The fate of Shmi Skywalker... why?

I have been wondering about this since I saw AOTC, but I never brought it up because I thought it had been discussed... if it has, it hasn't been recently.. so...

As we all know, Shmi remained on Tatooine as a slave and was bought by Cligg Lars and died because of Tusken Raiders.
WHY?

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RECAP:

In TPM, Anakin offers to race in the Boonta Eve race for the parts that Qui-Gon and the others need to leave Tatooine. Shmi says no.
Padme even says that they could find a way to get the parts WITHOUT Anakin's help, because of the danger. Anakin pushes the issue... Shmi forbids Anakin from racing in the Boonta Eve race... after Anakin reminds his mother of people needing to help each other, she relents and gives her blessing... "He was meant to help you."

Anakin wins the race, WHOOSH, he's off to Coruscant. Shmi isn't seen until AOTC....

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AOTC:

WHY did Shmi remain on Tatooine, when she SHOULD have be "rescued" by Amidala or the Naboo Gov't?
Padme realizes that in TPM, it was Shmi's decision to make concerning the welfare of her son.. it's because of Shmi's blessing that Anakin was able to race, get the parts and earn his freedom.
Shmi is left on Tatooine and is bought by Cligg. She is an afterthought until Anakin has a dream about her on Naboo, Padme never mentions his mother until then. AFTER the nightmare, Anakin decides to go after her, Padme decides to go along.

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WHY? WHY? WHY?

Why didn't Padme, in the interm between TPM & AOTC, go back to Tatooine and buy Shmi from Watto?
Padme wasn't bound by the Jedi Code like Anakin. Padme could go back for her...

Possible answer: Padme was the Queen of Naboo, she didn't have time.

She could send a representative to buy Shmi, grant her freedom and then transport Shmi to Naboo or help her set up a life on Tatooine.

Possible answer: Amidala needed to rebuild Naboo, she couldn't let a representative from Naboo just pick Shmi up. How would Shmi know the deal was legit?

Padme DIDN'T remain Queen of Naboo for the ENTIRE 10 years.. I'm sure she had time to go back and get Shmi after her term was up and before she went to working the Senate. Padme seemed to have a "wealthy" background the money to buy Shmi, would be a drop in the bucket to a Senator or former Queen.

Possible answer: Padme was busy?

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I don't have a good answer for this. It is one of the story points I have a problem with the AOTC film, it doesn't even address this or explain why Padme "forgot" about the mother of the boy that was responsible for saving her planet!

If there is a EU answer, I'd love to hear it.. for kicks.
BASED ON THE FILM... Shmi was just "hung out to dry" by the one person that was ABLE to help her, Padme Amidala!
Give me a good reason for this, WHY didn't Padme save Shmi? BASED on THE FILM.

(Everyone, don't turn this into a Basher/Gusher thing because YOU can't answer it. )

I feel this is a very good question, one that even GL either forgot about or didn't even realize would be raised. It is a hole that the film never deals with and a viewer of the film, IMO, should be able to notice.

WHY?

 

Good question, I never thought of that before.

 

If I had to come up with a reason, off the top of my head I would say that the Yoda or Obi Wan or both maybe asked her not to. They knew (or maybe foresaw) that Anakin's attachment to his mother could tempt him to stray off track and decided it was best if she stayed there. I think Watto wouldn't have wanted to sell her right after TPM anyway. "He lost everything" so I would think he would hang onto his last slave. Later on (like when he did sell her) maybe they had given up. Remember Amidala became a senator and probably spent much of her time on Coruscant; far away from the Hutt controlled outer rim where her enemies are.

It is a good question. Remember that there is a possibility that Ani will discover that Obi Wan asked Padme to leave Shmi on Tattooine (or something similar) and that could lead to the their falling out. Everyone assumes it has something to do with Padme but it could be that Ani blames Obi Wan for his mother's death.

 

I'm with Prozac on this one.

 

Good point, prozac. But that was an interesting question too...

 

Good point, Prozac.

I also think that the Naboo government or the Senate might feel that they could not get into the business of buying slaves from the Outer Rim territories--that it wouldn't be politically feasible--that if they were going to buy one slave, they would need to free the whole population. I don't thikn Padme could take Nubian government money and go buy a slave without the permission of the people or her advisors--she wasn't an absolute monarch. Also, remember that Qui-Gon said he hadn't come to free slaves. I always got the feeling that he didn't think it was up to him--that Jedi weren't supposed to interfere with political business on Tatooine. It could be that the Nubian people, or the Senate, felt the same. I have a feeling that Padme probably wanted to free Shmi but was stopped by her government or the Jedi Council, like Prozac said, out of their fear of his attachment to his mother.

 

Yeah, it's very feasible that the Naboo VIP's didn't like the idea of interfering in Tattooine business. Remember that Naboo has just fought off an invasion and Tattooine is controlled by the Hutts. I don't think the Hutts are very sympathetic.

