Why did Dormammu keep his promise?
up vote
42
down vote
favorite
Dr. Strange made a deal with Dormammu: he would break the time loop he trapped himself and Dormammu in, in exchange Dormammu has to leave earth alone and take his zealots with him.
Why would a powerful (and evil) being like Dormammu honor his part of the deal? What is there to stop him from just going "Psych! I'm taking earth now, nomnomnom" after Dr. Strange broke the time loop? Seems awfully nice for such a twisted creature.
plot-explanation marvel-cinematic-universe doctor-strange
edited yesterday
A J♦
39.1k15207221
asked yesterday
noClue
36537
add a comment |
up vote
42
down vote
favorite
Dr. Strange made a deal with Dormammu: he would break the time loop he trapped himself and Dormammu in, in exchange Dormammu has to leave earth alone and take his zealots with him.
Why would a powerful (and evil) being like Dormammu honor his part of the deal? What is there to stop him from just going "Psych! I'm taking earth now, nomnomnom" after Dr. Strange broke the time loop? Seems awfully nice for such a twisted creature.
plot-explanation marvel-cinematic-universe doctor-strange
edited yesterday
A J♦
39.1k15207221
asked yesterday
noClue
36537
31
His alignment is Lawful Evil :P
– BlueMoon93
yesterday
13
He's only "evil" by our standards. Like Galactus, it's just their nature of being that means we'd rather they stop consuming everything thankyou very much.
– OrangeDog
yesterday
@OrangeDog Dormammu is far closer to our definition of evil than Galactus. He doesn't have to be destructive to continue existing.
– Nacht
yesterday
Not much evidence for it, but I really like the fan theory that because Strange was getting better and better (after having thousands of deaths), Dormammu took the deal before Strange became too strong.
– Lynx Brutal
13 hours ago
add a comment |
up vote
42
down vote
favorite
up vote
42
down vote
favorite
Dr. Strange made a deal with Dormammu: he would break the time loop he trapped himself and Dormammu in, in exchange Dormammu has to leave earth alone and take his zealots with him.
Why would a powerful (and evil) being like Dormammu honor his part of the deal? What is there to stop him from just going "Psych! I'm taking earth now, nomnomnom" after Dr. Strange broke the time loop? Seems awfully nice for such a twisted creature.
plot-explanation marvel-cinematic-universe doctor-strange
edited yesterday
A J♦
39.1k15207221
asked yesterday
noClue
36537
Dr. Strange made a deal with Dormammu: he would break the time loop he trapped himself and Dormammu in, in exchange Dormammu has to leave earth alone and take his zealots with him.
Why would a powerful (and evil) being like Dormammu honor his part of the deal? What is there to stop him from just going "Psych! I'm taking earth now, nomnomnom" after Dr. Strange broke the time loop? Seems awfully nice for such a twisted creature.
plot-explanation marvel-cinematic-universe doctor-strange
plot-explanation marvel-cinematic-universe doctor-strange
edited yesterday
A J♦
39.1k15207221
asked yesterday
noClue
36537
edited yesterday
A J♦
39.1k15207221
asked yesterday
noClue
36537
edited yesterday
A J♦
39.1k15207221
edited yesterday
A J♦
39.1k15207221
edited yesterday
A J♦
39.1k15207221
39.1k15207221
asked yesterday
noClue
36537
asked yesterday
noClue
36537
asked yesterday
noClue
36537
36537
31
His alignment is Lawful Evil :P
– BlueMoon93
yesterday
13
He's only "evil" by our standards. Like Galactus, it's just their nature of being that means we'd rather they stop consuming everything thankyou very much.
– OrangeDog
yesterday
@OrangeDog Dormammu is far closer to our definition of evil than Galactus. He doesn't have to be destructive to continue existing.
– Nacht
yesterday
Not much evidence for it, but I really like the fan theory that because Strange was getting better and better (after having thousands of deaths), Dormammu took the deal before Strange became too strong.
– Lynx Brutal
13 hours ago
add a comment |
31
His alignment is Lawful Evil :P
– BlueMoon93
yesterday
13
He's only "evil" by our standards. Like Galactus, it's just their nature of being that means we'd rather they stop consuming everything thankyou very much.
