Why DID the Goblin want Spider-Man as his partner in crime?
And no, I'm not going into the obvious discussion of "why." I did pick up on the innuendo, but I really just want to express my opinion as to why the Goblin made that offer on the rooftops of New York.
After the Goblin was "born," he felt it necessary to eliminate his rivals: Stromm, Slocum and Quest Aerodynamics. He wasn't really your typical take-over-the-world villain. He just turned on those who had hurt him (figuratively), and thinks he's justified in hurting (physically) them back. Eye for an eye, I suppose. Once his enemies were disposed of, the Goblin receded from Norman Osborn's psyche -- not completely, but just remained dormant for a while. He probably knew what was going on in the world, just as Norman did.
But on that eventful day of the board meeting, when the members of the board announced the sale of OsCorp Industries to Quest and fired Norman from the company HE founded, the Goblin suddenly emerged again.... vowing revenge.
"Out, am I?"
He made good on that vow at the World Unity Festival, killing all the board members with a irradiation bomb. But something he didn't expect practically fell into his lap (figuratively speaking.... you Spidey/Gobby shippers get your minds out of the gutter, lol).
Along came a spider (no..not the movie with Morgan Freeman). He seemed to be a freak of nature in the Goblin's eyes, this man who could cling to walls, produce webbing, and possessed the agility and strength of an arachnid. Of course, the Goblin must have known about this do-gooder from the papers for a while now, and he was probably watching... and waiting. Now that he finally faced the insect, he had a newfound respect for his enemy....in fact, he found himself admiring the hero. Not for his deeds, but admiring the potential he had. Spider-Man could be a force to be reckoned with, if properly motivated. The pieces suddenly fell into place. Here was an opportunity to offer this boy power, and the Goblin was going to be the one to offer it to him. Spider-Man would be a worthy partner-in-crime for the emerald monster.
Onto the infamous rooftop scene. ^_^
The Goblin knew that Spider-Man would never willingly listen to him, so he planned to make the spider listen whether he liked it or not. He told Spider-Man that they were the same -- two men in extraordinary circumstances, both granted with amazing abilities. The Goblin tried to explain to Spider-Man that the world wasn't black and white. No one was inherently innocent (or evil for that matter) and there was a lot of grey area. Someone with such power as they possessed should use their abilities to further themselves, instead of waste their time with people who obviously are afraid/jealous of them.
"In spite of everything you've done for them, eventually they will hate you. Why bother?"
I don't know about you... but somehow I thought the Goblin actually felt....pity for this poor sap. I wouldn't say that the Goblin is capable of feeling ANY pity, but I think he could see the reasoning behind Spider-Man's acts of goodness. But he couldn't understand why Spider-Man bothered saving people who weren't grateful for his effort. Judging from the reception that Jameson gave Spider-Man, the Goblin concluded that the relationship between the Bugle and the spidery hero wasn't very pleasant. The Goblin played on that fact, using the scathing headlines pulled from the Daily Bugle to fuel his propoganda machine.
Naturally, he had to make an ultimatum for the hero should he refuse. Playing on Spider-Man's weakness for protecting the innocent, the Goblin vowed that the "war" between them would rage on and on, until countless lives were lost and they were both dead.....unless Spider-Man agreed to join the fiend in his cause.
His plan worked, for a while anyway. He had planted the seed of doubt into Peter's mind. Now he just had to wait....
But the Goblin grew tired of waiting, so he schemed to lure the hero out by causing an apartment fire. Once Spider-Man arrived, he made one last offer for greatness (as he put it, a "generous proposal"). But the hero refused yet again. The Goblin was livid.
Gobby wasn't too thrilled when Spider-Man turned him down. Yes, I suppose in a way... he felt like the spurned lover, but I think he was angry basically because he thought Spider-Man understood him. He thought of Spider-Man as a kindred spirit and he thought he had found someone worthy to share his glory with.
Now he was alone, but that suited him fine. No one refused the Green Goblin and lived to tell the tale.... Eventually he discovered Spider-Man's identity, and still wounded by the hero's rejection, he lashed out on Peter's loved ones: Aunt May and Mary Jane.
"Instruct him in the matters of loss and pain. Make him wish he were dead. ......and then grant his wish."
He wanted Spider-Man to know exactly what he refused, and he wanted to make the spider pay dearly.... Unfortunately the tables were turned at the last second, and the Goblin found himself at the end of his own glider.
Eh, I know this essay was short....*looks back* Okay, I guess it's longer than I thought. LOL! I think I covered what I wanted to say. ^_^
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