In Avengers: Infinity War, Thanos used the power of the Infinity Stones to wipe out half of all life in the universe. This act, which he believed would save the universe from overpopulation and resource depletion, was referred to as “the snap.” But how did Thanos choose who to wipe out?
Thanos’ plan, known as “The Decimation,” was based on his belief that the universe was overpopulated and resources were scarce. He saw himself as the savior of the universe, tasked with bringing balance by eliminating half of all life.
To carry out his plan, Thanos obtained the Infinity Stones, powerful artifacts capable of manipulating reality, time, space, power, the mind, and the soul. With their combined power, Thanos was able to achieve his goal of wiping out half of all life in the universe.
But how did he choose which half would be wiped out? The answer lies in one of Thanos’ most chilling lines: “Perfectly balanced, as all things should be.”
Thanos believed in creating a fair and random selection process. He did not discriminate based on race, gender, wealth, or any other characteristic. Instead, he wanted the selection process to be completely impartial and unbiased.
To achieve this, Thanos used the Infinity Stones to randomly select half of all life in the universe to be wiped out. This meant that there was an equal chance for any individual, regardless of their status or history, to be chosen.
While this may seem fair in theory, the reality was much more chaotic. Families were torn apart, civilizations were destroyed, and chaos reigned across the universe. The randomness of the selection process meant that some planets were entirely wiped out while others were barely affected.
However, the randomness of the snap did not mean that everyone had an equal chance of survival. In the comics, Thanos’ use of the Infinity Gauntlet was said to exempt certain individuals who he deemed worthy, such as Lady Death or some of his most loyal followers. But in the MCU, no explicit criteria are given for who was spared.
One theory is that the snap was truly random, with every living being having an equal chance of surviving or perishing. This would mean that even Thanos himself was vulnerable to being wiped out, although he survived due to his possession of the Infinity Stones.
In the end, Thanos’ plan was ultimately thwarted by the Avengers and other heroes who banded together to defeat him. But the impact of his actions still lingered, leaving the survivors to grapple with the aftermath of the Decimation.
In conclusion, Thanos’ selection process for wiping out half of all life in the universe was based on his belief in creating a fair and random selection process. However, the reality of his plan was much more chaotic and caused immense suffering across the universe.
Recommended reading: