The man known as Steve Rogers faced challenges all of his life, and that helped shape the character traits that would later define him as Captain America, the first Avenger. He possessed the kind of moral com typical of an old-fashioned, timeless superhero, one that would not be swayed by evil, or his personal shortcomings.
That's not to say Rogers was perfect, but he lived his life according to what he thought was right, even when the world around him disagreed. It was this commitment to honesty and integrity that made him such an iconic superhero in the MCU and helped solidify his status as a leader, a warrior, and a friend.
He Was Incredibly Stubborn
Steve Rogers was born disadvantaged to his short stature and weak physicality, but that only drove him to excel in the face of adversity, even if it meant he'd fail. He knew his own limitations, but he always fought against them, simply to prove a point.
It was this stubborn quality that eventually drove Rogers to enlist in the military, despite not being well-suited for the task. He wanted to prove that he had as much to offer as anyone else, and even if he was rejected, he was going to make people him.
He Was Remarkably Brave
Courage practically defines Captain America as a classic character in Western comics, and his MCU counterpart was no different. Despite not having supernatural powers or technologically advanced suits of armor, Rogers always charged headfirst into battle, with the greater good in mind.
Even when facing down Thanos, Rogers went toe-to-toe with him and stood his ground. It was enough to startle the Mad Titan, who was surprised at his level of heroism and commitment. No matter what the universe threw at him, Rogers would face it with conviction, bravery, and courage.
He Was Comionate
One of the best quotes of the Captain America franchise came courtesy of Dr. Abraham Erskine, who said "The strong man who has known power all his life may lose respect for that power, but a weak man knows the value of strength and knows comion!"
These words would affect Rogers, especially when he was gifted with the powers of the Super Soldier program. Rather than become boastful and haughty due to his newfound abilities, he stayed true to who he was - the man who hated bullies and wanted to stand up for those who couldn't fight for themselves.
He Was Rational And Down To Earth
In contrast to many of his superhero peers, Rogers was the most down-to-earth guy in the room. He wasn't sarcastic and quick-witted like Tony Stark, or operatic and dramatic like Thor. Rather, he was just a regular American guy who knew the value of an honest day's work and living a good life.
As such, this made him much more approachable than others, and that helped him a lot as he tried to adjust to life after decades of being frozen. It also helped him when assessing threats, by forcing him to stay grounded and objective, instead of succumbing to fear, doubt, or aggression.
He Was Perceptive
Rogers lacked the Captain America: The Winter Soldier.
He also demonstrated this quality when he was thawed out of his icy entombment at the end of the first film. He was able to piece together a ruse designed by S.H.I.E.L.D. to keep him in the dark, which was something most people could never have done.
He Was A Natural Leader
Despite growing up as a small and frail young man, Rogers had all the qualities necessary to become a true leader. In fact, his disadvantages in life may have brought those qualities to the surface. He was able to inspire his teammates, and reassure them, perhaps because of all the bullying he suffered as a child.
To Rogers, leading a team meant doing what was right, no matter what. That included hard choices, but he never made them without thinking about how it affected his teammates, and the world at large. Not every choice he made was a perfect one, but he never allowed impulsiveness to affect his decisions.
He Was Awkward With Women
Part of Steve Rogers' inherent charm was his awkwardness with women, which came to be one of his defining character traits. It may also have been by design, as Rogers was, for all intents and purposes, a one-woman kind of guy. He rarely flirted with anyone, even after he had become such a cultural icon.
This may have had a lot to do with his grief over losing his chance to be with Peggy Carter, the only woman he ever loved. Thankfully, he'd get a second chance when he returned one of the Infinity Stones to its proper chronology and decided to reunite with her in one of Captain America's smartest decisions, in his own time where they shared a life together.
He Thought Outside The Box
When it came to dealing not just with threats, but everyday life choices, Rogers knew how to think outside the box. This came in handy during multiple battles with the Red Skull, Ultron, and the forces of Thanos. He knew that his own limitations as a human, superpowered or not, would require some ingenuity.
This kind of quick thinking helped him avert, or at least postpone a number of catastrophes, such as when he brought the Vision to Wakanda, where he could be better protected from Thanos. He also exercised this in the middle of a battle by switching up tactics, such as when he wielded Thor's hammer in the final battle against Thanos.
He Valued Friendship Above Everything
Rogers was nothing without his friends, and he knew it. Yes, he was Captain America, a shining beacon of justice and freedom for all, but he also knew that he was just one man, and one man couldn't do it all. He worked best in a team environment, particularly within the Avengers.
As such, there was nothing Rogers wouldn't do for his friends, even those he had crossed during the events of remained loyal to his friend Bucky Barnes, despite all the wrongs he had committed in the past.
He Saw The Bigger Picture
While he was a military man at heart, Rogers thought less like a soldier, and more like a General. That was an especially valuable character trait, as it helped both he and his Avengers deal with threats via an eagle-eyed view of the situation.
Following the introduction of the Sokovia Accords, Rogers argued that the Avengers should remain independent of government oversight or authority, which many did not agree with. However, Rogers saw the bigger picture and realized that no government could, or should be trusted to have that kind of operational oversight. He believed that the combined heroism and morality of the Avengers themselves was more beneficial than bureaucrats, with nefarious self-interests running the show.
