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The short answer
May Parker passes on the lesson in responsibility we usually credit to Ben, and she does it every single day; in No Way Home, she is the one who speaks those founding words. Marisa Tomei turned her into a knowing ally, a world away from the bedridden old lady of the early days. Here is how that shift happened.
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Often seen as a supporting character, May Parker, better known as Aunt May, is in fact one of the sturdiest pillars of the world of Peter Parker. Behind her gentleness and her kindness, she plays a crucial part in Spider-Man's emotional, moral and psychological make-up. And in some versions, her influence outweighs even Uncle Ben's.
Across the decades and the adaptations, Aunt May has been played in many different ways: a fragile figure in the early comics, a strong, modern woman in the MCU, the voice of wisdom in the video games and the animated series. In every iteration, she embodies a kind of silent resilience, quiet yet powerful — so much so that her death in No Way Home reshapes the young hero's path for good.
But beyond her emotional role, May Parker is also a vehicle for passing on the core values of Spider-Man. She is the heart of the home, the last link to a 'normal' life, Peter's life before the mask, before the responsibilities, before the tragedies. And it is precisely to protect that part of himself that he keeps fighting, again and again.
That duality, between ordinary life and heroic duty, runs right through to the everyday objects inspired by this world. Our Spider-Man mugs or our iconic posters capture that same tension between the intimate and the legendary.
A model of responsibility far quieter than Uncle Ben
The famous line 'With great power comes great responsibility', often attributed to Uncle Ben, is in fact lived out every single day by Aunt May. While Ben is the initial shock that pushes Peter into his role as a vigilante, May is the one who, day in and day out, gives that responsibility its meaning and its depth. She raises Peter on her own, in difficult circumstances, and never once buckles.
Whether in the early comics, the Sam Raimi films or the more recent world of the MCU, May embodies a kind of quiet strength. Even while she still has no idea that Peter is Spider-Man, she nudges him without realising it towards the right choices, towards staying human despite the sacrifices.
In Spider-Man 2, it is she who, with a simple but piercing speech, gives Peter back the will to be the hero he truly is. And in No Way Home, it is she — and not Ben — who speaks for the first time the words that found Spider-Man's identity, giving the character an even more tragic and heroic dimension.
That silent yet central role makes her one of the few Marvel characters to stand at once for the past, for memory and for moral balance. A figure you will find echoed in our selection of iconic figurines.
Responsibility, day after day
In Spider-Man 2, May's speech gives Peter back the will to be a hero; in No Way Home, it is she, and not Ben, who speaks the founding words.
A character who keeps evolving with each generation
One of the most fascinating things about Aunt May is her ability to evolve while keeping her essential function. In the early comics she is drawn as a frail old woman, often bedridden and dependent, which sharpens Peter's guilt every time he takes a risk. That version survives in adaptations such as The Amazing Spider-Man, where she is kept at arm's length from her nephew's secrets.
But from the 2000s onwards, and above all with the arrival of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Aunt May becomes a modern woman, active and firmly of her time. Played by Marisa Tomei, she is far more than an emotional anchor: she becomes an independent, funny figure, involved in her community, and even a willing accomplice once she discovers Spider-Man's identity.
Modernising the character builds a stronger bond with newer generations of fans. The MCU version of Aunt May embodies a contemporary kind of parenting, where listening, closeness and trust replace strict authority.
She is also one of the few characters in the Marvel universe to be reinvented this well without ever betraying her original role. A strong, human woman who, without a costume, carries an enormous share of the hero's burden.
In Spider-Man: Far From Home, the relationship between Happy Hogan and Aunt May brings a welcome touch of humour and lightness after the events of Endgame. Their discreet but unapologetic flirtation creates some comic moments, not least for Peter, caught between embarrassment and curiosity. The dynamic also strengthens Happy's role as a kindly presence in the young hero's life, while giving May a little emotional room in a post-Iron Man world.
Early comics
A frail old woman, often bedridden, who sharpens Peter's guilt.
MCU version
Played by Marisa Tomei: modern, active, funny and complicit once the secret is out.
Far From Home
Her flirtation with Happy Hogan brings humour and lightness after Endgame.
Conclusion: Aunt May, the invisible heart of the Spider-Verse
In a world where heroes wear flamboyant costumes, swing between skyscrapers and face cosmic threats, Aunt May seems almost insignificant. And yet she is the silent foundation, the human bedrock on which Peter Parker's whole identity rests. Without her there would be no balance, no emotional stability, no real meaning to his fight.
May never needed powers to be a heroine. Her strength lies in her ability to stand tall in adversity, to raise a broken child, to inspire him day after day to do what is right, even at the cost of sacrifice. It is that intimate dimension that explains why her death in No Way Home struck such a chord.
If Spider-Man has fascinated us for generations, it is also because he holds on to that deep streak of humanity. And that streak is hers to protect, to nurture, to pass on. She is the living memory of Peter's past, but also the compass that stops him getting lost in his double life. A discreet yet essential figure of the Spider-Verse.
Peter's human bedrock
With no powers at all, May raises a broken child and inspires him to do what is right: that is why her death in No Way Home hit so hard.
