Star Wars: The Battle of Good vs. Evil - By Oscar Blanco

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                                 Oscar Blanco

                                    1/24/2013

Star Wars: The Battle of Good vs. Evil

             By Oscar Blanco

                  Abstract

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       The original Star Wars trilogy is considered a milestone film series because it brought
together a new methodology in film-making and considerable advances in special effects.
However, I am interested in the way the film series portrayed the age old theme of good versus
evil. This theme is most evident through the analysis of every major character and what they
come to represent.

       George Lucas capitalizes on character interactions and how those interactions influence
both character and plot development. These character interactions are at the heart of his film-
making and tie together the most important messages in the films. The battle of good versus evil
isn't straightforward and I aim to identify how certain characters embody fundamental traits that
differentiate whether or not they are "good" or "evil".

                              Star Wars: The Battle of Good vs. Evil

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       Perhaps the biggest lesson that is taught to children as they grow up is to always "do
good" and never be "evil". To reinforce this, teachers and parents alike tell simple stories that try
and teach readers to always follow the rules, respect one another, and be a "good" person. But
what happens when somebody genuinely thinks he is doing the right thing when in fact, they are
actually harming the people around them? In George Lucas' Star Wars, the protagonist, Luke
Skywalker, finds out that he is the last hope for the galaxy. Skywalker joins the rebel alliance in
fighting to free the galaxy from the oppressive Galactic Empire. In doing so, he learns that he is
gifted in the ways of an old religion and receives instruction that brings out hidden powers. It is
through these newfound powers that he helps destroy the Galactic Empire and restores peace in
the galaxy. Although Star Wars may initially seem like a straightforward battle of good versus
evil, Jedi versus Sith, the motivation for each side to win, survive, and ensure their existence
within the context of their idealistic worlds are significantly similar. This is evident through the
symbolism behind the major characters and their interactions with each other.

       In order to understand the subjectivity of good and evil in the context of Star Wars, it is
important to first understand the plot and major events throughout the three films. In the first
film, A New Hope, Luke Skywalker is discovered on a remote desert planet and learns that his
uncle, Obi-Wan Kenobi, is actually a Jedi master, a teacher of an ancient religion that revolves
around the understanding and manipulation of the Force. Afterwards, he decides to join the
rebellion against the empire. In doing so, Luke then meets Han Solo and Chewbacca, a pair of
smugglers that come to be some of his closest friends in addition to later rescuing Princess Leia.
Together, this group worked together with the rebel alliance to destroy the Death Star, a massive
space station capable of destroying entire planets in a single attack. The Death Star project was
led by the two antagonists: Darth Vader and the Emperor. Darth Vader is the Emperor's servant
and is known as a Sith Lord, the evil equivalent of a Jedi master. The Emperor himself is Darth
Vader's master and controls the entire galaxy as a tyrannical dictator. In the sequel, The Empire
Strikes Back, Luke seeks out the last Jedi master, Master Yoda, and receives proper instruction in
the way of the Force. As Luke trains with Master Yoda, Han Solo, Chewbacca, and Princess Leia
become captured by Darth Vader. Using the Force, Skywalker sees a vision of his friends
suffering and immediately leaves in the middle of his training to save them. To his surprise
however, his friends' capture was bait so Darth Vader could face Luke and the two face off in a
duel. After cutting Luke's hand off, Darth Vader reveals to Luke that he is in fact, his father and

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asks Luke to join the dark side of the Force. Rather than doing that, Luke risks his life by
jumping off a platform and narrowly escapes. In the third film, The Return of the Jedi, Luke
gathers up his friends to confront another threat to the rebel alliance: the reconstruction of an
even more powerful Death Star. This time however, Luke goes to the Death Star to not only face
Darth Vader, but also to face the Emperor. The rest of his friends lead the attack on the space
station itself. As Luke faces the Emperor, he not only refuses to join the dark side, but he firmly
believes that his father, Darth Vader, still has good inside of him. Luke is then nearly killed by
the Emperor, but his father has a last second change of heart and sacrifices himself to kill the
Emperor. With the death of both the Emperor and Darth Vader, in addition to the destruction of
the Death Star, the rebel alliance successfully brings peace back to the galaxy. Star Wars is
popular not only because it brought about a new plethora of cinematic effects, but also because
the perspective of good and evil is constantly changing and being grappled with throughout the
films. In particular, the characters and what they represent portrays a good indication of good or
evil.