– OrangeDog
yesterday
@OrangeDog Dormammu is far closer to our definition of evil than Galactus. He doesn't have to be destructive to continue existing.
– Nacht
yesterday
Not much evidence for it, but I really like the fan theory that because Strange was getting better and better (after having thousands of deaths), Dormammu took the deal before Strange became too strong.
– Lynx Brutal
13 hours ago
31
31
His alignment is Lawful Evil :P
– BlueMoon93
yesterday
His alignment is Lawful Evil :P
– BlueMoon93
yesterday
13
13
He's only "evil" by our standards. Like Galactus, it's just their nature of being that means we'd rather they stop consuming everything thankyou very much.
– OrangeDog
yesterday
He's only "evil" by our standards. Like Galactus, it's just their nature of being that means we'd rather they stop consuming everything thankyou very much.
– OrangeDog
yesterday
@OrangeDog Dormammu is far closer to our definition of evil than Galactus. He doesn't have to be destructive to continue existing.
– Nacht
yesterday
@OrangeDog Dormammu is far closer to our definition of evil than Galactus. He doesn't have to be destructive to continue existing.
– Nacht
yesterday
Not much evidence for it, but I really like the fan theory that because Strange was getting better and better (after having thousands of deaths), Dormammu took the deal before Strange became too strong.
– Lynx Brutal
13 hours ago
Not much evidence for it, but I really like the fan theory that because Strange was getting better and better (after having thousands of deaths), Dormammu took the deal before Strange became too strong.
– Lynx Brutal
13 hours ago
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
39
down vote
Dormammu got tired of that time loop Dr. Strange created.
If he didn't keep his promise, it's a matter of time Dr. Strange will again bind him in the loop. Remember Strange still has the Time Stone. Dormammu was exhausted so he couldn't risk to get in the time loop again.
In the time loop, he wasn't able to figure it out how he kept coming back after dying so many times. So, it wasn't wise to break the promise until he finds a way to break Strange's magic.
answered yesterday
A J♦
39.1k15207221
5
+1 for pointing out the persistent threat of the time loop if Dormammu went back on his word. The time loop may have held a certain terror for the 'timeless' Dormammu.
– EleventhDoctor
yesterday
Actually, based on the events depicted in Avengers: Infinity War, Strange no longer possesses the Time Stone.
– stancial
yesterday
24
@stancial: Don't go spreading that around! You want Dormammu to come back?
– Michael Seifert
yesterday
3
@stancial I know. But we're talking about Doctor Strange at the moment.
– A J♦
yesterday
2
@stancial I doubt Dormammu would want to fight Thanos either. Given that Thanos only wanted to kill off half of the life in the universe, not all of it, he'd certainly be opposed to Dormammu.
– JAB
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
34
down vote
Because he is man of his word and have moral code like his comics counterpart Strange Tales No. 127:
STRANGE: He is evil, true…but only by our human standards. According to his own lights, he has his own moral code!
Taken from similar question from sister-site.
answered yesterday
Ankit Sharma
68.3k58353562
17
We need a r/dormammudidnothingwrong now. All there MCU villains are so good morally
– KharoBangdo
yesterday
13
Why does Dormammu look like a half open flaming green banana?
– noClue
yesterday
14
@noClue Same reason Dr. Strange has a cone of shame instead of a collar.
– Nic Hartley
yesterday
4
@KharoBangdo: This was one of the distinctions of the Marvel Villains of the Silver Age over the DC Rogues Gallery. Their "villainy" was more of a shade of grey than Black and White. Consider Magneto vs. Xavior, where the latter believes that humanity will overcome it's mutant prejudices and the former was a victim of another bigotry, one of the worst examples, and has no intention about being twice victimized.
– hszmv
yesterday
@AnkitSharma except that he's only just barely by the slimmest meaning a man of his word, since he still plans revenge on Strange through Mordo and is very active in pushing Mordo along. I've always put this one down to plot convenience rather than character-revealing. You could also see it as an ego thing - he doesn't want to look weak by going back on his own word.
