The first part of Peter Parker’s story in the Marvel Cinematic Universe reached its conclusion by Spider-Man: No Way Home. Tom Holland’s Peter is now a person who has understood that with great power comes great responsibility, and the first character to set him on the path toward this was Tony Stark.
Tony and Peter had a father-son relationship whose impact remains after the former’s demise, with Peter now carrying forward the lessons he learned. It’s interesting to see how Peter made use of the wisdom and enlightenment he received from his mentor, especially since it all directly impacted his later adventures.
The Importance Of Teamwork
There are a number of potential spin-offs to Spider-Man: No Way Home now that Peter is on his own, but he can easily be part of another team. It’s because of the importance of teamwork that he learned mainly from Tony, who taught Peter that being a one-man show wasn’t all it's cracked up to be.
Peter learned this when Tony told him that Captain America had gone easy on him and that his solo outing during Civil War could have been a lot worse. Peter had Tony by his side during the conflict against Thanos, and he utilized that experience when he guided his variants against the multiversal villains. It was even why he was able to lead his fellow Peter Parkers in No Way Home.
How To Modify A Superhero Suit
Among the many superhero tropes found in Spider-Man’s adventures is how he dealt with the logistics and equipment required to conduct his activities. Prior to his introduction with Tony, Peter had a pitiable superhero suit that looked no better than nightsuit pajamas.
Tony’s creations of Peter’s Spider-Man suits enabled the latter to tap into his mentor’s technology, which he then modified for his own needs. Peter wouldn’t have understood how important it was to don a suit that could inspire people until Tony presented him with one, and even his most recent, depowered Spider-Man suit is a vast improvement over his original.
Education Is Important
Peter tried desperately to get into MIT during Spider-Man: No Way Home because he had learned by then that education can’t be shortchanged. His first lesson was delivered by Tony, who wanted to use his influence at MIT to get Peter in long before he’d even finished high school.
At the time, Peter didn’t pay heed to Tony’s advice that he should think about college and his future, but he came to appreciate it in time. Peter saw that continuing studies would give him a greater appreciation for life as a normal person, while it would also mold him into a more mature person.
It's Okay To Fight Small Battles
There’s no doubt that Spider-Man ranks highly in fighting ability, yet his greatest appeal is that he’s a neighborhood superhero. Peter had lofty expectations after the conflict against Captain America’s Avengers faction, which made him want to take on other dangerous missions.
Tony asked Peter to stick to being a small-time superhero, claiming that it was worth helping “the little guy” because every person helped mattered. Peter appreciated this following his encounter with Vulture and was content to keep a low profile thereafter. He held on to this lesson later on as well, as Peter went back to fighting smaller battles after No Way Home.
To Hold Himself Accountable For His Mistakes
There’s no doubt that a lot of bad things have happened to Spider-Man, which now includes the loss of Aunt May. However, Peter didn’t fully take responsibility for his actions until he was scolded by Tony after he nearly caused a huge disaster to a sinking vessel.
Tony told Peter that he needed to accept his mistakes so that he could learn from them, not to blame others as Peter tried to pin it on Tony for thinking he didn’t listen to him. Peter more than understood Tony’s words, as his act of making everyone forget him was Peter’s way of taking responsibility for causing the multiversal disaster in the first place.
To Be His Own Person Rather Than Idolize Someone Else
Peter put Tony on another pedestal entirely, claiming he wanted to be like his idol. He was met with a sour response by Tony himself, who was disappointed that Peter didn’t try to be better than him. It was Tony’s way of telling Peter that a person should aim to be their own heroes to know their own self-worth.
Peter’s tendency to fanboy over others greatly diminished as a result, as he went from getting too excited by meeting other superheroes to eventually focusing on himself. He got this lesson after his experience with the E.D.I.T.H. glasses passed down by Tony, which led Peter to see that he was a hero in his own right.
Realizing True Heroics Come From A Person's Spirit
There’s probably no character more likable than Spider-Man, who still needed some time to truly value his inner spirit. Tony learned this lesson after he removed the arc reactor from his chest, claiming he was Iron Man with or without the suit.
Peter followed his mentor’s path by the ending of No Way Home, where he let go of all the fancy suits he had and created a simple one by himself. Peter ended up paralleling Tony, as he also became content with the heart and determination he intrinsically carried that could never be replicated no matter what powers he may command.
The Value Of Sacrifice
Peter has never been a coward or someone who would let others die, but he never knew what sacrifice looked like until he saw Tony give his life for the universe. He came to appreciate that Tony made the choice because he knew there were things bigger than his own happiness.
The conclusion of No Way Home saw Peter make a huge sacrifice of his own, as he gave up his entire identity so that his friends could have a shot of freely living their lives. By then, Peter had learned the value that Tony’s sacrifice had brought and he was willing to do the same.