I love this.
Any deep thinking or analysis into Loki’s mind and/or reasoning/motivation behind his actions is Loki Dokey in my books! <3
I have to say one thing about this, everyone who’s anyone has already ‘analysed’ Loki’s actions and stuff; how he wanted to make his father proud, prove himself as Thor’s equal, show that he’s not a Frost Giant but is really Aesir and is worthy of the same love Thor gets from the people. But, I don’t think anyone’s mentioned this scene in particular.
I suppose that’s because it’s not in the actual film - since some idiot decided to take it out, even though I think it’s one of the most important, developmental scenes in the entirety of the film.
Loki doesn’t want the throne, I don’t think he ever did; he just envied the fact that Thor was ‘perfect’. That Thor just couldn’t do anything wrong, and was a petty, immature, war-hungry, boy who was about to be handed all the power in Asgard which would lead to the destruction of the Aesir. I don’t believe what Loki did was wrong, but that’s because I don’t work on the same moral ethos that others do; and I pride myself on that fact actually.
Loki wanted Odin to see what a mistake it was to let Thor rule Asgard when he still wasn’t ready; of course, I think that Loki made peace with the fact that he wouldn’t be king, because it’s Thor’s rightful place to sit on the throne of Asgard, and Loki accepts that, but he doesn’t think now (then) is the right time for that to happen.
Thor, in the beginning of the film, was a vain, self-centred, arrogant child who would throw a tantrum if he didn’t get his way (table scene anyone) and Loki knew that the people of Asgard didn’t often see the flaws in Thor’s personality because of how ‘great’ a warrior he was, because of how charismatic he was. And Loki didn’t think Odin saw them either; or at least, didn’t think of them as something that was truly problematic, since he probably believed that ruling Asgard would temper Thor’s personality a little. Of course, we all know it wouldn’t have; not until Asgard was in ruins at least.
So, getting to the point, Loki only wanted Thor to be seen as who he was and not what he appeared to be; and I think that’s a reflection of Loki himself, but that’s another story for another time. Anyway, the fact that Odin ‘cast Thor out’ and then ended up going into the Odinsleep - at what is, most agree on, the WORST TIME EVER! - Loki’s left to ‘rule’ Asgard.
I don’t think Loki would have done something so extreme as try and wipe out Jotunheim though if it hadn’t been for what his ‘mother’ says; “make your father proud.” That’s adding more oil to the fire and letting it do as it pleases!
What would make Odin most proud, Loki wonders? Would it make him proud if he were to return Thor? No, because that would be going directly against Odin’s last order as King before his sleep. Would it be remaining on the throne until Odin woke up, or Thor returned? No, how would that make Odin proud of him? He’d be doing nothing and would thus show he’s unworthy of anything, of love and respect from his ‘father’.
So, the last option available to Loki is the one he follows, sure he justifies it with a bit of emotional turmoil and hatred of the Jotun’s, and himself, but it’s the only option he thinks is viable in order to “make his father proud”.
Odin doesn’t want a war with Jotunheim; he knows that it’ll be costly, that it’ll harm the other realms that he’s sworn to protect as ruler of Asgard. He doesn’t want to engage in a fight, and Laufey won’t back down. So, best thing to do? Remove the threat of war altogether by getting rid of every Jotun in existence.
It’s a ‘fool-proof’ plan. The threat of war will be averted, the people of Asgard will see Loki as a worthy individual, who did what Thor probably never could, and Odin never would. He’d make himself worthy in the eyes of all of the Aesir, and he thinks it’ll make his father proud of him.
Of course, we all know it doesn’t work like that, which isn’t really fair because I think Loki needed a win; or just some acceptance. It’s not easy being the odd-one-out, the freak and the unwanted.
And, just one last thing, to all you people out there who think Loki’s a generic, 2D bad guy; pick up a psychology text and read a bit about how people work. The amount of work, time and effort that’s gone into sculpting Loki’s entire psychology is fantastic; I’d rate it on par with Magneto (in my own little scale of bad guy psychology that is).