– Nacht
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
9
down vote
Creatures that exist outside of time "proceed" differently than we do
Dormammu exists outside of time, so his way of thinking and making decisions must be different from ours. The closest parallels in our world (so to speak) are angels and fallen angels, and you might not be surprised to know that some major theologians have weighed in on this topic. While we mortals have a discursive rationality, proceeding from one thought to the next in succession, angels are said to have an intuitive rationality, perceiving and deciding everything they're ever going to perceive and decide simultaneously, once and for all. Or at least, because they are outside of time, so it would appear to those of us bound by time. Incidentally this is why we know the devils won't change their minds about their rebellion against Heaven... they don't reason step-by-step the way we do.
In Dr. Strange, Dormammu doesn't really proceed step by step through his plan to dominate the multiverse. His actions may appear sequential to us, because we perceive things unfolding in time. But in fact from Dormammu's perspective his entire rise and (hopefully) fall is seen in one instant. So here's the point: when Dormammu decided to take Strange's deal, as soon as Strange released him from the trap, that decision was "locked in" as it were, part of the makeup of Dormammu's timeless mind. He would not be able to "change his mind" (nor would such a double-cross likely even occur to him as a possibility). He's just not made that way.
answered yesterday
Joe
1912
New contributor
Joe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
39
down vote
Dormammu got tired of that time loop Dr. Strange created.
If he didn't keep his promise, it's a matter of time Dr. Strange will again bind him in the loop. Remember Strange still has the Time Stone. Dormammu was exhausted so he couldn't risk to get in the time loop again.
In the time loop, he wasn't able to figure it out how he kept coming back after dying so many times. So, it wasn't wise to break the promise until he finds a way to break Strange's magic.
answered yesterday
A J♦
39.1k15207221
5
+1 for pointing out the persistent threat of the time loop if Dormammu went back on his word. The time loop may have held a certain terror for the 'timeless' Dormammu.
– EleventhDoctor
yesterday
Actually, based on the events depicted in Avengers: Infinity War, Strange no longer possesses the Time Stone.
– stancial
yesterday
24
@stancial: Don't go spreading that around! You want Dormammu to come back?
– Michael Seifert
yesterday
3
@stancial I know. But we're talking about Doctor Strange at the moment.
– A J♦
yesterday
2
@stancial I doubt Dormammu would want to fight Thanos either. Given that Thanos only wanted to kill off half of the life in the universe, not all of it, he'd certainly be opposed to Dormammu.
– JAB
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
39
down vote
Dormammu got tired of that time loop Dr. Strange created.
If he didn't keep his promise, it's a matter of time Dr. Strange will again bind him in the loop. Remember Strange still has the Time Stone. Dormammu was exhausted so he couldn't risk to get in the time loop again.
In the time loop, he wasn't able to figure it out how he kept coming back after dying so many times. So, it wasn't wise to break the promise until he finds a way to break Strange's magic.
answered yesterday
A J♦
39.1k15207221
5
+1 for pointing out the persistent threat of the time loop if Dormammu went back on his word. The time loop may have held a certain terror for the 'timeless' Dormammu.
– EleventhDoctor
yesterday
Actually, based on the events depicted in Avengers: Infinity War, Strange no longer possesses the Time Stone.
– stancial
yesterday
24
@stancial: Don't go spreading that around! You want Dormammu to come back?
– Michael Seifert
yesterday
3
@stancial I know. But we're talking about Doctor Strange at the moment.
– A J♦
yesterday
2
@stancial I doubt Dormammu would want to fight Thanos either. Given that Thanos only wanted to kill off half of the life in the universe, not all of it, he'd certainly be opposed to Dormammu.
– JAB
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
39
down vote
up vote
39
down vote
Dormammu got tired of that time loop Dr. Strange created.
If he didn't keep his promise, it's a matter of time Dr. Strange will again bind him in the loop. Remember Strange still has the Time Stone. Dormammu was exhausted so he couldn't risk to get in the time loop again.
In the time loop, he wasn't able to figure it out how he kept coming back after dying so many times. So, it wasn't wise to break the promise until he finds a way to break Strange's magic.
answered yesterday
A J♦
39.1k15207221
Dormammu got tired of that time loop Dr. Strange created.
If he didn't keep his promise, it's a matter of time Dr. Strange will again bind him in the loop. Remember Strange still has the Time Stone. Dormammu was exhausted so he couldn't risk to get in the time loop again.
