Avengers: Endgame brought the epic MCU saga to its first major closure. Although the MCU continues on, Endgame brings a close to the four primary Avengers character arcs that come full circle. In previous posts, I looked at Hulk’s need to accept himself and Thor’s struggle to cope well with failure. Today I’m taking a look at Captain America’s development as a character. Cap’s story is a little different from the others in Endgame since he’s already had to deal with dramatic loss. Throughout his story, Captain America is constantly reminded of everything he’s lost and the need to continue moving forward.

I Could Do This All Day

When Steve Rogers is introduced into the MCU, he is a scrawny but plucky character who never backs down. He’s not afraid to get into a fist fight even if the odds are stacked against him. He’s willing to take a punch and keep going, which is what he often does. His buddy, Bucky, always seems to be there to bail him out. When he confronts a large bully in the movie theater toward the beginning of Captain America: The First Avenger, he’s taken outside into an alley and pummeled. All the while, Rogers responds with what becomes his catch phrase: “I could do this all day.”

He’s the first to sign up to for the army even though he’s not fit to make it. When he’s approached to be a test subject for the super soldier experiment, he doesn’t hesitate and accepts. Eternally optimistic, Rogers always looks at the bright side of things and looks out for others over himself. He’s the first to be willing to sacrifice himself for the good of everyone else. This self-sacrificing mentality is what lands him in the ice at the end of the first movie, sacrificing the life he could have had, which is a regular motif throughout his arc.

The Rise of the Cynic

When we get around to the events of Captain America: Civil War, Cap’s character arc shifts. Rogers and Tony Stark stand at odds against each other after the events of Age of Ultron. Stark fully agrees with the Sokovia Accords that want to put more regulations on superheroes. Rogers disagrees. This is an interesting twist for Rogers because he’s normally on the side of law and justice and rules and regulations. The fact that his best friend Bucky is tied up in all this complicates Rogers’ motives further.

To add to all of this, his great love, Peggy Carter, dies during the events with the Sokovia Accords. Rogers laments that another close friend of his has died. Rogers, still young and full of life, is watching the world he knew slowly but steadily die out. He seems out of place and outdated. Bucky is essentially his final connection to his former life. He decides to cut the bonds he’s made with Stark and the other Avengers and go after Bucky in order to save him.

At the end of Civil War, Rogers has given up his shield. He is no longer Captain America. He’s no longer an Avenger. He’s lost all faith in the organization, so he runs off as a fugitive, hiding in the shadows as Nomad. The symbolic nature of leaving his shield behind shows that he is no longer the idealistic icon that he first was, and it’s the last we see of him until the events of Infinity War.

Moving Forward

When Steve Rogers returns in Infinity War, he’s sporting black clothing and a beard without his trademark shield. While he still maintains his optimism, Rogers has matured into a less naive leader. He’s no longer a soldier who blindly takes orders. He’s no longer doing everything by the book, as evidenced by his comment to Thaddeus Ross that he’s done asking permission and forgiveness.

(As a little side note, this is, in my opinion, what allows Cap to become worthy of wielding Mjolnir in Endgame. When the hammer budges in Age of Ultron, it hints at his worthiness, but he’s still very inexperienced and naive at that point. Cap in Endgame is not so much cynical anymore as he is fully matured into a leader who understands that everything isn’t about following the rules, but it’s also not about haphazardly running into the fray like a renegade.)

This new version of Steve Rogers takes on Thanos and, although he puts up a decent fight, fails to defeat him. Just like the others, Rogers has to cope with loss and defeat in Endgame. However, Rogers seems to be coping better than all the rest. He shaves his beard (symbolism, anyone?). He’s the one who urges Natasha Romanoff to hang in there. He’s even leading a support group for those who lost loved ones in The Snap. In fact, Rogers seems to be the only one who is not completely devestated and at a standstill in life. The events of Iniinity War have somehow brought Rogers back to his more optimistic state. He’s able to help people continue moving forward in their lives.

Because Steve Rogers has already lost his whole life once, he’s able to help others cope with their own similar issues. His never-give-up attitude is one that is needed after the decimation of Thanos. He’s given up everything to help others out. That’s why I’m all for the ending of his storyline in Endgame. A lot of people had some really negative opinions of his ending, but I think it’s fitting. When he first became Captain America, Rogers was the only superhero around, but now the Earth is in plenty of capable hands. He sacrificed everything to be Captain America, and now that he has his chance to live his life, I’m glad he takes it.

Captain America’s mantra of “I can do this all day” teaches us that we can always persevere through. Life will not always go as we expect it, but we can meet it head on with relentless endurance. We have to keep going no matter how tough the struggle may be.