Mara Jade, Hate her? Love her?

....When Luke comes across Mara Jade he is no doubt thinking the same thing... hate her? love her? Who is this woman? I'm interested in what YOU THINK and WHY...

(I was told to move this topic to this area.. so I hope it works here!)

Someone just told me that there are haters out there for Mara Jade Skywalker! Anti-Mara people? WHAT?? ....but why??? She is beautiful, she is strong, she understands lonliness like Luke does, she is strong willed and not easily fooled. She is also.. a Jedi. So, what is not to like?

Is it the chip on her shoulder when she first meets Luke? Well, when Luke met his real father as Darth Vader, he had a chip on his shoulder as well you could say. But Luke could SEE through it, see to what no one else could ever see.. he saw there was good in Vader, he saw Anakin. Then later, he met Mara Jade. And like his father, Mara causes him a confusing lot of trouble, but yet there is something happening between them. They need eachother, and don't know it yet. We know what happens next... soon Mara Jade the solo loner the woman who trusts no one but herself... falls in love. A love she needs. ..and a love that maybe only a man like Luke (who is so empathetic and able to see through people) can give her.

To me, this character is believable and refreshing. Not every woman is sheltered or protected from LIFE. Some do grow up to be hard hearted and hiding pain. But there is hope for everyone to become the best they can be.

So.. why hate Mara?
....Am I right in thinking that maybe it is that she is so independent minded, hard headed, strong willed, and dangerous? Not the usual type of female character. LEIA is also strong and independent in this way, and she fights love too.. and ends up in hans arms anyway. LOL
That is LOVE.. you can't tell love what to do.
..Padme too is the strong type and yet she is not able to stop herself from loving Anakin. Mara is the same. But Mara was once a cruel woman. In service to the one man who she thought did care for her (Sidious) she was willing to build her life around him. Vader also served Sidious. In both cases A bad choice. But Sidious took mara when she was just a child and she had no other form of love or caring. And in the end it was a choice that brought her eventually.. to Luke... and her future destiny.

I don't want to sound Feminist.. because Im not. I believe simply that the genders are Equal.
Human is Human. Not everyone believes that. But if Maras Independence and strong will and Strength is what makes people hate her, then may be it is because Somehow some people just can't swallow that Women are capable of the same passions and strengths are men are. Well... contrary to the rumors we are not fragile angels or the smaller gender in need of protection constantly. We are strong and we are just as Human. In REALITY it is true that we can be just as strong if applying ourselves. History proves that.

It's just that sadly many of us don't apply ourselves. We let ourselves be treated differently in many ways.. sometimes because it is nice to be taken care of. And We are seperated in the military because we do not have to lift as much weight as the males.. Not because we can't lift it, but because we have never fought that rule yet.. We just go with it. Personally I believe STRONGLY that if you cannot lift the same amount of weight, then you need to learn HOW... or just leave the military. You must learn to stop taking the easy way. Because all Women suffer when a few women refuse to stand up and be everything they can be when tested. Some of us just believe what we are told I guess. AFter all.. if you tell someone they are one way long enough they will start to believe you. Thats just psychology. In TIME the truth that there are some women up to the challenge will come out.

BUT.... if you think about the Jedi and the fact that LUCAS said he takes the Jedi ways from the Samurai ways (paritally) because he was such a big fan of the samurai films and wanted starwars to have a touch of that.... then to unde

 

Love Mara here!

There is nothing to hate. Strong, courageous, beautiful, intelligent...

She's one of the best EU characters out there!

 

I love Mara, but you know that.

I know she has her faults, but I find her a much better mate for Luke than any of the other women he was associated with....expecially Callista. I found her BORING. But that is just me. I know there are Callista fans out there and I don't want to insult their favorite character...but I guess I just did. Opps! Sorry.

Mara and Luke is like the classic tale The taming of the Shrew. Well, sort of. Anyway it is a tale of love overcoming hate.

Umm...I would say more but it is 2:30 in the morning and my mind is not thinking clearly.

I love Mara and Luke together. That is all that needs to be said.

AG88

 

Like Mara

Hate Mara

 

Funny Suzuki...but so true.

I sometimes think some of the Mara-Haters do not dislike the character as much as the fan's response to her.

I do know that I am guilty of glossing over her many flaws and focusing only on the positive, but I do that in life with my real friends.

To be honest, if I had a friend that risked his or her life to save me from pirates, save the lives of my family members, and help save the galaxy from evil invaders--I guarantee that I would overlook the fact that he or she is often hardheaded and surly.