In the time loop, he wasn't able to figure it out how he kept coming back after dying so many times. So, it wasn't wise to break the promise until he finds a way to break Strange's magic.
answered yesterday
A J♦
39.1k15207221
answered yesterday
A J♦
39.1k15207221
answered yesterday
A J♦
39.1k15207221
answered yesterday
A J♦
39.1k15207221
39.1k15207221
5
+1 for pointing out the persistent threat of the time loop if Dormammu went back on his word. The time loop may have held a certain terror for the 'timeless' Dormammu.
– EleventhDoctor
yesterday
Actually, based on the events depicted in Avengers: Infinity War, Strange no longer possesses the Time Stone.
– stancial
yesterday
24
@stancial: Don't go spreading that around! You want Dormammu to come back?
– Michael Seifert
yesterday
3
@stancial I know. But we're talking about Doctor Strange at the moment.
– A J♦
yesterday
2
@stancial I doubt Dormammu would want to fight Thanos either. Given that Thanos only wanted to kill off half of the life in the universe, not all of it, he'd certainly be opposed to Dormammu.
– JAB
yesterday
add a comment |
5
+1 for pointing out the persistent threat of the time loop if Dormammu went back on his word. The time loop may have held a certain terror for the 'timeless' Dormammu.
– EleventhDoctor
yesterday
Actually, based on the events depicted in Avengers: Infinity War, Strange no longer possesses the Time Stone.
– stancial
yesterday
24
@stancial: Don't go spreading that around! You want Dormammu to come back?
– Michael Seifert
yesterday
3
@stancial I know. But we're talking about Doctor Strange at the moment.
– A J♦
yesterday
2
@stancial I doubt Dormammu would want to fight Thanos either. Given that Thanos only wanted to kill off half of the life in the universe, not all of it, he'd certainly be opposed to Dormammu.
– JAB
yesterday
5
5
+1 for pointing out the persistent threat of the time loop if Dormammu went back on his word. The time loop may have held a certain terror for the 'timeless' Dormammu.
– EleventhDoctor
yesterday
+1 for pointing out the persistent threat of the time loop if Dormammu went back on his word. The time loop may have held a certain terror for the 'timeless' Dormammu.
– EleventhDoctor
yesterday
Actually, based on the events depicted in Avengers: Infinity War, Strange no longer possesses the Time Stone.
– stancial
yesterday
Actually, based on the events depicted in Avengers: Infinity War, Strange no longer possesses the Time Stone.
– stancial
yesterday
24
24
@stancial: Don't go spreading that around! You want Dormammu to come back?
– Michael Seifert
yesterday
@stancial: Don't go spreading that around! You want Dormammu to come back?
– Michael Seifert
yesterday
3
3
@stancial I know. But we're talking about Doctor Strange at the moment.
– A J♦
yesterday
@stancial I know. But we're talking about Doctor Strange at the moment.
– A J♦
yesterday
2
2
@stancial I doubt Dormammu would want to fight Thanos either. Given that Thanos only wanted to kill off half of the life in the universe, not all of it, he'd certainly be opposed to Dormammu.
– JAB
yesterday
@stancial I doubt Dormammu would want to fight Thanos either. Given that Thanos only wanted to kill off half of the life in the universe, not all of it, he'd certainly be opposed to Dormammu.
– JAB
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
34
down vote
Because he is man of his word and have moral code like his comics counterpart Strange Tales No. 127:
STRANGE: He is evil, true…but only by our human standards. According to his own lights, he has his own moral code!
Taken from similar question from sister-site.
answered yesterday
Ankit Sharma
68.3k58353562
17
We need a r/dormammudidnothingwrong now. All there MCU villains are so good morally
– KharoBangdo
yesterday
13
Why does Dormammu look like a half open flaming green banana?
– noClue
yesterday
14
@noClue Same reason Dr. Strange has a cone of shame instead of a collar.
– Nic Hartley
yesterday
4
@KharoBangdo: This was one of the distinctions of the Marvel Villains of the Silver Age over the DC Rogues Gallery. Their "villainy" was more of a shade of grey than Black and White. Consider Magneto vs. Xavior, where the latter believes that humanity will overcome it's mutant prejudices and the former was a victim of another bigotry, one of the worst examples, and has no intention about being twice victimized.
