Wednesday, June 10, 2009

I'm Luke Skywalker and I'm Your Density

I'm not sure I believe in Destiny, sometimes I think it's a lot of bunk! Other times, I'm not so sure. But for the sake of storytelling, I think destiny lends an extra layer.

I vaguely remember a blog entry here that compared Anakin Skywalker to Sir Lancelot. My aunt loves the Arthurian Legends, so I asked her about it. She tells me that Lancelot was in love with Guinivere, the Queen, but refuses to betray the trust of King Arthur and instead exiles himself into the forest until wounds, his heartbreak, can heal.

Sir Lancelot made the right choice, for the good of many instead of just himself.

So, what if Anakin had walked away from Padme, instead of violating the Jedi Code, and the trust of his best friend, and his comrades. Would he still have fallen to the dark side? Or would he have gone on to become a great Jedi Knight?

Or, what if he'd left the Jedi Order when he married her? I wonder if they would have lived happily ever after. Considering his upbringing in slavery, would he have provided a happy life for his children, never wanting them to suffer as he had?

Galactic history would certainly have been different, but would it have been better?

I'm sure Sidious have found a new apprentice to terrorize the galaxy, but Vader came with his own set of baggage that fueled his hatred of all things good. A Sith relies on strong emotion for his strength, and all that rage and anger made Vader a very powerful Sith.


Then there was Mustafar. Obi-Wan Kenobi does the right thing when he leaves Vader's fate to the will of the Force, but what if he'd gone back and made sure he was dead?


Luke believes he's doing the right thing when he leaves Dagobah to save Han and Leia, and surrenders to Vader at Endor rather than endanger his friends and their mission. He does the right thing.

Why is Luke strong where Anakin was weak?


The Jedi raised neither of them, and they both had fear and anger. Anakin lost his mother, Luke loses his family, but how could one turn out so right where the other turned so wrong? Was it their destinies? Is that Destiny with a capital "D"?

Palpatine tells Luke his destiny is to kill his father, but he chooses to die rather than turn to the dark side. I guess he doesn't believe in Destiny!

Ordinary people don't think about their destinies, and neither did Luke Skywalker. He just went about his life doing the best he could! And he always seemed to do the right thing.

21 comments:

Gidrea Lightsky said...

Jedi Master Mina
Another Galaxy, another time
date Posted: Jun 10, 2009 9:51 AM

LUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOG...SPAMSPAMSPAMSPAMSPAMSPAM...LUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOGLUKEBLOG..

I feel better now. :^O

So, what if Anakin had walked away from Padme...

There would be NO LUKE. :_| :_| :_| :_| :_| :^O

Why is Luke strong where Anakin was weak?

Because he's not a whiny baby butt like his father. :^O Actually, Luke is not as weak as his father. And as I like to say, he is the perfect combination of his father and mother.

Luke loses his family, but how could one turn out so right where the other turned so wrong?

There are lots of reasons why they turned out differently. Luke never had the persuasion of the Jedi Council nor from Palpy. Plus he wasn't a slave and subject to beatings as was his father.

Gidrea Lightsky said...

Gidrea Lightsky
The Galaxy According to Gidrea
date Posted: Jun 10, 2009 9:57 AM

I feel better now.

Glad I could be of service, my Queen.

Gidrea Lightsky said...

Jedi Master Mina
Another Galaxy, another time
date Posted: Jun 10, 2009 10:01 AM

but he chooses to die rather than turn to the dark side.

Because he knows the difference between right and wrong and he's not a power hungry whiny baby butt like his father was. Gawd I crack myself up. :^O

I guess he doesn't believe in Destiny!

He believes in the Force. It is only at the end that we truly get to see the benefits of Yoda's lessons of the Force to Luke. ;)

Glad I could be of service, my Queen.

Thanks for the mindless distraction today from the monkeys. :^O

Gidrea Lightsky said...

Gidrea Lightsky
The Galaxy According to Gidrea
date Posted: Jun 10, 2009 10:07 AM

Thanks for the mindless distraction today from the monkeys

Whiny baby monkey butts? :^O

Gidrea Lightsky said...

hansgirl3
Invoking the Squee
date Posted: Jun 10, 2009 11:24 AM

how could one turn out so right where the other turned so wrong?

Perhaps it's because, even though they were both apprenticed under Obi-Wan, he had learned how to teach someone from his mistakes with Anakin.

