Star Words: Episode IV, Part 18

[matril]

While Obi-Wan's decades of Force training have given him the sensitivity to experience the anguish of Alderaan's destruction, Luke is just beginning his course of training. Unlike the Padawans trained at the Jedi Temple, however, Luke has an outsider audience. And Han isn't shy about expressing his contrary viewpoint. When Luke fails to anticipate the training orb's blast, Han is quick to mock his so-called "hokey religions and ancient weapons." He claims vast experience, galaxy-spanning travels, and insists that nothing he's seen has convinced him that the Jedi beliefs are anything but plain hokum.

"There's no mystic energy field controls my destiny. It's all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense."

The interesting thing about Han's perspective is that he is completely and utterly mistaken. The Force is very real; there is no trickery in a Jedi's abilities. As audience members we know this, even if we haven't witnessed the jaw-dropping skills of the prequel-era Jedi. We've seen Vader telekinetically choke someone; we observed Obi-Wan's ability to influence the minds of the stormtroopers. If the Force is demonstrably real within the worldbuilding of the film, how could Han remain blind to its influence? It's a powerful example of how we only see what we want to see -- and a reminder that no matter how much we already know, there is so much more to learn if only we can open our minds to it.

It's interesting to note Obi-Wan's reaction to Han. He could, I suppose, perform some tremendous feat that would obliterate all of Han's doubts. But that's not the Jedi way. It's not about winning an argument or shaming someone. Obi-Wan just smiles patiently, more amused than insulted. He doesn't need to prove anything. Instead, he focuses on helping Luke hone his skills. And even when the Force aids him in taking down the training orb, Han remains completely skeptical.

That's his path. It will take a lot for him to acknowledge the reality of the Force. I don't think it really has much to do with needing to be confronted by overwhelming evidence. The reason Han resists the notion of a "mystic energy field" is because he wants to believe that he controls his own destiny. He's a proud, self-made man who rarely relies on anyone else for help. That's not entirely negative. Believing in the will of the Force isn't the same as ceding responsibility or sliding into total inaction because there's no point in trying to fight destiny. Working hard for one's well-being is admirable (thought perhaps smuggling isn't the most honorable way to achieve it, but anyway).

At the same time, having perfect control over one's life and circumstances is an illusion, and we all have to come to terms with that. For Han, the idea of acknowledging some power beyond himself, something constantly at motion in his life and all the world around him, is terrifying. It's going to take vulnerability and humility to accept it. But those changes will come, eventually. Han has no idea just how much he's going to change.

Next, Obi-Wan offers a lovely metaphor for his new apprentice....

Comments

[krpalmer]

Back at your analysis of the Death Star conference room, I got to pondering to what extent "disdain in the Force" could be interpreted as people not necessarily denying the Jedi had "unusual abilities," but supposing there was nothing "larger" beyond that, as it hadn't helped them in the end. It feels a little interesting to consider the Jedi as passing from "enemies of the Republic/Empire" to "just sort of irrelevant," even if I'm stuck imagining "others" caught on supposing that a mere "contradiction."

[matril]

Yes, I suppose once Palpatine smeared the reputation of the Jedi, it could have gone a lot of different directions, and perhaps the most obvious would be a growing exaggeration of their monstrosities. But it seems what happened instead was the notion that "if they were never our allies and friends, maybe they were frauds all along -- maybe they were never really the wise and powerful super-humans they appeared to be -- maybe it was all some kind of scam just to grab for power." After all, the core belief of the Sith boils down to the idea that they are inherently superior and therefore deserve to rule. It would make sense to perpetuate the belief that the Jedi don't deserve to rule; they aren't superior; maybe they were just weaklings and fakes all along.