Star Words: Episode V, Part 44

[matril]

Vader is quite the chatterbox during the first part of the duel. Luke has just one line (a rash and arrogant You'll find I'm full of surprises) while Vader rambles on and on. There is a definite purpose to his words, however. He isn't looking to simply defeat Luke -- and as we'll see later on, he's toying with him at the beginning. His skills are far superior and he holds back only to test Luke's abilities. No, he doesn't just want to claim his life. It's Luke's soul that Vader is after.

So the Sith Lord taunts him, offers faint praise and cutting insults. Acknowledges that his training has been good, but points toward a very different sort of training.

"Now, release your anger. Only your hatred can destroy me."

This is our first intimation of the great paradox contained within the Dark Side. To slay one's foe might not be a victory at all. If you kill your enemy by becoming like him, you haven't really defeated him at all.

Then how can you win? Well, we won't get that answer till Episode VI, when the Emperor continues this strange tactic of encouraging Luke's vicious anger against him. Meanwhile, Luke falls prey to Vader's taunts quite readily, striking out in hatred, seeking vengeance and destruction rather than the fruits of the good side of the Force. He has a lot of hard lessons to learn.

Next, Vader's relentless attacks on Luke's body and mind continue...

Comments

[krpalmer]

As much as I understand the importance of "try not to become the thing you're trying to defeat," as I admitted to a while ago something about pushing "aggression is altogether bad" too far in the context of this story can grate on me. A part of me wonders about "anger and hatred" being "the quick and easy path," as was said earlier in this movie, and whether a "fully trained" Jedi could dispassionately overcome and strike down an opponent at no risk to their soul... although, of course, elsewhere in the saga Yoda isn't able to defeat the Emperor in simple combat.

[matril]

Yeah, it's one of those ideas that becomes more complicated the more you look at it. It really depends on the circumstances of each individual. Luke preserves his soul by not striking down Vader, while Anakin reclaims his soul by taking down the Emperor. It's not a contradiction; it's a matter of examining where each character is coming from.