Between TPM and AOTC: Why did Queen Amidala not purchase Shmi's freedom?

I specifically pointed out in my last post that this is not what I'm assuming. I'm saying that she had no reason to assume that Shmi was being taken care of, which doesn't mean that she knew Shmi wasn't, but it does mean that the idea of Padme assuming anything about Shmi's fate is irrelevant. There is nothing to suggest that she assumed anything.

I hope I made it clear this time that that is not my assumption.

 

If they didn't establish that in the film, then it is your assumption.

Again because Anakin had said he would take care of it, and because he was freed and on his way to becoming a Jedi, it's not unreasonable to assume that she would think it was taken care of. That doesn't have to be established in the film, simply because it fits in with the fact she did nothing between TPM and AOTC.

I can just nod at you and agree that your assumptions are facts, but that wouldn't be responsible.

 

Unfortunately, your assumption contradicts the nature Padme displays in AOTC. She isn't the type to sit idly by when it comes to helping others. By your rationale, she should have just reasoned that the Jedi would take care of Obi-wan's rescue.

If she's callous enough to not care about what happens to a woman after leaving her alone, despite everything she had done to help Padme in her own hour of need, then she must be detached to allow Obi-wan's fate to be determined by the events as they happen. The Jedi have been made aware.

Sorry, but the movies go against what you say, and unless Lucas somehow "intended" for Padme to become callous and uncaring for that one instance, but a humanitarian in every other instance, and if we take deleted scenes into account, Lucas intended for Padme to be the type that would help those less fortunate than her. So why does she go out of her way for everyone else, but Shmi, she assumes someone else is on the case? Sorry, it's an oversight on Lucas' behalf.

 

Unfortunately, your assumption contradicts the nature Padme displays in AOTC.

But we're talking about between TPM and AOTC

However, in TPM her people suffering, she goes to help them. In AOTC Shmi suffering, she goes with Anakin to help her. Obi Wan clearly attacked, she goes to help him. Shmi, on the other hand says "we must survive on our own" and wants to see her son do great things, also risking her son, while Padme says "we'll find some other way". Also Padme is Senator in the Republic, not controlling her people like a Queen. Can't compare both.

You could say Padme's attitudes are evolving, due to the situation.

 

In the case of Obi-Wan, she was worried that the Jedi wouldn't get ther in time.

In the case of Shmi, it's not like Watto was beating her or anything and Anakin said he would do it.

It's not that she doesn't care about Shmi, it's that she doesn't know Anakin didn't do it.

Maybe if they had spoken once in that time, then I could see a case being made that she would ask about Shmi, and would have gone and gotten her somehow.

But as it is, she was oblivious to it.

 

I keep coming back to a scenario. That Padme assumed it would be taken care of, either by the Jedi or by Palpatine and thus didn't follow up on the matter. It is entirely reasonable for this to happen. No matter what, we're all working on an assumption. But think about this, isn't this scenario the most plausible?

 

Again, it's not in her nature. We're shown Padme as not being the type to wait around. A nine year old boy says he'll free the slaves and/or saying he'll return, that would take years. She isn't the type to sit idly by. It goes with what I mentioned earlier about Obi-wan on Geonosis, the Jedi were on the case, they were on their way, according to your logic, she should have been cool with that. Watto beating her, or treating her badly, is irrelevent as she displays disgust at the idea of slavery. Everyone else comes first, but Shmi is suddenly comfortable enough to wait years on a dangerous planet with an owner desperate for cash? Nope, sorry, it's an oversight on Lucas' part.

 

I'd buy that except Padme is aware of Shmi's plight as a slave. Slaves are at the whim of their owners. Padme wouldn't leave someone who helped her like that knowing she can help. The only real plausible way for her not to intervene would be if she somehow knew Shmi wasn't a slave anymore, or if she never knew Anakin and his mother were slaves to begin with. The latter is not possible, and nothing happens in the films to suggest the first. No scene would have been necessary, just a couple of lines dropped. Lucas showed Padme is the type that tries to help those in need, be they the unfortunate or caught in an unfortunate situation, so her inaction in this instance for someone as important in the role of liberating the Naboo people, such as Shmi, HAS to be an oversight.

Had Padme tried or done something about Shmi, then yes, one could say that, but unfortunately, it's not the case.

 

Nope, it isn't.

Padme isn't the "assuming" type. It's shown in the movies. If she were, she'd have "assumed" the Senate would resolve the Naboo blockade "eventually." She's a hands-on girl, who gets results because she sees them come about herself.

 

She knew Anakin was a slave. Did she help Anakin? You are still banking that Padme SHOULD do something, but its clear the ONLY thing in her mind is to get to Coruscant, and not depend on slaves risking their lives for her and rewarding Anakin nor Shmi. Except for the hug "we owe you everything Ani"

It is only Qui Gon who insists on using Anakin, while Padme STILL tells him, he assumes too much.

