Saga Some Ideas on The Nature of the Force, Vader as Anakin; Luke and Anakin's Redemption, and others

1. The true nature of the Force

The Force is one of the greatest concepts that came out of Star Wars. It is not really a religion; it is not based on the divine. It is part of our real universe. Its manifestations are physical, as we can tell by the real-world manipulation of objects and minds. But it does much deeper than that. As Obi-Wan explained, “it is an energy field created by all living things” (A New Hope). There is so much information in that brief phrase. First of all, we learn that the Force is energy, thus placing it in the realm of the physical world and not the divine. Second, it is created. As such, it is not pre-existing. The Force did not create life, but the other way around. This is an impressive logic whereby the life is so powerful that it created the Force. Third, it signals that life is the central element of the Universe, not the Force, which is its offspring. This is a very positive and constructive view of the Universe, in where without life there would be no Force. We create the Force and “it also obeys [our] commands” (Obi-Wan Kenobi, A New Hope).

Yoda’s description of the Force reinforces this view: “Life creates it, makes it grow” (Empire Strikes Back). That is, life is the primary source, not just of the Force, but of the entire Universe. Let’s not forget that the Force “binds the galaxy together” (Obi-Wan Kenobi, A New Hope), and life created the Force. Simple logic tells us, then, that life allows the Universe to exist. Yoda also makes reference to the Force as a thing and not just an abstract idea: “You must feel the Force around you” (Empire Strikes Back). Even the way Yoda makes that statement, with an emphasis on the word “feel” and with his fist clinched, tells us all we need to know about the sheer power and compelling nature of the Force.

One could argue that the Force does have independent existence. Some characters make reference to the “will” of the Force (Qui-Gon Jinn, The Phantom Menace). But that will is not necessarily the product of independent deliberation. The Force, like water or fire, seems to have a mind of its own. But, that is not so. In the end, the Force is all of us.

With that premise in mind, while I am not a fan of the midichlorians, I believe they are not inherently opposed to this, more mystical view of the Force. Some believe that the introduction of these Force-sensitive cells somehow ruined the more mysterious nature of the Force. I share the frustration and concern, but reject the conclusion. The midichlorians are simply the physical connection with the Force; it is not the Force itself. Qui-Gon makes this very clear. Midichlorians tell us the will of the Force, that is, they are a medium, not a source.
2. Clues in A New Hope about Darth Vader being Anakin Skywalker

There is disagreement about whether the idea that Darth Vader was, in fact, Anakin Skywalker was really present when A New Hope was released. Some believe that it this idea was adopted afterwards in preparation for The Empire Strikes Back. That may be so. But the interesting thing is how well that move (if it was so) squares off with the events in A New Hope. Let’s take a look.

Some of my arguments are coincidental. But what is important here is how those coincides work perfectly, even with an after-the-fact move. Just look at the gestures made by Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi in A New Hope just as he is about to explain to Luke what happened to his father. There is hesitation and concern in his face. It looks like someone about to tell a lie or a misleading truth. Granted, this could be just a great actor expressing the weight that Obi-Wan faced with having to tell this young farm boy how his father was murdered by a former pupil. But again, the point is how well that same expression fits in perfectly with the notion that Obi-Wan was actually lying at that moment. That hesitation in his face just clicks with the twist made in The Empire Strikes Back. The same thing can be said about how Darth Vader is able to sense Luke through the Force during the trench scene: “The Force is strong with this one” (A New Hope). Again, I’m not implying that this disproves the notion that the decision to make Darth Vader Anakin Skywalker was taken after-the-fact. I just think it is remarkable how well the retrospect works.

But there is an additional clue I think is very interesting. What do we know about Anakin Skywalker in A New Hope? Well, Obi-Wan tells us that he was “the best star pilot in the galaxy” (A New Hope). Quite a characterization. During the Death Star trench run, we see how Darth Vader confidently ‘suits up’ to “destroy [the rebels] ship to ship”. And it is he who reigns terror in the trench. He is by far the most successful imperial pilot during the battle. When we see his TIE-fighter and his two escorts, we feel a sense of dread that the targeted rebel pilots are doomed. This to me is very revealing: Darth Vader is one of the best star pilots in the galaxy, and he is proving it in the trenches. Doesn’t it makes sense that the man behind the mask is the “best star pilot of the galaxy”?

3. Luke’s decision not to turn to the dark side and Anakin’s return to the light


This is by far one of the most underrated and transcendental moments in the saga. Before Luke’s fateful encounter with the Emperor in the Throne Room of the Second Death Star, what do we know about turning to the dark side? Well, Yoda tells us: “Once you start down the dark path forever will it dominate your destiny” (The Empire Strikes Back). Those are strong and absolute terms. It seems to suggest that once you slip, you don’t stop. It is an immediate and irreversible contagion. Yet the Skywalkers simply destroyed that seemingly absolute rule.

First, we have Luke. Taking as a parallel Anakin’s duel with Count Dooku in The Revenge of the Sith, it seems that the Emperor is absolutely confident that once Luke has defeated his father, his turn to the dark side is automatic and inevitable. Yet, it is there and then when Luke breaks the mold and triumphs where his father failed many years earlier. Luke’s defiance is remarkable and proves both Yoda and the Emperor wrong: “Never. I’ll never turn to the dark side. You failed you highness, I’m a Jedi, like my father before me” (Luke Skywalker, Return of the Jedi). That defiance and strength makes Luke a Jedi for the ages.

