When “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” (DSMM) unfolded on screen, the potent religious symbolism and imagery were immediately striking. The strategic placement and deployment of these symbols suggest a deeper meaning, one that may resonate beyond the conscious intentions of the screenwriters and director. It’s arguable that Michael Waldron, the screenwriter, in crafting this visually stunning film, inadvertently tapped into an inherent Pattern of the world, allowing it to surface in the narrative.
This concept of an emergent Pattern woven into the fabric of reality is an ancient one. It posits that events are not random occurrences but rather manifestations of deeply ingrained patterns. Echoes of this worldview can be found across diverse philosophical and religious traditions. The Daoist and Confucianist “Way,” the Roman Stoic concept of “natural law,” and the Judeo-Christian tradition’s “Wisdom” or “Divine Logos” all converge on this idea: instruction and understanding are found by observing the created world, by looking outward rather than inward.
This contrasts sharply with the dominant modern worldview, rooted in scientific inquiry and its emphasis on manipulating the material world. From this perspective, the universe lacks inherent pattern; existence is reduced to the mechanistic interactions of molecules. Navigating life becomes an exercise in imposing order onto a fundamentally chaotic reality. However, this purely materialist perspective is increasingly encountering limitations, leading to a renewed interest in the ancient wisdom it once dismissed as pre-scientific.
In fields where material explanations fall short, contemporary scientists are turning to the concept of “emergence.” Originating in quantum physics, emergence describes how matter can spontaneously arise from a quantum field. Cognitive science uses it to explain the seemingly miraculous leap from complex material systems to consciousness. It’s compelling to consider that this modern scientific “emergence” is akin to the “Pattern” or “the Way” recognized by ancient traditions.
“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” delivers the spectacle expected of a Marvel film: thrilling action, intriguing characters, and a feast for the eyes. Rather than a simple plot summary, this analysis will delve into the film’s rich symbolism. We will explore examples of how this “emergence” manifests, offering a glimpse into the enduring relevance of ancient worldviews in a modern context, as seen through the lens of “Doctor Strange And The Multiverse Of Madness”.
The film opens with America Chavez, a young woman from another universe possessing the unique ability to create portals between universes. She and Doctor Strange (later revealed to be a variant) are in search of the Book of Vishanti, a grimoire of benevolent magic. Strange seeks its spells to repair the damage inflicted upon the Multiverse by repeated, reckless uses of magic (such as time travel in “Avengers: Endgame” and the multiversal disruptions in “Spider-Man: No Way Home”). Their quest leads them to a fractured, decaying universe where reality itself is tearing apart. It is revealed that there is only one Book of Vishanti, residing in a nexus point between universes – the very center of the multiverse.
Alt text: Close-up of the Book of Vishanti in Doctor Strange 2, showcasing its radiant, golden appearance and intricate design, central to the film’s magical elements.
The Book of Vishanti rests on a pedestal at this multiversal center. Remarkably, the pedestal sits upon a raised platform adorned with brass pillars unmistakably reminiscent of Bernini’s Baldacchino in St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome. Behind it, suspended in the cosmic void, is a rose window, evocative of those found in grand cathedrals like Chartres. Adding to this overt Catholic imagery, the back of the Book of Vishanti, when lifted, reveals a stained-glass sunburst identical to the Holy Spirit emblem above Bernini’s Chair of St. Peter in the Basilica.
This visual tableau is striking in its clarity. The filmmakers have placed a representation of the Holy Trinity at the very heart of the Multiverse, the nexus where all realities converge. The altar-like pedestal symbolizes the Father, the Book of Vishanti embodies the Word, Christ, and the stained-glass sunburst represents the Holy Spirit. The scene powerfully evokes the Christian doctrine of divine revelation, where the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, through the Son, unites humanity and divinity on the sacrificial altar – symbolized by Bernini’s ornate baldacchino.
Perhaps the filmmakers were unaware of the depth of this symbolism, which would strengthen the argument for “emergence.” Emergence, in this context, is the unveiling of inherent meaning, made manifest through human action in concert with the universe itself. Because the universe is patterned, certain aspects of this pattern will emerge, almost predictably, in human creations.
One such emergent pattern is the idea that all human worship, in its essence, is ultimately directed towards a singular, ultimate divine source. This is a bold assertion, yet it finds echoes in various spiritual traditions. For instance, within certain schools of Indian Buddhism, among a pantheon of deities, one holds a special status as the creator of all. Similarly, in Mexica (Aztec) cosmology, Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, embodies the totality of existence, encompassing both earth and sky. The Judeo-Christian God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, is revealed through many names and forms, but His most profound and comprehensible name is the Tetragrammaton: “He who is,” the very essence of being itself.
In the Christian narrative, the pattern necessitates Christ’s sacrifice. This typically culminates in resurrection, a promise of renewal and a brighter future. However, “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” operates within a different contemporary ethos, one influenced by a post-Christian, deconstructionist relativism. When the Scarlet Witch obliterates the Book of Vishanti, the narrative moves on without any sense of resurrection or profound loss. This absence of redemption contributes to the film’s titular “multiverse of madness.”
Alt text: The Scarlet Witch wielding the Darkhold in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, showcasing the book’s dark, ominous aura and its corrupting influence on Wanda Maximoff.
The film presents another compelling symbolic dichotomy concerning good and evil. The Book of Vishanti, representing good magic, exists as a singular entity across the entire multiverse – it is one. Conversely, the Darkhold, the book of dark magic wielded by the Scarlet Witch for multiversal astral projection and possession, has a counterpart in every universe. In a pivotal moment, Wanda, regaining control over the Scarlet Witch persona, utilizes the Darkhold to connect with and simultaneously destroy all its iterations across the multiverse.
Two significant observations arise from this. Firstly, the emergent pattern suggests that good is singular and whole, while evil is multifaceted and legion – mirroring the biblical account of the Gerasene demoniac who declared, “we are legion.” G.K. Chesterton, in “Orthodoxy,” eloquently states, “there are an infinity of angles at which one falls, only one at which one stands.” Secondly, the simultaneous destruction of both the Book of Vishanti and the Darkhold is symbolically charged. From a Christian theological perspective, evil is not a substantive entity in itself but rather a corruption or perversion of the good, parasitic upon it for its existence. While seemingly a liberation from both good and evil, this destruction might paradoxically lead to a different kind of enslavement – to the ego. However, this is a topic that warrants further exploration beyond the scope of this analysis.
The materialistic worldview, born from the dominance of the physical sciences, has, arguably, ushered in a world that has marginalized or displaced spiritual perspectives. This is not an indictment of science; the physical sciences are inherently valuable when they operate within a balanced understanding of reality. However, when unchecked and driven by humanity’s limited and fallen reason, the focus on the material can become self-defeating, leading to a loss of the sense of good and evil, and ultimately, a world devoid of hope for transcendence or an afterlife.
The concept of emergence offers a framework for understanding our tangible reality in a richer, more nuanced way. It invites us to “read” the inherent wisdom present in the world around us. We are called to actively listen to reality, to reconnect with our physical selves and our environment, to recognize that reality itself communicates back to us. We are not isolated entities in a meaningless cosmos. Drawing from a more ancient perspective, we can understand that a divine voice, a source of wisdom, is constantly speaking through all of creation. Our task is to listen, to discern this voice, and to read the word of Wisdom inscribed within the very pattern of existence, as perhaps inadvertently illuminated by “Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness.”
