Star Words: Episode VI, Part 5
Dec. 24th, 2020 02:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
matrilMerry Christmas to all!
Late in the night while everyone sleeps, Boussh creeps through the quiet halls of the palace to deliver presents to good girls and boys -- er, I mean, to free Han from the carbonite. By now we've probably figured out who's actually underneath that mask, but Han is thoroughly confused; trembling, blind and disoriented. I don't think it's a coincidence that his state resembles that of a newborn. His hibernation and awakening symbolize a powerful death and reawakening for Han. The former man, the selfish, cynical mercenary, is gone. He is reborn as a softer, more vulnerable but ultimately stronger hero. His bonds with others give him strength. In his helpless state he reaches out toward his rescuer, seeking a connection to ground him, and asks Who are you?
"Someone who loves you."
This moment is significant for multiple reasons. For Leia and Han's relationship, it is an echo of the scene when Han was frozen. Time has passed, but that truth has not changed. She loves him. And Han knows it.
In addition, this provides subtle foreshadowing of a later scene in the film with two different characters. As I explored in the first part of my series on the Jabba's palace sequence, Leia's unmasking can be paralleled with Vader/Anakin's. Both remove their masks while acknowledging their love for someone. The symbolism of the act is so striking to me. To strip off the disguise, to reveal one's true self, to embrace the vulnerability of that disclosure -- it is an act of pure love.
Next, it's Han's turn for an echo of previous sentiments....
Late in the night while everyone sleeps, Boussh creeps through the quiet halls of the palace to deliver presents to good girls and boys -- er, I mean, to free Han from the carbonite. By now we've probably figured out who's actually underneath that mask, but Han is thoroughly confused; trembling, blind and disoriented. I don't think it's a coincidence that his state resembles that of a newborn. His hibernation and awakening symbolize a powerful death and reawakening for Han. The former man, the selfish, cynical mercenary, is gone. He is reborn as a softer, more vulnerable but ultimately stronger hero. His bonds with others give him strength. In his helpless state he reaches out toward his rescuer, seeking a connection to ground him, and asks Who are you?
"Someone who loves you."
This moment is significant for multiple reasons. For Leia and Han's relationship, it is an echo of the scene when Han was frozen. Time has passed, but that truth has not changed. She loves him. And Han knows it.
In addition, this provides subtle foreshadowing of a later scene in the film with two different characters. As I explored in the first part of my series on the Jabba's palace sequence, Leia's unmasking can be paralleled with Vader/Anakin's. Both remove their masks while acknowledging their love for someone. The symbolism of the act is so striking to me. To strip off the disguise, to reveal one's true self, to embrace the vulnerability of that disclosure -- it is an act of pure love.
Next, it's Han's turn for an echo of previous sentiments....