AG88

 

I like her, for the most part. Yes, she has her abrasive moments, but my largest complaints come from the NJO, where I think just about EVERYONE was written poorly.

 

but my largest complaints come from the NJO, where I think just about EVERYONE was written poorly

I agree. It was almost like the writers focused on the bad points in ALL the characters. I don't know if they were trying to say that war brings out the worst in people or not. I have often thought the reverse was true.

AG88

 

Going to cast my vote.

Hate her, hate her, hater her. Did I mention that I hate her.

independent minded, hard headed, strong willed, and dangerous

Hmm. I will agree Mara is hard headed. Thick headed would be a better term. In 20 years she hasn't learned people skills or when to shut her mouth at all. Dangerous? Yup, she's a lose cannon as well. She doesn't even know the meaning of self-control. Independent and Strong Willed? HA! She is forever hiding behind Luke. She thinks that Luke's acomplishments and power are hers which causes he to say things or or boss people around as if she has the right to. Either due to bad writing, her actual personality I can only think up ONE word that nicely sums up Mara Jade. I hate using the word and I would never and have never called a woman this in real life but Mara Jade, in my opinion is the perfect example of what people call a Bitch!

Plain and simple in my opinion. That's what she is(was bitchy and at least understandable to some degree in the TTT) and that is what she truly become (I have seen nothing and I mean really nothing that makes me thing of her otherwise). If Mara is the Queen B of Star Wars, Jaina was well on her way if not actually the Princess B due to being around Mara(luckly that has been avoided, at least I hope).

 

Mara's awesome!! I loved how smart-alecky and sarcastic she was to Luke in the beginning (since I'm not a big Luke fan )

 

Ooooh Lots of comments so far!

And.....well as for Mara being a B.I.T.C..ahhem..
Some women take that as a compliment. lol.


...Actually I've only read the thrawn trilogy with Mara so far.. and I am in the middle of The last command right now. The suspense!
I plan to read them all eventually..
But like BARISS said, she is very smart-aliky lol with Luke in the beginning and that Cracks me UP.
During their time in the forest, I was actually laughing out loud. LOL He had no idea what to make of this woman. And all she knew was that he was still so young inside, so innocent, so unlike her. Yet, alot like her too. A confusing situation.
No, I wasn't a Luke fan either so that was funny to finally hear someone tell him he is being a bit naive with a few things. lol. I do like Luke now though.. he is growing on me as he grows and develops as a character. And he is loyal to his fathers memory.. most importantly.

I can't wait to read the other books!!!
..Guess I'm a beginner. lol.


Oh and Bariss..
LOVED THAT COMMENT OF YOURS IN YOUR SIG LINE.
4 more years of
>sigh<
...but only 4. Thats why THIS is America.
http://www.hrc.org
Http://www.amnestyusa.org
http://www.datadata.org
ACTIVISM is Patriotism

 

Hey!!! You there Neo!!! What the hell is wrong with Mara??? She's Awesome!! YOU CANNOT HATE HER AND STILL BE CONSIDERED A NORMAL HUMAN!!!! I cannot stand people who don;t like her.
She is beautiful, she is strong, she understands lonliness like Luke does, she is strong willed and not easily fooled. She is also.. a Jedi. So, what is not to like?
IT's so true Gemini! Loneliness, yeah, that stuff sucks. I like her mostly just cuz i can relate. Stupid people who you think you can trust and you build your whole life around willingly who just let you down in the end suck. They should be shipped off to some oddball planet or something. I've dated too many of the losers. ~Gabs

 

Tatooine Gemini, I liked your "monologue" at the beginning, and--having once been in a non-traditional field for women--I have to agree with your assessment that many people (men and women) don't like and feel threatened by women in such positions (i.e., women who have proved they are capable in that non-traditional field). It takes a great deal of strength to push through that sort of covert resistance from people, and I agree with you that Mara Jade appeals to me because she was successful in that way. She's tough, can be driven and inflexible (which many read as *b----*)--but she gets the job done when she sets her mind to it, and I admire that in her character. I have never seen a character that inflames more passionate responses on both sides than Mara--and I guess I sort of think that's cool, too! I agree that her characterization in the NJO is inconsistent from one author to the next--but the Mara Jade I was first introduced to is the one I hold on to in my head, and she's the woman I respect (for her successes, her failures, her strength, her loyalty, her independence and her drive).

Rant over! *runs and covers head to avoid incoming flames!*

FF

 

Jade_Saber, perhaps NeoStar hates Mara because of rabid fans like you...

 

Yeah, that's only slightly possible
*KOPPM*
~Rogue~

 

SA:Jade_Saber, perhaps NeoStar hates Mara because of rabid fans like you...