        So what exactly makes someone good? If someone isn't good, does that necessarily make
that person evil? Perhaps the most distinguishing feature of good and evil is the difference in the
desires of a person and whether it is self-serving or if it serves the group. According to Dr. Allen
Dyer, "We see evil at an individual level in the failure of narcissism to transcend the wants of the
self, and we see goodness in the possibilities of transcending narcissism: self in relation to other"
(Dyer). Dr. Dyer points out that a fundamental difference in interpretation of the two is the
mindset that a person holds with regards to them self as well as the group as a whole. However,
it is important to note that it is possible that someone can't do anything for the group as a whole.
Just because someone doesn't have anything to contribute to the group doesn't mean that they are
necessarily evil. In Star Wars, Luke Skywalker is characterized as the final spark of hope in the
galaxy. He represents an up and coming new generation that has potential. He seems to be the
perfect hero. Darth Vader, as much as it may seem that he is the stereotypical antagonist, actually
represents the failure of a hero. Obi-Wan Kenobi tells Luke Skywalker that Darth Vader was
once known as Anakin Skywalker and believed that Anakin Skywalker would one day bring
balance to the Force. However, Skywalker turned to the dark side of the Force and that gave way
to the birth of the Galactic Empire. Luke may represent hope, but he is not the perfect hero until
the end of the film series because he becomes vulnerable to influences from other people. Obi-

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Wan Kenobi is one of the most important symbols throughout the entire series. He not only
symbolizes a mentor and a teacher, but to Luke, he serves as the patriarchal figure that he never
had. Luke was adopted into a remote farming family, but he only truly felt at ease with Obi-Wan.
As a result, Obi-Wan plays a role as Luke's biggest influence as a father-like figure. The most
static character throughout the film series is the Emperor. The Emperor symbolizes narcissism
and short sightedness. In the definition of evil according to Dr. Dyer, the Emperor fits the bill
perfectly. He only seeks to gain more power and he controls other people for his own benefit.
Each character has an important symbolic significance, and only by understanding that
symbolism can one see how the roles that each character serves affects the alignment of good or
evil.

        In Star Wars, Luke Skywalker is the most dynamic character, and he can be seen as a test
subject that is exposed to the influence of several different people. In particular, this is especially
important because the character development that he goes through accentuates the defining
points of both good and evil. For example, Obi-Wan Kenobi has already been established as a
father figure and a mentor to Luke from the very beginning. As a result, Kenobi's role is that of a
teacher who does nothing more than instruct Luke in the ways of the Force and try to guide him
along the path of a Jedi. Jedis, or more specifically Jedi Knights, "were the guardians of peace
and justice in the Old Republic." (Star Wars A New Hope) As a result, Obi-Wan tries to
influence Luke to become a Jedi Knight as he was before the rise of the Galactic Empire. In
comparison to Obi-Wan, the character Darth Vader is the perfect foil. Darth Vader tries to
seduce Luke to the dark side of the Force and join forces with the Emperor in ruling the galaxy.
While Obi-Wan may serve as Luke's father figure, Darth Vader is actually Luke's father and the
father-son bond that the two men share is unmistakable. It is this bond that Vader exploits in
trying to convert Luke over to the dark side of the Force. As a result, Luke becomes tempted to
join the dark side. While both Kenobi and Vader are foil characters, their convictions are almost
identical. From Obi-Wan Kenobi's perspective, Luke Skywalker is the galaxy's last hope for
peace against the regime of the empire. Darth Vader however, believes that the empire is the key
to establishing peace in the galaxy, but he can only do so by eliminating the rebel alliance. From
this, it is plausible to think that Darth Vader may be short-sighted and doesn't truly know the
conditions under which the people in the galaxy are living under. Luke however, is fully aware
of the way of life that has been brought about living under the reign of the Emperor. These two

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characters have the most influence on Luke and form the basis for the internal conflict raging
within him throughout the film series. One of the only constants in the Star Wars saga is the
Force. The Force is the biggest motif that quite literally underlies everything that goes on in the
series.

          The Force is the means with which both Jedi and Sith derive their power and also serves
as a gauge to identify good and evil. Obi-Wan Kenobi explains "the Force is what gives a Jedi
his power. It's an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds [everything], penetrates
[everything], it binds the galaxy together" (Star Wars, A New Hope). The distinguishing feature
that Jedi and Sith have is the ability to manipulate the Force. In doing so, they are granted super
humanesque powers. For example, either a Jedi or Sith can use the Force to push objects away or
pull objects to some other location. Another notable ability is foresight. Although a force user
can see into the past or the future, it is extremely limited and not certain since time is always in
motion. These abilities and much more are available to Jedi and Sith through training their
feelings. One of the motifs throughout the film series is the phrase, "search your feelings, you
know this to be true". This phrase appears before major revelations or events. One can infer that
the Force is the universal constant. However ,this may be disputed by the fact that there is a dark
side and light side of the Force. When Luke Skywalker starts training with Master Yoda, he
learns about the Force.

          Luke: Is the dark side stronger?
          Yoda: No. No. No. Quicker, easier, more seductive it is.
          Luke: How do I know the good side from the bad?
          Yoda: You will know when you are calm, at peace, passive. A Jedi uses the Force for
          knowledge and defense, never for attack.

From this dialogue, it is revealed that the Force is merely split into two understandable divisions.
It has a dualistic nature in which one side cannot exist without the other and the two provide
balance to the galaxy. Since the Force is accessed through feelings, the two sides are merely
representative of two extreme feelings. The dark side is characterized by anger, rage, sorrow,
sadness, and fear while the light side is characterized by calm, kindness, and helpfulness. As a
result, the Force becomes the contextual gauge for good and evil in the Star Wars galaxy.
However, being characterized as good or evil is not absolute.

