Why Did the Tesseract Teleport Red Skull in the MCU?
In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), one of the most intriguing moments is when the Tesseract teleports Red Skull to Vormir in Avengers: Infinity War. This teleportation raises several questions. Did Red Skull just touch the Tesseract when it was malfunctioning or being powered? Why was he teleported, and not anyone else?
Based on what we know about his ultimate fate, the Tesseract is likely to be the one sending Red Skull to Vormir deliberately as a punishment for his misuse of its powers. This aligns with what Red Skull himself states in the movie: a curse is upon him, making him the eternal guardian of the Soul Stone. But, let's delve deeper into the mechanics and rationale behind this act.
The Tesseract's Purpose: A Punishment for Misuse
The Tesseract is a formidable artefact in the MCU, known to be deeply connected to space and the creation of matter. From an early scene in Thor: The Dark World, we understand that the Tesseract is not safe to touch without the proper knowledge and understanding. Until Avengers: Infinity War, Red Skull is the only one who dared to touch the Tesseract with bare hands.
Insufficient Knowledge leads to Consequence
Thanos and Loki, despite their proximity to the Tesseract, did not touch it appropriately due to their knowledge and experience. It can be assumed that both of them understood the risks and potential consequences, which is why the Tesseract did not teleport them.
Red Skull's background is that of a psychopathic war criminal. His actions were driven by a lack of understanding and the misuse of the Tesseract's powers. This arbitrary and dangerous behavior would naturally elicit a response from the Tesseract, especially given its connection to the Soul Stone and its guardianship.
Why the Tesseract Teleported Red Skull
The Tesseract's teleportation of Red Skull is likely deliberate, designed to serve as a form of punishment and containment. The Stone may be sentient in a limited sense, recognizing the moral imperfections and the lack of genuine connection in Red Skull's actions. As a result, it decides to send him to Vormir, where he must face his own personal journey as the guardian of the Soul Stone.
Why No One Else Was Teleported?
The Tesseract's decision to only teleport Red Skull makes sense within the context of its function. Red Skull was chosen specifically as the guardian of the Soul Stone. The Tesseract did not need to send others because it already had Red Skull as its chosen guardian. He was alive and capable of fulfilling this role, so there was no pressing need to replace him with someone else.
Theoretical Mechanism Behind the Tesseract's Behavior
From a theoretical standpoint, each Infinity Stone operates with a specific sphere of influence. The Tesseract, being a 95% space Stone and a 5% matter Stone, may perceive itself to have the power to reflect on the user's emotional and mental state. If the Stone detects a lack of genuine connection or love (both from the user and towards the user), it may consider such a person as an ideal guardian for the Soul Stone, which represents the soul and essence of life.
In this theory, the Tesseract can detect emotional and psychological states and, based on its understanding, determine that Red Skull, with his chaotic and lonely nature, is the perfect candidate to be the Soul Stone's guardian. The Tesseract may even see the future potential, envisioning that while Red Skull remains the guardian, the other Infinity Stones can prepare and make themselves ready for those who seek to obtain and possess the Soul Stone.
Furthermore, the use of the Stone's powers to send Red Skull to Vormir could be seen as a form of conditioning or soul-searching. Vormir is a place of cold, desolation, where the Skull undergoes a long and arduous trial to discover the true meaning of himself and the role of the Stone. This process could be seen as a form of 'eternal penance,' as the Skull is forced to confront his own failure and seek redemption.
In conclusion, the Tesseract's decision to teleport Red Skull can be seen as a multifaceted and deeply significant act. It represents a form of justice and punishment, as well as the Stone's own self-preservation and desire to ensure the proper guardianship of the Soul Stone.