Maybe that and because Anakin was told he was the "chosen one" and, therefore, had a big ego to go with his power... :p whiny, baby buttt.....

Gidrea Lightsky said...

Jedi Master Mina
Another Galaxy, another time
date Posted: Jun 10, 2009 2:21 PM

Whiny baby monkey butts? :^O

...That like to throw crap at me all day. :^O

Maybe that and because Anakin was told he was the "chosen one" and, therefore, had a big ego to go with his power... :p whiny, baby buttt.....

Hmmmmmmm...whiny baby butt ego...I can think of another name [censored] that you call him, Clone. But only can say it to where I pee my pants from laughing so hard. :^O:^O

But only can say it to where I pee my pants from laughing so hard. :^O:^O

And I meant YOU, Clone, that can say the name/word correctly. :^O

Gidrea Lightsky said...

Darth_Buir
Together we can rule the galaxy as father and son.
date Posted: Jun 10, 2009 3:16 PM

Hi,

Palpatine tells Luke his destiny is to kill his father, but he chooses to die rather than turn to the dark side. I guess he doesn't believe in Destiny!

I think it's more likely that he doesn't believe Palpatine.

DB

Gidrea Lightsky said...

The Viridian Saber
Virtual Unrealities (A victim of Order 66.)
date Posted: Jun 10, 2009 7:20 PM

But for the sake of storytelling, I think destiny lends an extra layer.

It depends on the way the destiny is constructed. If an obvious and unflawed character is set up from the time he's born to rule the universe (Dune, anybody?) and he remains an bland, unchanging character throughout, then the destiny concept is better left untouched.

And this is the problem with most space operas nowadays. They're so hung-up on the truth and beauty and finding your way, that nothing happens. Not so with Star Wars!!! :^O

She tells me that Lancelot was in love with Guinivere, the Queen, but refuses to betray the trust of King Arthur and instead exiles himself into the forest until wounds, his heartbreak, can heal.

Yeah, but eventually both of Gawain's brothers died because of Lacelot's love for the Queen, Lancelot and Gawain started hating each other, and Mordred betrayed King Arthur. One big happy family. :p

Nerd rant over, I promise. ;)


Blast, so many comments, so little time!! :_| I'll be back to shed my illuminating gaze upon this blog once again. :^O

Gidrea Lightsky said...

The Viridian Saber
Virtual Unrealities (A victim of Order 66.)
date Posted: Jun 10, 2009 8:47 PM

Considering his upbringing in slavery, would he have provided a happy life for his children, never wanting them to suffer as he had?

Anakin? Happy??? I can't even imagine that...:^O

And this doesn't, doesn't count. Even if it is secretly one of my favorite scenes in AOTC. Secretly meaning when no one else is around, because publicly, it's embarrassing. :^O

No, that's not the kind of person Anakin was. He was born a slave, and it became nothing more than force of habit to enslave himself to his possessions.

He would probably grow to view his children as possessions, too, which would ultimately destroy all of them.

Obi-Wan Kenobi does the right thing

He always does the right thing...Well, except when he's around you. :p

He just went about his life doing the best he could! And he always seemed to do the right thing.

He didn't want to become just like his dad!! And with good reason...;)

Gidrea Lightsky said...

Gidrea Lightsky
The Galaxy According to Gidrea
date Posted: Jun 10, 2009 9:23 PM

I think it's more likely that he doesn't believe Palpatine.

:^O Good point!

They're so hung-up on the truth and beauty and finding your way, that nothing happens.

Kriffin' pacifists!

had a big ego to go with his power... :p whiny, baby buttt.....

delete the words "his power" :^O :^O

One big happy family

They put the "Fun" in dysfunctional

Secretly meaning when no one else is around, because publicly, it's embarrassing.

Just put Qui-Gon in Anakin's place! Although he'd be much better with words!


it became nothing more than force of habit to enslave himself to his possessions.

Happens when the world revolves around you. (Meaning him, in his own mind, not you, personally.)

He always does the right thing...Well, except when he's around you

Hummmm.... that's when he does ALL the right things. :x

He didn't want to become just like his dad!! And with good reason...

Ugh, who would want to be?

Gidrea Lightsky said...

The Viridian Saber
Virtual Unrealities (A victim of Order 66.)
date Posted: Jun 10, 2009 9:41 PM

Just put Qui-Gon in Anakin's place! Although he'd be much better with words!