– hszmv
yesterday
@AnkitSharma except that he's only just barely by the slimmest meaning a man of his word, since he still plans revenge on Strange through Mordo and is very active in pushing Mordo along. I've always put this one down to plot convenience rather than character-revealing. You could also see it as an ego thing - he doesn't want to look weak by going back on his own word.
– Nacht
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
34
down vote
Because he is man of his word and have moral code like his comics counterpart Strange Tales No. 127:
STRANGE: He is evil, true…but only by our human standards. According to his own lights, he has his own moral code!
Taken from similar question from sister-site.
answered yesterday
Ankit Sharma
68.3k58353562
17
We need a r/dormammudidnothingwrong now. All there MCU villains are so good morally
– KharoBangdo
yesterday
13
Why does Dormammu look like a half open flaming green banana?
– noClue
yesterday
14
@noClue Same reason Dr. Strange has a cone of shame instead of a collar.
– Nic Hartley
yesterday
4
@KharoBangdo: This was one of the distinctions of the Marvel Villains of the Silver Age over the DC Rogues Gallery. Their "villainy" was more of a shade of grey than Black and White. Consider Magneto vs. Xavior, where the latter believes that humanity will overcome it's mutant prejudices and the former was a victim of another bigotry, one of the worst examples, and has no intention about being twice victimized.
– hszmv
yesterday
@AnkitSharma except that he's only just barely by the slimmest meaning a man of his word, since he still plans revenge on Strange through Mordo and is very active in pushing Mordo along. I've always put this one down to plot convenience rather than character-revealing. You could also see it as an ego thing - he doesn't want to look weak by going back on his own word.
– Nacht
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
34
down vote
up vote
34
down vote
Because he is man of his word and have moral code like his comics counterpart Strange Tales No. 127:
STRANGE: He is evil, true…but only by our human standards. According to his own lights, he has his own moral code!
Taken from similar question from sister-site.
answered yesterday
Ankit Sharma
68.3k58353562
Because he is man of his word and have moral code like his comics counterpart Strange Tales No. 127:
STRANGE: He is evil, true…but only by our human standards. According to his own lights, he has his own moral code!
Taken from similar question from sister-site.
answered yesterday
Ankit Sharma
68.3k58353562
edited yesterday
answered yesterday
Ankit Sharma
68.3k58353562
answered yesterday
Ankit Sharma
68.3k58353562
answered yesterday
Ankit Sharma
68.3k58353562
68.3k58353562
17
We need a r/dormammudidnothingwrong now. All there MCU villains are so good morally
– KharoBangdo
yesterday
13
Why does Dormammu look like a half open flaming green banana?
– noClue
yesterday
14
@noClue Same reason Dr. Strange has a cone of shame instead of a collar.
– Nic Hartley
yesterday
4
@KharoBangdo: This was one of the distinctions of the Marvel Villains of the Silver Age over the DC Rogues Gallery. Their "villainy" was more of a shade of grey than Black and White. Consider Magneto vs. Xavior, where the latter believes that humanity will overcome it's mutant prejudices and the former was a victim of another bigotry, one of the worst examples, and has no intention about being twice victimized.
– hszmv
yesterday
@AnkitSharma except that he's only just barely by the slimmest meaning a man of his word, since he still plans revenge on Strange through Mordo and is very active in pushing Mordo along. I've always put this one down to plot convenience rather than character-revealing. You could also see it as an ego thing - he doesn't want to look weak by going back on his own word.
– Nacht
yesterday
add a comment |
17
We need a r/dormammudidnothingwrong now. All there MCU villains are so good morally
– KharoBangdo
yesterday
13
Why does Dormammu look like a half open flaming green banana?
– noClue
yesterday
14
@noClue Same reason Dr. Strange has a cone of shame instead of a collar.
– Nic Hartley
yesterday
4
@KharoBangdo: This was one of the distinctions of the Marvel Villains of the Silver Age over the DC Rogues Gallery. Their "villainy" was more of a shade of grey than Black and White. Consider Magneto vs. Xavior, where the latter believes that humanity will overcome it's mutant prejudices and the former was a victim of another bigotry, one of the worst examples, and has no intention about being twice victimized.