But Luke’s triumph did not end there. It gave hope to his father. We know that there is “conflict” within Vader: “It is too late for me, son” (Return of the Jedi). There is also Vader’s ability to sense Luke on Endor when the Emperor cannot: “Strange that I have not” (Emperor Palpatine, Return of the Jedi). This describes someone who wants to turn back but feels it is simply impossible. But seeing that his son beat all expectations and triumphed over the temptations of the dark side, made it possible for Vader to become Anakin Skywalker again. This combined with a father’s love, made possible the ultimate redemption. After all, Luke simply managed to avoid the cliff. Anakin fell into the abyss…and came back!

This is why I feel that one of the great tragedies of the new versions of the original trilogy is the placement of Hayden Christiansen in the final scene next to Yoda and Obi-Wan. This just ruins the compelling point of Anakin’s redemption. It would seem that a Force ghost manifests the dying Jedi’s physical form. If Anakin’s Force ghost takes the shape of his younger, pre-turn self, then the whole point of Vader’s redemption is lost. When Luke removes the mask, it is Anakin redeemed who we see; not dying Vader. Young Anakin was not pardoned, old Anakin came back and defeated Darth Vader. That’s quite a story.

4. Darth Vader knew very well who he was looking for in The Empire Strikes Back


There has been discussion about when did Darth Vader learn that Luke existed and that he was his son. I believe the suspicion began in the trenches of the Death Star in A New Hope. But here I wish to make reference to the entire saga.

First, it would seem from Revenge of the Sith that Anakin is convinced that his son or daughter (did not know they would be twins) was never born. After all, Emperor Palpatine tells him that he killed Padme on Mustafar: “It would seem in your anger you killed her” (Revenge of the Sith). Anakin attempts to refute that assertion: “She was alive, I felt it” (Id), but immediately succumbs to pain, devastated. From then one, he really became Darth Vader, “more machine now than man, twisted and evil” (Obi-Wan Kenobi, Return of the Jedi). So, we can deduce that Vader came out of his transformation convinced that Padme died in Mustafar and that, as a result, his child was also gone. That sealed his fate in terms of his journey to the dark side.

So, if you believe that you indirectly killed you own child, you wouldn’t really be on the lookout for him or her. This is why I really don’t understand the debate about how silly it was to keep Luke in Tatooine and with his actual surname. Only Vader knows Anakin Skywalker is physically alive, so only he would be interested in actually looking for his offspring. But why would he look if he thinks they are dead? Even the Emperor seems to be ignorant about the fact that the children survived Padme’s death (“We have a new enemy: Luke Skywalker,” The Empire Strikes Back). So, it’s not until the end of A New Hope, when Luke, one would think, became famous as the “young rebel who destroyed the Death Star” (Emperor Palpatine, The Empire Strikes Back –special edition), that it would be expected for Vader to be aware of Luke’s existence. Of course, once he learns who it was, it is just a matter of connecting very simple dots.

This explains the information given in the opening crawl of The Empire Strikes Back and its reference to Darth Vader’s obsession with “finding young Skywalker.” Such obsession is evidently that of a man looking for his child so they can “rule the galaxy as father and son” (Darth Vader, The Empire Strikes Back). In fact, the conversation between Vader and the Emperor aboard the Super Star Destroyer (especially in the original version) signals Vader’s attempt to avoid revealing his motives to his master: “His just a boy, Obi-Wan can no longer help him” (Id). Let’s not forget, Vader says these words just after the Emperor has declared Luke the new enemy and that he could destroy them.

Vader’s words seem an attempt to downplay the Emperor’s assessment. In fact, we know that Vader agrees: “Luke, you can destroy the Emperor” (Id). There is an obvious contradiction. When the Emperor tells him Luke can destroy them, Vader shrugs it off and state that he his just a boy. But later on he tells Luke that he can, in fact, destroy the Emperor. This signals a man who is on a very personal mission long before the Emperor told him who Luke was (special edition).
At the same time, Vader is risking the integrity of his entire fleet inside the asteroid field in order to achieve his goal of capturing the Millennium Falcon in order to serve up the live bait. This would seem to suggest that Vader wants to capture Luke independent of the Emperor. Only after the Emperor tasks him with finding Luke does Vader associate Luke’s capture with bringing him to the Emperor. In fact, after attempting to downplay the Emperor’s assessment of Luke, it is Darth Vader who persuades the Emperor to turn Luke instead of destroying him. This seems to me like a father trying to save his son and to execute his own plans for the future.
.....in summary, let's talk about Star Wars and its core!

 

You might find it interesting that in "destiny" was presented as a positive thing in ANH but then ESB and ROTJ presented it as a negative thing. In ANH, Luke's destiny seems to be to avenge his slain father and restore the Jedi Knights. In ESB and ROTJ, "destiny" refers to Luke turning to the dark side and becoming just like Vader.

 

Interesting.

ANH: "Your destiny lies along a different path than mine" (Obi-Wan Kenobi)

ESB: "Your destiny lies with me Skywalker. Obi-Wan knew this to be true." (Darth Vader)

ROTJ: "It is unavoidable, it is your destiny." (Emperor Palpatine)

Yet, notice how Luke was concerned about making is own destiny: Plainly saying "No" in reply to Vader's statement in ESB, and his defiance in face of the Emperor's comments.

Luke broke the notion that destiny rules us, as in the parallels between Anakin's Fall and Luke's Defiance. You are right in that in ESB and ROTJ destiny is seen as this tragic path from which there is never any escape. A very fatalistic and pre-determined conception of destiny.

Luke changes that conception, making destiny a more productive and heroic journey. A decision. We choose our destiny, not the other way around. In the end, indirectly, it was Luke who brought balance to the Force by succeeding where his father failed, thus allowing Anakin to "conquer" Vader and "his" Emperor.

Thanks for the comment. Very insightful