loves to save the world, fully embracing the responsibility of being Spider-Man.

Her primary motivation is to protect and support Peter. She consistently puts his well-being first and actively participates in trying to solve the multiversal crisis, demonstrating immense loyalty and courage despite not having any powers.

MJ's arc is one of unwavering support and bravery. She starts as Peter's girlfriend, thrust into the chaos of his superhero life. Throughout the film, she remains his emotional anchor, providing steadfast support and courage, even in the face of mortal danger. Her arc culminates in her tragic forgetting of Peter, a fate she unknowingly accepts. She ends the film as a stranger to the person she loves, poised to live the normal life Peter wanted for her.

His motivation is to protect the stability of spacetime and reality. He acts from a place of cosmic responsibility, viewing the deaths of a few villains as a necessary sacrifice to prevent a multiversal collapse, putting him in direct opposition to Peter's more compassionate approach.

Strange acts as a reluctant mentor figure whose pragmatism clashes with Peter's idealism. His arc involves recognizing the consequences of his own arrogance and underestimating Peter. Initially, he sees the problem in purely logical terms—send the villains back to their fate to protect reality. He is forced into a secondary role when Peter traps him, and upon his return, he witnesses the catastrophic results of Peter's moral stance. He ultimately respects Peter's final, sacrificial decision, casting the spell that erases him from existence.

Norman's motivation is to be free of the Goblin persona that controls him. Conversely, the Green Goblin is motivated by a nihilistic desire to prove that power corrupts and that Peter's idealism is a weakness. He seeks to break Peter by taking away what he loves most.

Norman Osborn's arc is a tragic battle for control against his sinister alter ego, the Green Goblin. He appears in the MCU confused and seeking help, showing a desire for redemption. However, the Goblin persona, representing his darkest impulses, consistently re-emerges to cause chaos and pain, culminating in the murder of Aunt May. His arc concludes when Peter, with the help of the other Spider-Men, finally cures him, freeing the remorseful and broken Norman from the Goblin's influence.