– hszmv
yesterday
@AnkitSharma except that he's only just barely by the slimmest meaning a man of his word, since he still plans revenge on Strange through Mordo and is very active in pushing Mordo along. I've always put this one down to plot convenience rather than character-revealing. You could also see it as an ego thing - he doesn't want to look weak by going back on his own word.
– Nacht
yesterday
17
17
We need a r/dormammudidnothingwrong now. All there MCU villains are so good morally
– KharoBangdo
yesterday
We need a r/dormammudidnothingwrong now. All there MCU villains are so good morally
– KharoBangdo
yesterday
13
13
Why does Dormammu look like a half open flaming green banana?
– noClue
yesterday
Why does Dormammu look like a half open flaming green banana?
– noClue
yesterday
14
14
@noClue Same reason Dr. Strange has a cone of shame instead of a collar.
– Nic Hartley
yesterday
@noClue Same reason Dr. Strange has a cone of shame instead of a collar.
– Nic Hartley
yesterday
4
4
@KharoBangdo: This was one of the distinctions of the Marvel Villains of the Silver Age over the DC Rogues Gallery. Their "villainy" was more of a shade of grey than Black and White. Consider Magneto vs. Xavior, where the latter believes that humanity will overcome it's mutant prejudices and the former was a victim of another bigotry, one of the worst examples, and has no intention about being twice victimized.
– hszmv
yesterday
@KharoBangdo: This was one of the distinctions of the Marvel Villains of the Silver Age over the DC Rogues Gallery. Their "villainy" was more of a shade of grey than Black and White. Consider Magneto vs. Xavior, where the latter believes that humanity will overcome it's mutant prejudices and the former was a victim of another bigotry, one of the worst examples, and has no intention about being twice victimized.
– hszmv
yesterday
@AnkitSharma except that he's only just barely by the slimmest meaning a man of his word, since he still plans revenge on Strange through Mordo and is very active in pushing Mordo along. I've always put this one down to plot convenience rather than character-revealing. You could also see it as an ego thing - he doesn't want to look weak by going back on his own word.
– Nacht
yesterday
@AnkitSharma except that he's only just barely by the slimmest meaning a man of his word, since he still plans revenge on Strange through Mordo and is very active in pushing Mordo along. I've always put this one down to plot convenience rather than character-revealing. You could also see it as an ego thing - he doesn't want to look weak by going back on his own word.
– Nacht
yesterday
add a comment |
up vote
9
down vote
Creatures that exist outside of time "proceed" differently than we do
Dormammu exists outside of time, so his way of thinking and making decisions must be different from ours. The closest parallels in our world (so to speak) are angels and fallen angels, and you might not be surprised to know that some major theologians have weighed in on this topic. While we mortals have a discursive rationality, proceeding from one thought to the next in succession, angels are said to have an intuitive rationality, perceiving and deciding everything they're ever going to perceive and decide simultaneously, once and for all. Or at least, because they are outside of time, so it would appear to those of us bound by time. Incidentally this is why we know the devils won't change their minds about their rebellion against Heaven... they don't reason step-by-step the way we do.
In Dr. Strange, Dormammu doesn't really proceed step by step through his plan to dominate the multiverse. His actions may appear sequential to us, because we perceive things unfolding in time. But in fact from Dormammu's perspective his entire rise and (hopefully) fall is seen in one instant. So here's the point: when Dormammu decided to take Strange's deal, as soon as Strange released him from the trap, that decision was "locked in" as it were, part of the makeup of Dormammu's timeless mind. He would not be able to "change his mind" (nor would such a double-cross likely even occur to him as a possibility). He's just not made that way.
answered yesterday
Joe
1912
New contributor
Joe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
up vote
9
down vote
Creatures that exist outside of time "proceed" differently than we do
Dormammu exists outside of time, so his way of thinking and making decisions must be different from ours. The closest parallels in our world (so to speak) are angels and fallen angels, and you might not be surprised to know that some major theologians have weighed in on this topic. While we mortals have a discursive rationality, proceeding from one thought to the next in succession, angels are said to have an intuitive rationality, perceiving and deciding everything they're ever going to perceive and decide simultaneously, once and for all. Or at least, because they are outside of time, so it would appear to those of us bound by time. Incidentally this is why we know the devils won't change their minds about their rebellion against Heaven... they don't reason step-by-step the way we do.
