Doctor Strange and mentorship: an overview
The evolution of Doctor Strange's powers are much discussed in all fandom spaces but I rarely see discussions on his evolution as a mentor/teacher. And I find this aspect simply incredible because there are a few layers we could dig in order to analyze this side of his character.
[tw: physical abuse]
First of all, historical context is always important. We're talking about the 60s/70s, an age in which teachers/mentors are not only seen as hierarchical figures but are also allowed to punish their students as they see fit, even physically (closest example to me is my own mother and her stories when she was a student). Let's also add the fact that Stephen was technically born in the 30s. For that reason, his regular education also reflected the historical context, from being raised in a farm in Nebraska by an abusive father to medical school.
Of course, this is not the Ancient One/Yao's case. I believe TAO falls into the stereotypical tropes of orientalism and mysticism. Having that in mind, it also explains a few of TAO's methods as elusive and often mixed with the misconception that Buddhism is against the idea of love. In any case, that's how TAO taught Stephen: through tests that messed with his mind, emotions and even self-esteem.
Strange Tales #155; Doctor Strange v2 #19; Strange Tales v2 #1.
All these circumstances help painting a better understanding of Stephen's references when it comes to mentorship. But, unlike TAO, Stephen didn't resort to the same elusive tests. Instead, when he first embraced Clea as his apprentice, he mentored her all times, including tests and quests.
Doctor Strange v2 #47.
Of course, he was a flawed teacher because he often dismissed her due to his overprotective instincts, plus the ethics of being in a romantic apprentice/mentor relationship. He didn't overcome his flaws with the next apprentice either, such is Rintrah's fate to be left behind as well.
Doctor Strange - Sorcerer Supreme #32.
He also had a few apprentices such as Kyllian, Victor and Illyana. What's interesting about this is that he had to learn how to adapt to their needs/personalities while also embracing their autonomy with kindness and empathy. And I strongly believe that part alone was not taught by anyone. He learned it himself through experience and open-mindedness, which is definitely something new to him given his history with TAO and the teaching system he was raised in.
Uncanny X-Men v3 #29.
It's important to ratify that Stephen's flaws didn't magically disappear, though. He still made the same mistakes with Zelma, for instance, repeating the pattern of being overprotective and leaving his students in the dark with the excuse of protecting them.
Doctor Strange v1 #385.
A game-changing aspect of his role as a mentor, however, is most definitely Strange Academy. While the plot still holds the teachers as shady caricatures who gaslight their students in its conception, I believe the academy has matured enough (under other writers' pens, that is) to portray them as people who believe in the next generation's agency. That's how Stephen learned to move on from the old system of mentor/apprentice to an actual teacher. It also speaks volumes about his control issues, once limited to supervising his apprentices under very strict rules (as he was taught), now in a more modern setting.
The Death of Doctor Strange #1.
And I think it's directly linked to how Stephen is a character born to break pre-established conservadorism. His very concept as a mystic living in Greenwich Village is a huge clue to that (I'll elaborate this idea in another post related to modern social movements, bear with me). A character who seeks love in a world filled with hate, a character who moved on from a stereotypical figure of a mentor to a empathetic teacher who embraces his students' autonomy. Moreover, a character who realized that, as a teacher, he also learns with his students.
