Star Words: Episode V, Part 27

[matril]

I suppose most lists of great lines from Star Wars, or even great lines from Yoda in particular, would include his little speech about how there is no try. I will not. It's one of those quotes, I feel, whose value varies depends on how it's interpreted. When people use it as a way to encourage positive visualization -- "if you can't imagine yourself succeeding then you've already failed" -- well, great. But the other interpretation irks me greatly. Don't bother attempting something unless you can give it your all? Anything less than perfection is unacceptable? Ugh, no. I doubt Yoda is intended to mean it that way, but lifting it out of context, there's just too much room to use it as an excuse for giving up.

There are better quotes from this scene. After Luke tries, and fails (or does not) he slumps down in exhaustion and declares that the task simply isn't possible. It's too big.

"Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? And well you should not. For my ally is the Force. And a powerful ally it is."

As in previous entries, Yoda is continually working to break through Luke's stubborn preconceptions. He still can't help seeing the world in physical terms. But he has, in the form of his Jedi Master, a perfect example of how the Force transcends such mundane characteristics. By typical standards, Yoda does not have any appearance of power or might. From his size you might assume he's a child. From his wizened face and slow gait you could think that he's already left the years of his strength far behind him. From his peculiar speech you could imagine his mind is a disordered scramble.

All false. Because his strength comes not from his body, from youth or from stature or cleverness. His strength comes from the Force. If I might paraphrase a Biblical passage, "With [the Force] all things are possible." Without it, the physical world is overwhelming, too big, too heavy, too powerful. With the Force, none of that matters. With an ally like the Force, no enemy is too great.

Next, more eloquence from Yoda....

Comments

[krpalmer]

In thinking ahead to what line you'd discuss next I remembered noticing someone criticizing "Do. Or do not," although she did seem to be more "within the story," merely complaining that if Luke had only been invited to "try," he might have supposed he could build on his first minimal but perceivable accomplishment. I suppose those "within the story" analyses seem common enough to me I continue to appreciate you reaching a bit further.