![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Star Words: Episode IV, Part 35
Nov. 14th, 2019 03:01 pmLuke is going his way -- on a mission with nearly impossible odds -- and Han is going his. He's never claimed to be anything but a mercenary, so why should anyone be surprised that he's going to take the money and run? Yet Luke is genuinely surprised, even hurt, that Han isn't staying to help. Han, for his part, suggests that Luke join the mercenary lifestyle instead.
This is the final showdown between their clashing ideals, both trying to win the other over to his side, neither one budging. Han must realize by this point that Luke would never back down from madcap heroism. And isn't Luke terribly naive to imagine that Han would stay?
Well, maybe not. Maybe Luke has a knack for seeing the good in people. I touched on this in an earlier entry for Episode III (number 42, to be precise). His determination to save his father in the final film of the saga doesn't come out of nowhere. From the very start, Luke has carried this soft spot for apparently hopeless cases.
Granted, he approaches the situation with a lot more maturity and patience in Episode VI. Here, he ends up snapping something rather sarcastic.
"All right, well, take care of yourself, Han. That's what you're best at, isn't it?"
Maybe that's just what Han needs to hear, though. A little bit of cutting clarity. The truth is, Han has a lot of gifts that could be put to better use than self-serving purposes. Deep down, he must realize he could be great at something other than acquiring money and/or notoriety.
Maybe the conflict is already raging in his mind. Rather than responding in kind, he offers a gruff, "May the Force be with you," as an acknowledgement of Luke's belief even if he doesn't share it. And it's quite clear that he's rattled by the kid's reproof. Chewie certainly seems to think something is off, however Han pretends to dismiss it. And the next time we see him, he's flying the Falcon straight into battle for some last-minute heroics. Guess that Luke got through to him after all.
We could argue whether it's Luke's influence, or it's just that Luke intuited what Han already was deep inside...or that Luke had nothing to do with it (obviously, Luke fangirl that I am, that's not my favorite interpretation). In any case, Luke's ideals of heroism and sacrifice win the day. They will win again at the close of the trilogy.
Next time, Leia speaks a truth that resonates throughout the saga...
This is the final showdown between their clashing ideals, both trying to win the other over to his side, neither one budging. Han must realize by this point that Luke would never back down from madcap heroism. And isn't Luke terribly naive to imagine that Han would stay?
Well, maybe not. Maybe Luke has a knack for seeing the good in people. I touched on this in an earlier entry for Episode III (number 42, to be precise). His determination to save his father in the final film of the saga doesn't come out of nowhere. From the very start, Luke has carried this soft spot for apparently hopeless cases.
Granted, he approaches the situation with a lot more maturity and patience in Episode VI. Here, he ends up snapping something rather sarcastic.
"All right, well, take care of yourself, Han. That's what you're best at, isn't it?"
Maybe that's just what Han needs to hear, though. A little bit of cutting clarity. The truth is, Han has a lot of gifts that could be put to better use than self-serving purposes. Deep down, he must realize he could be great at something other than acquiring money and/or notoriety.
Maybe the conflict is already raging in his mind. Rather than responding in kind, he offers a gruff, "May the Force be with you," as an acknowledgement of Luke's belief even if he doesn't share it. And it's quite clear that he's rattled by the kid's reproof. Chewie certainly seems to think something is off, however Han pretends to dismiss it. And the next time we see him, he's flying the Falcon straight into battle for some last-minute heroics. Guess that Luke got through to him after all.
We could argue whether it's Luke's influence, or it's just that Luke intuited what Han already was deep inside...or that Luke had nothing to do with it (obviously, Luke fangirl that I am, that's not my favorite interpretation). In any case, Luke's ideals of heroism and sacrifice win the day. They will win again at the close of the trilogy.
Next time, Leia speaks a truth that resonates throughout the saga...