You know what, SA has a point there. Not all of the hate and dislike for Mara I feel comes about just because of Mara. Rabid fans of her add fuel to the fire as well. I've actually tried to touch on this in my posts in the Lit forum when I actually give my reasons for disliking her or why others might dislike or hate her. Not all of her fans but certain ones which just cause people to hate her even more.

Also I am normal and I still hate her.

FalconFan:Tatooine Gemini, I liked your "monologue" at the beginning, and--having once been in a non-traditional field for women--I have to agree with your assessment that many people (men and women) don't like and feel threatened by women in such positions (i.e., women who have proved they are capable in that non-traditional field).

I will agree that there are people like that in the world yet I don't believe this is the case for people that dislike Mara. At least I know that isn't the case for me at all. I believe there is a difference between being a strong willed woman and being a bitch type person.

One of my favorite female characters happens to be Xena. Who I actually always wished Mara was more like but saddly she isn't and maybe there wouldn't have been all this hate. Both seem to have similar past. Under the control of a evil being (Palp for Mara and Aeries, God of War for Xena). Both broke free of their control due to the help of strong and brave men(Luke and Hercules). Yet here is where the differences end. Mara goes on to be a smuggler, looking out for herself. Xena goes on to use her skills and talents in order to atone for the deeds she's done in her past. She is still hated by people she comes across but works to right her wrongs even though people might still hate her afterwards. She is strong and doesn't take crap from people yet at the same time she knows when to do this and when not to. She continues to soften after teaming up with Hercules, his partner, and her friends she meets through her life. Even when constantly going up against the one person she thought was the most important person in her life she stays the course and is still strong and kicks ass. Not to mention she has a compassionite side not to just her children and family but to strangers that she tries to help and save. She was a warrior, general actually of armies, clearly non-traditional. In the time character was introduced and in the time the Xena series was on the character continued to grow and gain respect(she earned it and still continued to change for the better and be strong).

I wish I had the same impression of Mara but I don't. I don't feel she has changed, has earned any of the respect she is given, nor is deserving of the titles she has been given. She has been givne much but does not seem to apperciate it. Given the second chance she has wasted it and not seems to hide behind her husband where ever he goes.

 

I mara is okay character, her having social problems is actually a intresting thing considering that she used to have incredible power. ITs not exactly surprising, what i want to know is how she wound up with Karrde.

Side note no matter where you go there will always be over zelous people. Look over by a collage sometime its likely you'll find a Preacher screaming at the top of his long saying SIN, or somethin like that.

 

One of my favorite female characters happens to be Xena. Who I actually always wished Mara was more like but saddly she isn't and maybe there wouldn't have been all this hate.

Ugghh! I am so glad Mara is not like Xena. I hate Xena.

 

i like the sharkrum though... i probally spelled that wrong.

 

Ugghh! I am so glad Mara is not like Xena. I hate Xena.


See that's cool. Difference of opinion. I wasn't really refering to how Xena looks but more in how she actually acts, presents herself, interacts with others and changes instead. I guess we just have a difference in what type of strong female character we like. Me being male and you being female not a shocking thing. Yet at the same time I know plenty of women that like Xena as a character and yet hate Mara.

 

I wasn't referring to Xena's looks either. Her character gave me the creeps.

I like Mara's character. But that is just me. Most of my friends can be described as hardheaded, cantankerous and temperamental...just like Mara.

AG88

 

My friends are more like han, or Wedge. Cocky or ready to get the objective done.

 

I don't like the character.

She's essentially too masculine (women can be and are indepedent without sacrificing femininty), has seemingly brow-beaten her husband down and what she did to Nom Anor was inexcusable for a Jedi and no-one has told her she is wrong especially Luke Skywalker...

 

Exactly.

women can be and are indepedent without sacrificing femininty

I especially agree with this. Then again this is just how I feel.

 

Yes well, that is true about what she did to Nom Anor. Of course she learned to use her anger as a weapon long before she learned to use the peace of mind to control the force. I think the NJO portrail of her was a little lacking thats true to a lot of characters too. What i didnt like is when Tahari and Corran go to Coruscant to pick up Nom Anor, the shaper and the priest you get a lot on those charaters and some others but the next book they are barely mentioned. That type of series writing is very annoying and hurts many characters in their development.

Sure women can be independent and feminie (excuse my spelling), but not all are...I'll just say this i liked Jade more when in the oriaganl thrawn series.

 

I'll just say this I liked Jade more when in the original Thrawn series.

Haven't read them, just the New Jedi Order for Mara Jade appearances. Oh wait, I, Jedi aswell.