Star Words: Episode IV, Part 34

[matril]

As General Dodonna finishes the briefing, we stand at the very edge of the climactic finish, ready to enter the hustle and bustle of a hanger full of starships and Rebel pilots preparing for battle. And what line is offered as immediate prelude to this adrenaline rush? What else, but the most famous line in the entire saga.

"May the Force be with you."

It's interesting to me that this famous line is first delivered by a relatively minor character. Dodonna is a prominent Rebel leader, but in term of the movie role, this is his only truly significant scene. He won't show up in any future films. The specifics of his character are not nearly as important as what this line represents -- the religious underpinnings of the Rebellion.

We don't see a lot of love for religiously-driven revolts nowadays, and with good reason: fundamentalist terrorists have given the notion a very bad name. In contrast, there is something very intriguing about a benevolent group that fights tyranny not just in the name of ideals like liberty and justice, but with the invocation of a higher power. Granted, the Force and devotion thereto are vague enough to avoid most faith-related controversies, but the religious element can't be denied.

And what an elegantly simple invocation it is. Trash Lucas's dialogue all you want, but he undoubtedly created one of the most memorable catchphrases in film history. Evocative of "God be with you" and similar variants (I know some friends who have to stifle the urge to reply "and also with you" from years of call-and-response religious ceremonies!) it encapsulates so much with just six words. The Force itself is a concept that works so well as a sort of Jungian representation of whatever religion you want to imprint upon it. Beyond a few general concepts of balance and non-aggression, it doesn't fuss over specifics. You can make of it what you will. That's the beauty of fantasy and sci-fi. What will you find there? Much like Yoda says in the next episode, "Only what you take with you."

Next time, another clash between Luke's idealism against Han's cynicism....

Comments

[krpalmer]

I mentioned in the comment on your post about Obi-Wan's previous variation on the saying that my family has a book of quotations that demonstrates the impact of this line by including it, but also includes its immediate lead-in "Then man your ships, and..." I'll admit the extended quotation felt a little "off" or gratuitous, somehow.

Bringing up "religious underpinnings," though, had me thinking the characters in this movie who most link the Force with the specific word "religion" are the Imperial officers, who might seem to be making efforts to diminish the Force to the point of believing that themselves, and Han, who could be seen as representing the low state of the galaxy at large. I'm aware, of course, that to make too much a deal of this is to step into controversy...

[matril]

Yes, obviously religion is a loaded word, and I don't think Lucas ever puts it in the mouths of any heroes. There are alternate terms that work about the same -- belief, faith, spirituality. The significant thing, beyond any semantic specificity, is the notion of being guided and/or led by a higher power than mortal means.