 

Didn't Shmi herself tell Anakin to go and don't look back?

She knew he had a higher purpose and that's why she was so intent on having Qui-Gon take him off Tatooine.

So I believe it was her decision to not leave Tatooine and she probably talked with Qui-Gon with this in some off-screen moment.

However, since we can only use what is in the movie, I believe it was heavily implied that it was Shmi's decision to stay on Tatooine. It had nothing to do with interference from the Jedi Council or the Republic.

 

I'm with The_Abstract on this one. It was most likely Shmi's decision to stay on Tatooine.

 

Punisher,

I've always had a great deal of trouble with this as well, if GL wanted to kill off shmi to damage anakin, it should have been done in TPM.

There is jsut no real reason why shmi could not have been saved, more over, I don't find anything redeeming in the jedi way off life, abandon all you love, forget attachment, is GL trying to make us hate the Jedi?

Why not have shmi leave tatooine with Anakin in TPM, and kill her somewhere else? I dunno, there really is no reasonable answer to all this, not that I've heard anyways.

 

It was most likely Shmi's decision to stay on Tatooine.

I agree. She knew what he was doing was important, and I think she understood that by being with him, it would destract his training. She didn't want to stay, but knew it was best for her son.

 

But how can a mothers love ever be damaging to a young boy?

 

I agree with you, Rebel Scumb, and that's one of my biggest problems with the Jedi Code.

 

I most cases its not, unless it interferes with his ability to think clearly as a Jedi, which it does in AOTC.


I know this is a fatalist arguement, but what's to say Shmi wouldn't have died on Coruscant or Naboo?

But I go back to my previous point- Shmi chose to stay on Tatooine. No one is to blame for not taking her off the planet. And as it turns out, her situation did improve, and she was freed and married by what seems to be a pretty nice guy. So if she had left Tatooine she never would have met Clieeg Lars.

So we can endlessly go on with the possible fate of Shmi Skywalker, but I can't think of anything that works as well in the context of the story as what George Lucas gave us.

She didn't have to be kidnapped and die, but it's on a short list of things that would motivate Anakin Skywalker to go to the Dark Side. I'll stick with what we've got.

 

And her life wasn't that bad on Tattoine anyways.

 

Yes but I want to know why GL felt that this was a good way to portary jedi? Why could they not eb a family oriented group who encourage love and marriage and children, they are only the priest like beings that they are because GL decided to do this, we saw nothing in the starwars trilogy to indicate that they were so inclined, infact we saw Luke and leia raised into maturity by families, and Obi-wan did nothing to discourage Lukes obvious attration to leia.

The portrayll of the jedi is one of my biggest beefs with the PT, there's very little of what we've seen that I like.

 

IMHO, the Jedi's rigidity and inflexibility, as well as their discouragement of what I consider all things good in life--love of family and love of a soulmate--is what caused their downfall. However, I don't believe this is Lucas' fault. I believe he intentionally portrayed the Jedi this way, to show the flaws of the Old Order.

Those of us who grew up with the OT were given the impression that the Jedi were supposed to be "perfect", the "good guys", and that the Empire was supposed to be nothing but evil; when, in fact, Lucas is now showing us that the Empire was able to rise because of corruption in the Old Republic; that Anakin Skywalker's turn to the Dark Side was born from pain, not an inherent sense of evil; and that the Jedi, including Obi-Wan and Yoda, were flawed. A lot of people seem to not want to accept that, and, again IMHO, that is why many people of my generation are so disgruntled with the PT. They enjoyed the plain black-and-white view of ANH, and don't want to accept the shades of grey that Lucas is now showing us.

 

I agree with Rebel Scumb regarding Jedi celibacy and the like.

As for Punisher's question, I have just two words: plot hole.

 

Punisher Good question and most possibly the answer is:
Giant Plothole! (I hope this is all it is)

If it is not a plothole, it shows some people in a very bad light: first, the people of Naboo. These are people (humans and Gungans) who have just been saved from enormous casualties through the heroism of a young boy. If they can't show gratitude by freeing his mother, even before rebuilding themselves, then they are portrayed as very selfish and self-centered and not very likeable. This includes Jar-jar, Padme, BossNass, Panaka, everyone. They ALL knew who Anakin was. Watto's driving motivation in TPM was established to be greed: so he would not have refused a really lucrative offer. Secondly, in the case it's not a plot hole, the Jedi Council, who in TPM are made aware of Anakin's mother and her condition, are also shown to be cruel and heartless, in not helping a woman who has willingly sacrificed so much and has so little in life.

There is an alternative explanation that may get cleared up in EIII. Maybe it is not a plot-hole after all and the Jedi secretly arranged for Shmi to be freed by Lars. They didn't want her on Coruscant for obvious reasons, and she seemed to like Tatooine life. The reason I like this way-out theory is that I cannot imagine how a poor moisture farmer suddenly had the money to buy a slave, instead of spending it on something more practical. Cliegg and Owen seem very practical men and they didn't have slaves.

