Star Words: Episode V, Part 21

[matril]

In the last scene on Dagobah, Yoda had quite the list of reasons for not training Luke. There was no apparent resolution reached, only a grim warning that fearful times would come. Yet when we return, Luke is in the midst of an intense training session with the Jedi Master. Did something change or happen off-screen? Or was Yoda always planning on teaching Luke, with his apparent refusal serving as yet another test? Many possibile explanations. I can imagine that Luke's very claim of being unafraid provided the opening Yoda wanted; an opportunity to humble this hotheaded boy.

In any case, the training has started. Whether it will succeed in producing a Jedi Knight is up to Luke.

While Luke performs exercises of physical strength and dexterity, Yoda encourages him to recognize the Force in every aspect, flowing through him. The focus of his lesson, however, is a warning.

"But beware the Dark Side. Anger, fear, aggression. The Dark Side are they. Easily they flow. Quick to join in a fight."

You can really see the influence of eastern philosophies in Lucas's concept of the Force. The apparent contradiction of a peaceful warrior will be familiar to anyone who has studied martial arts. Mastery of one's emotions rather than allowing oneself to be mastered by emotions. Attaining balance and finesse through serenity and mindfulness. Knowing that just because you possess fighting skills doesn't mean you should immediately resort to fighting. Yoda will go on to tell Luke that the Jedi use the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack. From that we can see how the events of the Clone Wars truly degraded the Jedi's ideals. Once they opened themselves to the idea of leading soldiers in war, they grew quicker and quicker to join in a fight.

Yoda has much to say about the Dark Side, from hard experience. Forever will it dominate your destiny. Consume you it will, which he witnessed as Vader destroyed Anakin. What he hasn't yet experienced is someone's reclamation from the Dark Side. Of course it would be better to avoid the Dark Side. But refusing to believe that someone could return is giving in despair. And isn't despair just another manifestation of fear?

Yoda is wise, but he's not all-knowing. There are mysteries of the Force even he hasn't learned yet. Still, his advice is applicable for all of us. Beware of anger, fear, aggression. They are easier, quicker, requiring little self-discipline. But they will lead to a path of destruction.

Next time, we'll continue in this scene with more wisdom from Yoda....

Comments

[krpalmer]

I've seen some interpretations push "peaceful warrior" to "so obviously it was a bad thing Luke used the Force to destroy the Death Star" extremes; I'd rather interpret Yoda's teachings here more as "challenges to consider" than "rigid directions." I know I still have much to learn about eastern philosophies, anyway.

[matril]

That's certainly an extreme interpretation, though I do believe that Luke finds a higher purpose in the battle of Endor. I'll explore that a lot more in Episode VI -- to be brief here, I'll just say that Lucas did some very interesting things with the second Death Star that were much more nuanced and clever than a simple "rehash" as some people assume.