Yes, its not the case. But not unfortunate. Reiterated by her "my place is with my people". Even Shmi herself says "my place is here..."

Shmi has insight to her fate by foreseeing that Anakin was meant to help. Padme heard it herself. So helping slaves/Shmi isn't an issue.

 

I thought you said we were discussing things between TPM and AOTC.

Post-TPM, if you will, was when she became the humanitarian we are expected to believe. Her need-no-cue attitude was always there, otherwise she would have let the Senate work its way through its course.

Cause his skills aren't shown to be of help yet. She knows he hasn't even finished a race, and this is the one the fate of Naboo is banked upon? Even then, he helped them, Shmi helped them, and Padme simply forgets? Nope, sorry.

So, with those words, Padme accepts slavery? Despite her reaction to hearing slavery exists in the Galaxy?

 

We are. Padme after TPM is Queen (so her attitude is the same), and just before AOTC Senator (attitude changes)

It was still a reckless chance, succeed or fail. The thought of helping is a great gesture, no doubt yet Shmi wasn't looking for help AFTER the race. Plus Padme had no clue Anakin's freedom rode on it either.

No, Shmi accepts her fate. Both woman have a strong desire for the freedom of the ones they love. Shmi for Anakin, and Padme for her people.

Lastly, it was Anakin who insisted to do the race and reminds his mother of what she always said "the trouble with the Universe is that nobody helps each other".

Its time we "let go" of Shmi

 

As I said, her no need cue attitude is still there. She was never the type to let other people do things for her when she could do them herself. Otherwise the Senate would have been debating the Naboo invasion forever.

Just because they don't seek help, doesn't mean Padme is the type to let it slide. Obi-wan didn't ask for Padme's help, but she gave it anyway, instead of "assuming" the Jedi would handle it. As I said, her no-need-cue attitude we see throughout the films...

In a manner of speaking, it seems like Padme accepts slavery. Overlooking her reaction to the plight of Tatooine, neglecting the need of someone who helped her, if she were truly evolving as you suggest, she would have taken what she learned in TPM and acted to help Shmi. Since we see Padme is not the type to need asking for help. No one asked her to go on a rescue mission to Geonosis. Quite the contrary, Anakin was going to let the Jedi handle the situation. The movies contradict the arguments.

Besides, the best way to "let go" of Shmi would be to release her from slavery. How literal.

 

As already mentioned, just because Anakin told his mother in private that he'll come back and free her one day, Padme has absolutely no reason to assume that a 9 year old boy would go back to Tatooine and free his mother who he's not allowed to see anymore because of Jedi rules. Not only that, but they were together for a while on Naboo at the end of TPM, so you'd think that they would at least bring up the subject of Shmi's fate. Heck, Anakin could've even asked her personally to free her.

Therefore there is no reason for Padme to assume that anything was being done about Shmi, nor is there any reason for her to assume that nothing was being done about her. There is no reason for her to be assuming anything, thus it would match her character if she at least took an interest in finding out what was to become of Shmi.

As for Shmi's line, "my place is here, my future is here," Padme wasn't around to hear that, and even so, she only said that because she didn't expect anyone to come and free her once they were gone. That's why this is totally irrelevant.

Yes Shmi accepts her fate because she's not used to anyone helping her and the best thing to do when you're a slave is to just accept your fate if you want to feel any kind of happiness in your life. This, again, has nothing to do with Padme, who is in a position to free Shmi by just uttering a command. Padme should't be the one to accept that kind of "fate" for Shmi, as it would go against what she believes in and the kind of person she is.

 

You can insist on that, but it's because of the way you choose to see it that it doesn't make sense.

I still say she thought it was already taken care of.

So to me, Lucas' writing is just fine in this case.

 

Nope, sorry, it's an oversight on Lucas' part.

I don't think so. I think that many wanted to believe that there was something that Padme, as Queen of Naboo, could have done. And she could not have done anything without stirring up a political storm between Naboo and Tatooine. Nor could the Jedi. Yes, they could have sent someone to help Shmi escape, but how would they deal with the tracking transmitter in her head? Anakin was trying to remove his, when he first met Qui-Gon and Padme. The Jedi could attempt to buy Shmi, but after losing Anakin, I rather doubt that Watto was in the frame of mind to free her, as well.

I also noticed that people seemed determined to believe that as an alternative, either the Jedi or Padme could have freed Shmi so that she could be with Anakin. As if that would make things better for him. What if it didn't? What if Anakin ended up being divided between the Jedi and his mother, as he ended up being divided between the Jedi and Padme? And why should Shmi lose the chance of wedded bliss with Cliegg Lars, even if it didn't last very long?

