#9 -- My Journey Out: More Dark Days
My Journey Out -- Sidebar: Ruminations on Ministry

Episode Three: The First Discussion

I haven't seen it the second time, so this isn't a review, but there is one issue I want to discuss.

In the prequels we learned that the Jedi have this philosophy that is close to Buddhism (one of Lucas' interests), particularly in the concept of detachment. They are not to be attached to things or people, particularly they are not supposed to love. This, of course, explains more fully part of Luke's conflict in Return of the Jedi, when his feelings could betray him or, ultimately, lead him down the Dark Side.

Revenge of the Sith raises some interesting questions. These early films are full of quite interesting and complex moral ambiguity (Episodes 4-6 were pretty black and white). In Attack of the Clones, it became clear that everyone was being manipulated by evil, even the well-intentioned folk who were trying to do good. At the start of Revenge, it is unclear that anyone really knows what is good/right anymore. Padme expresses concern that they are fighting on the wrong side. The Jedi, who were unable to sense the rise of the Dark Side to begin with, now seem unclear as to whether they are helping or hurting and their motives become muddied (it seems to me). In the midst of this Anakin is trapped in moral confusion. Clearly part of the confusion is the result of his love for Padme. He has not followed the Jedi code in remaining detached. But it is also not clear that Lucas is against this. I don't think Lucas casts the love relationship in a bad light.

Plus, we have seen Return of the Jedi, and we know something important. Anakin is ultimately saved because of his attachment to his son. Anakin does destroy the Sith, out of the connection to Luke that resurfaces at the fatal moment.

I think Lucas is engaging in criticism of the Jedi order. Their inability to understand how attachment might be a good thing that ought to be developed in certain ways leads to some of their moral ambiguity in Revenge of the Sith. In fact, only someone trained in detaching in order to fulfill duty could twist that to the point of slaughtering helpless children.

As a Christian, I look at this story as a salvation narrative played out over six films. This isn't Lucas' personal philosophy, but one way to read the story. Anakin descends into hell and is redeemed at the end, ultimately by his the power of love for another person. In the Christian philosophy, relationship, attachment, love, community, these are most important. So, my personal read is that the evil that befalls the Republic is partly the fault of the Jedi who are unable to understand the salvific nature of human relationships.

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