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       Darth Vader is an extremely interesting character in the film series because he not only
exhibits characteristics of both good and evil, but he also proves to be an exception to the
absolutism that arises from judging whether or not someone is good or evil. Vader's main role is
hunting down Luke Skywalker in an attempt to seduce him to the dark side of the Force on
behalf of his master. However, from the moment that Luke comes to terms with the fact that
Vader is actually his father, Darth Vader begins to slowly change. At first, Darth Vader is
merciless and quick to kill subordinates that fail to complete tasks that he has specifically
designated. However, he soon starts to see the destructive power of the dark side and the illusion
that he has been working to bring peace to the galaxy slowly crumbles. By the time Luke
Skywalker comes to face Vader and the Emperor, Darth Vader is at the turning point in his
internal conflict. At this moment, Darth Vader grabs the Emperor and throws him down a reactor
well. In doing so however, Vader is struck by the very lightning that the Emperor boasted was
the full power of the dark side of the Force. This is a tragic irony because Darth Vader did turn
back to the path of good, but he could not live because he had already succumbed to the power of
the dark side. The very power that tempted him to turn evil becomes his undoing. Everything that
Darth Vader does after turning to the dark side however, is under the conviction that he was
bringing peace to the galaxy.

       Peace is the galaxy is the ultimate dream for both the dark and light side. Master Yoda
and Obi-Wan Kenobi were the last remnants of the Old Republic and they believed that the only
way to achieve peace in the galaxy was to destroy the Sith and keep a republic system of
government in place. The Sith, represented by the Emperor and Darth Vader, believed that the
republic system of government was corrupt and the only way to ensure peace in the galaxy was
through fear and absolute power. These philosophies now lead the characters to a central
thematic question: does the end justify the means? Through the lens of good, the Jedi believe that
the end does not justify the means and if peace means slaughtering millions of innocent lives,
then it isn't worth attaining. Through the lens of good, the Sith believe that peace has no price
and as long as the galaxy is functioning well, then the dream has been achieved. The two sides
have a fundamentally similar idealistic world, but the methods with which they would be
attained are vastly different. This brings about the age-old question: "is it better to be feared or
loved?" (Machiavelli). Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince quite literally sets up the perfect
dividing line between the Jedi and the Sith. The Jedi, in order to try and achieve their ideological

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world, try to use their power in order to be loved. The Sith however, use their power to instill
fear into people and create a perfect world derived on fear and power. In this case, the struggle of
good versus evil is merely subjective. Some people may believe that the best way to achieve a
perfect world is through love and compassion and those people would argue that by doing so,
people are good. Others may think that due to corrupt human nature, the only effective way of
achieving a perfect world is to rule with fear and power so they believe that they are the "good
guys". Those people may acknowledge that such a means appears evil, but they rationalize that
as long as the end is achieved, the means doesn't matter. In Noah Briar's article addressing Hitler
and the human capacity for evil, he believes that "people aren't good or evil, they're put in
situations and they act and eventually their behavior is judged as one or the other" (Briar). In
such a case, both good and evil are subjective. In our world today, it is generally accepted that
evil is associated with self-centeredness, a desire for power, and inflicting pain on other people.
However, Briar makes a valid point that such evil is only evil because people label it so. If
people decided to believe that the end justifies the means, then anything could be considered
good as long as there are good intentions. It is this point that makes the line between good and
evil in Star Wars more difficult to establish.

       Good and evil are not absolutes in the world. They are subject to a plethora of factors
including motivation, intention, and the means of achieving a certain goal. In Star Wars, the
Galactic Empire believes they can establish peace through a tyrannical rule led by fear. The rebel
alliance however, believes that only through compassion and democracy can true peace be
established. Luke Skywalker chose to become a Jedi because he felt that by being calm and
open-minded, people could decide for themselves and he would serve as a guide to helping a
galaxy lead itself. He felt that the end did not justify the means and being the protagonist, the
audience is influenced into rooting for him and the ideals he stands for. Unfortunately, it is
impossible to perfectly define good and evil because there are so many variables involved and
there is no way to create a line that absolutely defines the two. Instead, the convictions of people
are what ultimately decide whether or not they believe that something is good or evil. There is
nothing more dangerous than a person with misled ideas, and yet, completely certain of himself.

                                            Works Cited

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Briar, Noah. "Hitler and the Capacity for Evil | Noah Brier Dot Com." Hitler and the Capacity

       for Evil | Noah Brier Dot Com. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013.

       .

Dyer, Dr. Allen. "The Knowledge of Good and Evil." The Knowledge of Good and Evil. N.p.,

       n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013.

Star Wars. Dir. George Lucas. Perf. Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford. Star Wars: A New Hope.

       Lucasfilms, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013.

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Dir. George Lucas. Perf. Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford. Star

       Wars: Return of the Jedi. Lucasfilms, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013.

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Dir. George Lucas. Perf. Mark Hamill and Harrison

       Ford. Star Wars: A New Hope. Lucasfilms, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013.

       .