In Dr. Strange, Dormammu doesn't really proceed step by step through his plan to dominate the multiverse. His actions may appear sequential to us, because we perceive things unfolding in time. But in fact from Dormammu's perspective his entire rise and (hopefully) fall is seen in one instant. So here's the point: when Dormammu decided to take Strange's deal, as soon as Strange released him from the trap, that decision was "locked in" as it were, part of the makeup of Dormammu's timeless mind. He would not be able to "change his mind" (nor would such a double-cross likely even occur to him as a possibility). He's just not made that way.
answered yesterday
Joe
1912
New contributor
Joe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
up vote
9
down vote
up vote
9
down vote
Creatures that exist outside of time "proceed" differently than we do
Dormammu exists outside of time, so his way of thinking and making decisions must be different from ours. The closest parallels in our world (so to speak) are angels and fallen angels, and you might not be surprised to know that some major theologians have weighed in on this topic. While we mortals have a discursive rationality, proceeding from one thought to the next in succession, angels are said to have an intuitive rationality, perceiving and deciding everything they're ever going to perceive and decide simultaneously, once and for all. Or at least, because they are outside of time, so it would appear to those of us bound by time. Incidentally this is why we know the devils won't change their minds about their rebellion against Heaven... they don't reason step-by-step the way we do.
In Dr. Strange, Dormammu doesn't really proceed step by step through his plan to dominate the multiverse. His actions may appear sequential to us, because we perceive things unfolding in time. But in fact from Dormammu's perspective his entire rise and (hopefully) fall is seen in one instant. So here's the point: when Dormammu decided to take Strange's deal, as soon as Strange released him from the trap, that decision was "locked in" as it were, part of the makeup of Dormammu's timeless mind. He would not be able to "change his mind" (nor would such a double-cross likely even occur to him as a possibility). He's just not made that way.
answered yesterday
Joe
1912
New contributor
Joe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Creatures that exist outside of time "proceed" differently than we do
Dormammu exists outside of time, so his way of thinking and making decisions must be different from ours. The closest parallels in our world (so to speak) are angels and fallen angels, and you might not be surprised to know that some major theologians have weighed in on this topic. While we mortals have a discursive rationality, proceeding from one thought to the next in succession, angels are said to have an intuitive rationality, perceiving and deciding everything they're ever going to perceive and decide simultaneously, once and for all. Or at least, because they are outside of time, so it would appear to those of us bound by time. Incidentally this is why we know the devils won't change their minds about their rebellion against Heaven... they don't reason step-by-step the way we do.
In Dr. Strange, Dormammu doesn't really proceed step by step through his plan to dominate the multiverse. His actions may appear sequential to us, because we perceive things unfolding in time. But in fact from Dormammu's perspective his entire rise and (hopefully) fall is seen in one instant. So here's the point: when Dormammu decided to take Strange's deal, as soon as Strange released him from the trap, that decision was "locked in" as it were, part of the makeup of Dormammu's timeless mind. He would not be able to "change his mind" (nor would such a double-cross likely even occur to him as a possibility). He's just not made that way.
answered yesterday
Joe
1912
New contributor
Joe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered yesterday
Joe
1912
New contributor
Joe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
answered yesterday
Joe
1912
answered yesterday
Joe
1912
1912
New contributor
Joe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Joe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Joe is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
add a comment |
add a comment |
31
His alignment is Lawful Evil :P
– BlueMoon93
yesterday
13
He's only "evil" by our standards. Like Galactus, it's just their nature of being that means we'd rather they stop consuming everything thankyou very much.
– OrangeDog
yesterday
@OrangeDog Dormammu is far closer to our definition of evil than Galactus. He doesn't have to be destructive to continue existing.
– Nacht
yesterday
Not much evidence for it, but I really like the fan theory that because Strange was getting better and better (after having thousands of deaths), Dormammu took the deal before Strange became too strong.
– Lynx Brutal
13 hours ago