Anger in the Star Wars Universe: Episode II

Episode II

Anger 

in 

the
Star Wars 

Universe

Do the Star Wars

movies present

anger as a bad thing?

In part I I pointed out that in the general course of things, the SW characters are allowed to express the full range of emotions including "negative" ones like anger; but that Luke and Anakin's fatal flaw is their fear of losing loved ones, expressed in anger.

By the way, I love that Luke is an impulsive, reckless 20 year old male with anger problems who needs to grow up. After the recent London riots, methinks Lucas chose the perfect fatal flaw for his hero to overcome.

Anakin didn't know how to get deal with his fear and anger by talking about it with a friend. I blame the Jedi Order for that--my personal theory (this is hors canon) is that the imbalance in the Force is expressed in the way they take children from their parents and raise them sans emotion. How could this Order deal with a kid like Anakin who'd already experienced the full gamut of emotions? No Jedi trauma therapists. If he'd had a friend like Padme around, maybe he would've had someone to talk to, instead of Jedi buddies who are all "You miss your mother? Wha? Wha?"

Extent of the advice Anakin gets. Not to mention what a great way the Jedi all have with kids (not) evident in all the council scenes.

I think what Anakin and Luke bring back to the Force is full human experience. They're emotional, they're full of conflicted feelings, love and passion, and they have to learn to contend with them, unlike the Jedis who've been raised since babies in passion-free temples. …Just my theory.

Anakin has poor tools for coping with his passions, so when his mother is killed by the Tusken Raiders he doesn't even investigate to find out why it happened, he commits a gruesome crime, one that his mother would be horrified by. And later he commits the same crime when he murders the wee padawans. And he goes on to commit horrible crimes including the building of a genocide machine.

This is what Yoda is worried Luke's anger will lead to. If Chewbacca had murdered Lando, we all know it wouldn't have led to a killing spree or genocide because Chewbacca's temper stems from being a Wookie, not from a fatal flaw. This is the same guy who will later cuddle Han in Jabba's palace. After Lando gives them helpful information he could have killed him, but he doesn't because Lando is useful to them--Chewie's anger doesn't overpower his thinking.

But Anakin and Luke are Hamlets or Othellos. Young, conflicted, full of potential but only if they can overcome their demons. What Yoda wants Luke to learn is what no one taught Anakin: How to tell the good side of the Force from the bad. Anakin was constantly being manipulated by Palpatine, and the entire Jedi Order didn't see it until it was too late.

Yoda's had 20 years to rethink how to train a Jedi who wasn't reared as one since birth. The result is this teaching:

YODA: Remember, a Jedi's strength flows from the
 Force. But beware. Anger, fear, aggression. 
The dark side are they. Once you start down 
the dark path, forever will it dominate your
 destiny.
LUKE: But how am I to know the good side from the bad?
YODA: You will know. When you are calm, at peace. Passive.

There are two important factors in this advice. One, he's telling Luke that there are two sources for Jedi power: the good side and the dark side. If you want to wear the white hat, then you have to be careful about where you draw your power from. Not dissimilar from "Absolute power corrupts absolutely." If you apply that to Earth, it's like hoping one's politicians, CEOs, bankers, army and police forces will draw their power from the good side of the Force--that they'll keep other people's interests in mind, care about society, be kind. A little more Warren Buffet, a little less Rupert Murdoch.

Second, he's saying it's hard to tell the difference between the two sides when you're het up under the collar--this was Anakin's problem. You can't make good decisions, especially moral ones, this way. He's not saying: When you see someone steal an old lady's purse, don't get mad. It's normal to get mad. But he's saying, when you grab the bad guy and dispense Jedi Justice, breathe through your nose. This way you won't slaughter a village for killing your mother, or be fooled by your mentor into thinking Sith Lords know the secret to immortality.

When Luke runs off to Cloud City to save his friends, without finishing his training, it's a rash decision, an emotional one. Does he help at all? No. He makes things worse because they have to turn back and rescue him, and he loses his arm. Bad decision based on emotionally wrought up feelings instead of calm.

Confronting Vader he tried to play it cool, but on the inside we know he's 100% Inigo Montoya because he draws his lightsabre first.

A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack.

He's aggressive throughout the fight, and Vader tells him one of those famous Sith lies: "You have controlled your fear. Now release your anger--only your hatred can destroy me." It all goes to hell in a hand basket. Luke can't deflect the junk being tossed at his head, and finally Darth Vader reveals the unbearable truth of his paternity. BUT! Notice what happens after all the no-no-that's-impossible-I'll-never-join-you-ing. A calm and serene look comes over Luke's face.

Calm at 2:18

He knows, with total conviction, the right thing to do. Better to commit suicide than to stand there being tempted by the dark side--he drops to his possible death, and thus saves his life.

And discovers his connection with Leia!

One of my favorite shots from the trilogy.

 - "We've got to go back. "  -"WTF?"

After being rescued Luke can be as angry as he wants. He goes back to Dagobah and gives OB1 heck for lying to him: "Why didn't you tell me?" And in the original script Obi-Wan even affirms his feelings: "I don't blame you for being angry."

"A certain point of view? Ease."

But in the third movie it's back into the belly of the beast for Confrontation #2. And this time Luke will have overcome his anger, because this time he'll be up against the Sith Lord whom the greatest Jedis in the Galaxy were unable to defeat. Palpatine's faced both Righteous Anger (Mace Windu) and calm Supa Fighting (Yoda) before. Remaining calm will help Luke hear that small voice telling him the one thing that he can do to win this fight, that no one else could. :-D Tune in tomorrow!


PREVIEW FOR NEXT WEEK - STARTING TUESDAY - THE OLIVER SERIES
He was a poor little kitty with four barely working legs. But he was Adventure Boy! so he would pull himself around the carpet determined to get the most out of life. Would he ever be able to walk? Find out! In the Tuesday postings of Oliver: Adventure Boy!