Then I'd probably pass out. :p :x :x :x

(Meaning him, in his own mind, not you, personally.)

Duh, Giddy...I'm not touchy...:^O

Hummmm.... that's when he does ALL the right things.

Except make coffee in the morning. ;)

Gidrea Lightsky said...

Gidrea Lightsky
The Galaxy According to Gidrea
date Posted: Jun 10, 2009 9:46 PM

Except make coffee in the morning.

He does that ever since I smacked him. :^O

Duh, Giddy...I'm not touchy...:^O

No, but other people might think I'm STOOPID... or something. :D

Gidrea Lightsky said...

The Viridian Saber
Virtual Unrealities (A victim of Order 66.)
date Posted: Jun 10, 2009 9:48 PM

He does that ever since I smacked him.

Did he stop leaving his robe on the floor, too?? :^O

No, but other people might think I'm STOOPID... or something.

It's the "or somethings" that you need to be worried about. :p

Gidrea Lightsky said...

Gidrea Lightsky
The Galaxy According to Gidrea
date Posted: Jun 10, 2009 9:52 PM

Did he stop leaving his robe on the floor, too??

tee hee

It's the "or somethings" that you need to be worried about

those do scare me, a little.

Gidrea Lightsky said...

The Viridian Saber
Virtual Unrealities (A victim of Order 66.)
date Posted: Jun 10, 2009 10:07 PM

those do scare me, a little.

Scare you?? With the way you work that pink double blade of yours, nothing should scare you. :^O

And besides, (turn your speakers on for this one) you cannot beat a Jedi. :p

Gidrea Lightsky said...

JawaJoey
Return of the Jawa
date Posted: Jun 11, 2009 5:45 PM

I wouldn't say it's destiny that separate Anakin and Luke. More like character.

Anakin's motives weren't pure. He didn't just want power, he wanted Padme. He wanted to be a Jedi, he wanted to be the most powerful Jedi ever, he wanted the whole galaxy to work the way he wanted. And he wanted Padme. When she said to him "Let's just run away," he decided to seek power, and ended up hurting Padme. He didn't have the priorities to go into Exile like Lancelot.

Luke, he wanted to be a hero. That's about it. He wanted to be a great guy, and he was. He was self-sacrificing, noble, wise, he wasn't power hungry or selfish. He was a different person, and that's why his fate was different from Anakin's.

Gidrea Lightsky said...

Master Ki-Aaron-Mundi
I was a Teenage Jedi
date Posted: Jun 11, 2009 6:37 PM

The Destiny question is a tough one. I personally am not a big fan of Destiny, so I'd like to think that even though Anakin was the Chosen One, there were a myriad of different ways he could have fulfilled his destiny--joining the Sith, remaining a Jedi, and probably other options besides. If it simply becomes Fate, then there's a certain amount of moral guilt that's missing--and a certain lack of heroism in Vader's redemption.

Gidrea Lightsky said...

The Stooge
Star Wars Joke-A-Day
date Posted: Jun 12, 2009 5:34 AM

I don't care if it was a Luke blog -- I liked this! Nice message.

Gidrea Lightsky said...

Gidrea Lightsky
The Galaxy According to Gidrea
date Posted: Jun 12, 2009 8:01 AM

If it simply becomes Fate, then there's a certain amount of moral guilt that's missing--and a certain lack of heroism in Vader's redemption.

You can fight fate, so Vader could easily have missed his own redemption.

I don't care if it was a Luke blog -- I liked this! Nice message.

Thanks! And that warning label was just to keep Mina from hyperventilating.

Gidrea Lightsky said...

JediMelindaWolf
Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try.
date Posted: Jun 17, 2009 8:48 PM


*WARNING* LUKE BLOG!

:x :)

(be back tomorrow when I have more time. :))

Gidrea Lightsky said...

JediMelindaWolf
Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try.
date Posted: Jun 21, 2009 7:56 PM

Tomorrow finally has come! :D

When Luke :x threw down his lightsaber, willing to die rather than turn to the dark side, Anakin finally got a glimpse of what and who he always was meant to be. Thank goodness he had the good sense to save his son! :x Where would we be without Luke? :x

As far as Destiny is concerned . . . well, I'm still trying to figure that one out. Just thinking about it gives me all kinds of ideas . . . ;

(sorry it took so long to return!)

MTFBWY :)