 

Good question..why couldn't she.
I can't see how buying one slave would start a political hooplah.
All she had to do was offer a good chunk of change and I'm sure Shmi would
have been flying off with her son.
Of course this didn't happen, for storyline purposes, but it easily could have
and it's odd the generous and compassionate Padme didn't think of it.

 

In that case, I'd like to know your reasoning, because to me there was abosolutely nothing there to suggest that Padme had any indication of anybody going to free Shmi or not going to free Shmi.

Um...no. Buying a slave or selling a slave on Tatooine is the same as buying or selling a car, so there's no reason that it would cause any kind of political dispute. Plus even if she stole her (which she didn't have any reason to do cuz she was loaded with cash), Watto might have a problem, but again, it's no different that getting your car stolen. The only way that it could get political is if Padme used her influence to free all the slaves on Tatooine...then the Hutts would have a problem.

Then wait a couple weeks, or even a couple months...I'm sure his "frame of mind" would've changed by then. Plus dumping a pile of cash on him would easily persuade him to think otherwise, cuz as he says, "mind tricks don't work on me, only money." Either way, the Jedi would have less of a reason to free her than Padme... maybe just so Anakin's mind can be at ease so that he could focus more on his training.

Either way, Lucas didn't see this one, or was stubborn enough to ignore it so that it would go well with his story.

 

1) Anakin said he would take care of it. 2) She hadn't spoken to Anakin in the time between films so it is reasonable to suggest that she was not aware she wasn't in good hands. 3) Because as you say, it wouldn't match up with the rest of what we know about her character if she had known Shmi had been left hanging and didn't try to help.

The reason I see it this way is because it allows everything to make perfect sense.

I just don't see the validitiy of blaming him for the way you are choosing to assume around what he has done.

Is it to get to the truth of the matter? Or to be able to say Lucas is a bad writer?

 

If that's what I thought, then I wouldn't be on this message board, would I? I'm simply saying that he overlooked an aspect of his story, nothing more.

Now let's look at your reasons...

He never said so in front of Padme. Shmi was the only one who knew that he said that.

Actually, it safe to assume that her and Anakin spent some time together immediately before and after the parade at the end of TPM. The fact that a lot of Jedi were on Naboo at the time would've also been convenient for her to settle the issue of Shmi's freedom. But for some reason... it wasn't.

Are you saying that assuming that Shmi was freed based on the previous two points thus failing to take an interest in discovering the truth... goes with Padme's character?

As Padme would say, "You assume too much."

 

If you insist on there being doubt in Padme's mind about her being rescued, then sure.

I just don't do that.

I am assuming as much as you, it's just my assumptions fit what we see in the films.

 

Padme only wanted to go to Geonosis, because she knew that Obi-wan needed help. She did not know that Shmi needed help. There is a big difference between the two. Plain and simple she had her own affairs to attend to. She did not have time to worry about one person when she had a whole planet that required her attention. And even if she did, she would assume that the Jedi or Palpatine would handle it. There's no reason for her to go free Shmi. In the end that's what it comes down to.

 

What "political storm" came about from Anakin being liberated? If it was so difficult and "wrong," then why wasn't Anakin simply returned to Watto? Liberating a slave is being made harder than it was in the film.

Escape? Watto turn down money? Money works for Watto; an offer large enough would be plenty for him, what with him being ruined. If he wasn't desperate for cash, he wouldn't have sold Shmi to a dirt farmer. If anything, they probably could have gotten Shmi for a bargain, as I doubt the Lars were rich.

One of the main factors that led Anakin down the path he led was the ambiguity of his mother's situation. It's what made him unable to accept loss and change. He didn't know if she was safe, what she was doing, where she was, if she had even been sold. Freeing Shmi would have atleast brought Anakin the peace of mind he needed to focus on his training.

 

Anakin did focus on his training. It was his abilities that made him arrogant in AOTC, not thinking about his mother. His fear for his mother only resurfaced when she was kidnapped and was tortured for a month. Nor would Padme think that he would become evil as a result of this.

Watto would refuse money on principle, because Qui-gon had tricked him. And Watto wasn't entirely broke, as he had the money left over from the winnings that Qui-gon gave him, after puchasing the hyperdrive. His good fortunate never recovered over the next five years, but he wasn't entirely bankrupt.

 

I don't know why you're so convinced that I think that Padme assumes that nobody is planning on freeing Shmi. I mean, I don't think I could make it more clear than I did in my last 5 posts! Padme doesn't assume either scenario nor does she doubt either scenario.

If your assumptions are based on the 3 reasons that you mentioned, then they are obviously flawed because of the things I pointed out. Therefore, your assumptions do not fit what we see in the films.

If she were overly-compassionate, then she might even go to the extent of getting her herself, but I don't think that that's who Padme is. That's why most of the people here are suggesting that she would've sent someone on her behalf to free Shmi.

Not if he were presented with an enormous sum of money, which he would need at that time because of his losses.