![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Star Words: Episode II, Part 20
Feb. 8th, 2018 06:08 pmThis is the most emotional scene of Episode II, and pivotal to the entire prequel trilogy. You could probably say that all of Anakin's character arc revolves around this moment, both the lead-up beforehand and its long-lasting aftermath.
Being separated from his mother for ten years, all the while not knowing whether he'll ever see her again, is painful enough. Even adults usually get to go back and visit once in a while, or at least stay in contact. Anakin has instead been expected to behave as if he never knew his mother, like all the other Jedi. That's hard enough. But now they are reunited under the most brutal of circumstances, only to have her die in his arms mere moments later.
For Anakin, the pain is unthinkable, unbearable. It drives him to murderous vengeance. It leads him, ultimately, to the extremes of the Dark Side in a futile attempt to prevent such pain from ever happening again.
But for Shmi, the moment is miraculously peaceful. It seems like that she has been clinging to life for some time in spite of her mortal injuries, waiting perhaps for her son to return. Through her agony and exhaustion she recognizes him, smiles and expresses how proud she is.
"Now I am complete."
There is no regret for Shmi, even as her life is about to end, even when she has been denied the gentle death of old age. She has lived her life well; she has seen her son become the man she always hoped he would be. So she is complete. Like her husband, she has come to terms with the injustices that life brings; the pain that comes to the innocent and the death that comes to everyone at last. All that remained was to see her boy one last time, to tell him she loves him before she slips away.
Anakin cannot borrow this peace from her. He would need to learn it for himself, but no one has taught him properly. He learns a different lesson from this moment -- the anguish of powerlessness, and the deadly desperation it brings.
Next, Anakin's chilling confession...
Being separated from his mother for ten years, all the while not knowing whether he'll ever see her again, is painful enough. Even adults usually get to go back and visit once in a while, or at least stay in contact. Anakin has instead been expected to behave as if he never knew his mother, like all the other Jedi. That's hard enough. But now they are reunited under the most brutal of circumstances, only to have her die in his arms mere moments later.
For Anakin, the pain is unthinkable, unbearable. It drives him to murderous vengeance. It leads him, ultimately, to the extremes of the Dark Side in a futile attempt to prevent such pain from ever happening again.
But for Shmi, the moment is miraculously peaceful. It seems like that she has been clinging to life for some time in spite of her mortal injuries, waiting perhaps for her son to return. Through her agony and exhaustion she recognizes him, smiles and expresses how proud she is.
"Now I am complete."
There is no regret for Shmi, even as her life is about to end, even when she has been denied the gentle death of old age. She has lived her life well; she has seen her son become the man she always hoped he would be. So she is complete. Like her husband, she has come to terms with the injustices that life brings; the pain that comes to the innocent and the death that comes to everyone at last. All that remained was to see her boy one last time, to tell him she loves him before she slips away.
Anakin cannot borrow this peace from her. He would need to learn it for himself, but no one has taught him properly. He learns a different lesson from this moment -- the anguish of powerlessness, and the deadly desperation it brings.
Next, Anakin's chilling confession...