 

Well, every other Jedi is without a family, why should Anakin get special treatment?

 

I think I have to agree with Anakin Girl.
Why are so many of you so quick to scream plot hole?
The Jedi Council are obviously not perfect and obviously not what we thought. But that's sort of the point isn't it? The Jedi were so arrogant that they couldn't even believe Qui Gon that a Sith attacked him; just because they didn't sense it.

I think alot of the bashers on this forum suffer from the same problem. lol

 

I know. Lucas needed something to get Anakin angry. Mom+Death=Anger. Simple enough.
_jOBO

 

Lol forever_jedi, here I thought I was the only one who had come up with that "way-out" theory .

Yes, I've thought about that - the Jedi taking care of Shmi by having her set free and married to an honest man.

I know that Lucas is portraying the Jedi as flawed. And the Old Republic as well, and since Naboo represents the Old Republic in so many ways, it's a shame, but realistic that Shmi's plight could be buried beneath a bunch of other tasks that need to get done.

But the question is how flawed will Lucas make the Jedi and the Old Republic? Well we won't know until Episode III. But here's the details on this possible theory:

The Jedi are concerned about attachment but as pointed out, slavery isn't right. After all this is the Chosen One's mother. And that's what makes me think this theory might be possible. Consider that the Jedi see to it to find a suitable, honest man with a family, in a familiar place to Shmi, for her to live. And there you have the Lars.

Picture Yoda in Mos Eisley at a table with a long line of would be suitors in front of it.
As a Rodian steps away, Cliegg Lars steps up.

"Why wish you to marry Shmi Skywalker?" - Yoda asks, looking up at the moisture farmer.

"Mostly because of my father I guess. He once told me, 'Son, be sure to marry a hardworking woman, one who isn't afraid to go out and collect mushrooms off the vaporators.' My father was a wise moisture farmer." - Answers Cliegg

"Hmmmm. Powerful moisture farmer was he. Powerful moisture farmer." - Yoda dims his eyes and inhales.

Well you get the picture .

Seriously, though. With this theory many things could fall into place in Episode III. For starters, wouldn't it floor Anakin if Palps/Sidious reveals to him that the Jedi and their meddling ways are responsible for Shmi's death? After all, if they had left her alone with Watto, she wouldn't have been captured by Tusken Raiders would she? This would be neat because here we have a situation where the good guys tried to do something good but it is portrayed to Anakin that in the end all it did was make things worse. This gives Anakin more weight to believe that doing good is the "weak" way and that the only way to get things done right, and to have true power is to use the dark side.

Furthermore, it gives more weight to Owen to see the Jedi as meddling and not wanting Luke to have anything to do with Obi-Wan. It's like "just leave us alone already." Owen's viewpoint: First you approach my father about marrying Shmi. Then she dies and her son comes and gets all upset. Now you want us to take care of his kid but you want us to give him this lightsaber on his fourth birthday? Get out of here you crazy old man.

In short this theory adds more fuel to the fire for both Anakin and Owen.

So it comes down to how passionate the Jedi are vs. how flawed they are. The thing is, either way I'll be happy. Because maybe you don't like how the Jedi are flawed in the PT, but I always see it as Luke gives rebirth to the Jedi Order. And somehow I see a Jedi Order started by Luke as being far more compassionate and no more of this being seperated from family business. So it's ok that the Jedi are seen as flawed in the PT, because we know through Anakin they are literally PURGED and through Luke they RETURN, but this time things will be different. It's called character develpment. Too bad we won't get 7,8, and 9. That would be a perfect chance to see the new and improved Jedi Order.

 

I'm just specualting here, but perhaps someone (Padme, Naboo representative, or some other person) went back to Watto and tried to buy Shmi's freedom only to find out that Cliegg had already purchased her, freed her, and married her. Then this person thought it would be better to let Shmi live her life out on Tatooine with her new husband and new family rather than trying to take Shmi to Coruscant because it's not like Shmi could be with Anakin anyway. All I'm saying is that perhaps someone tried to free Shmi, but since Cliegg did just that soon after Anakin left, there wasn't anymore this person could do.

 

A SOLUTION TO MAKE ALL HAPPY - It would be have been easy to quickly explain that Naboo had secured Shmi's freedom. Then, being a free person, she could have married Cleigg, and through fate ultimately be kidnapped by Tusken Raiders. This quick explanation would have tied up this plothole. (The excuses for Padme's inaction are ridiculous. Padme has numerous assistants/secretaries, officials, etc. who could have done this for her. Just like at your work, when the boss tells someone 'this week, make sure we bring in two more engineers for this project.' The boss doesn't have to do ***ANYTHING***, just give the order. Freeing Shmi wouldn't have interfered with Anakin's training either. (After all, she was freed, and got married, and it's clear Anakin never got a wedding invitation). This makes everyone happy.