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LITR 4368 Literature of the Future 
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Sample answers
for Essay 2:
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Clark Omo
The Ally that is the Force: Examining the Moral and Religious
Implications in Star Wars
Religion is a challenging topic to tackle in any setting, especially when it
comes to relating to the vastly fictional universe of
Star Wars. Yet, there exists a
religion in Star Wars known as the Force. It demands certain behaviors of its
followers, like most religions do, and carries great and destructive
consequences if it is not adhered to; also like most religions. With this fairly
applicable (but not all encompassing) definition in mind, the fact that an
essence such as the Force can be present in a setting so far removed from ours
as that of Star Wars, where faster-than-light travel not only exists but is
ubiquitous to every spacefaring vessel in the galaxy, where meeting aliens is as
commonplace as meeting a few friends at the nearest restaurant, and where a
space station the size of a moon possesses a weapon capable of incinerating an
entire planet is a logical occurrence, is truly unique. And, like with all
fictional universes, every aspect interwoven into the fabric of its existence is
crucial to the establishment of its identity. Without the Force, there can be no
Star Wars. And so, analyzing the Force allows for study into what the mechanics
and teachings of such a system have to say about the purpose of such a system,
the condition of the Star Wars world itself, what it means for storytelling, as
well as how the characters confront such a system and how they then shape the
world around them.
First
off, a little history must be given regarding how George Lucas’s conception of
the Force originated, as well as to they bear resemblance to other systems of
faith. George Lucas attended a speech by man named Joseph Campbell in 1984 at
the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco (Seastrom). Campbell was a mythologist
who identified several key tropes and themes that were widespread across
literature from many different cultures (Seastrom). Prior to this encounter,
Lucas, though he had long studied the teachings of Campbell, had never met the
man face to face until after the original Star Wars Trilogy had been released.
That being said, according to Seastrom, Campbell hypothesized that such a story
as Star Wars originated from our “mythical imagination”: the ability to look far
into the stars and imagine grand tales of heroes whose daring exploits and deeds
reach across the cosmos. Such is the formation of Star Wars. Campbell, as
Seastrom relates, believed that the idea of myth and all its trappings
originated from a sort of inner-self present within the human mind. This need
exists then to create this story as a way to explore and satisfy this mythic
inner voice. And in relation to the Force’s function in the scheme of this idea,
the Force determines the reasons as well as the outcomes of such a tale. The
Force is described by Obi Wan-Kenobi in A
New Hope as such: “It’s an energy field created by all living things. It
surrounds us and penetrates, it binds the galaxy together”. The Force provides a
connection for all living beings in the Star Wars Universe; it is all pervading,
just as Kenobi described it.
Therefore, working from Campbell’s theories, the presence of the Force works as
a sort of glue that allows the tropes of the inner myth to connect and mesh
together. Consider the themes of fate present in the original trilogy. Darth
Vader, once a Jedi himself as is revealed in
The Return of the Jedi by the
ghost-form of Kenobi, now must be slain by the only one capable of doing so: his
own son, Luke. Furthermore, there is the frightening scene in
The Empire Strikes Back, where Luke
enters the cave on Dagobah where he is confronted by the vision of fighting
Darth Vader, only to win and find his own face behind the dreaded black mask.
And there is also Darth Vader’s statement to Obi Wan Kenobi aboard the Death
Star: “I’ve been waiting for you, Obi Wan. We meet again, at last. The circle is
now complete. When I left you, I was but the learner. Now, I am the master.” The
Force allows for such things to occur, and thus establish the mythical theme of
fate, where the characters are meant to confront each other and overcome the
challenges that they do. The Force serves a statement that the lives and actions
of the characters may not always be in their control, or may even allude to a
higher, more critical, and more impactful purpose. In addition, the Force serves
to motivate the characters to understand the terrible consequences that will
occur if the Force is not restored. Diverging to the prequels, Obi Wan Kenobi
shouts to Anakin as he lay mortally wounded on the volcanic surface of Mustafar
“You were the Chosen One! It was said you would destroy the Sith, not join them!
Bring balance to the Force, not leave it in darkness!” So, the Force also relays
the fact that the powers of evil will only increase if the Force is not
“balanced”. It will be left in darkness, and the galaxy and all its inhabitants
along with it.
With
this relationship the Force has to the universe of Star Wars now analyzed, how
it affects the state of being for the universe can be explicated. What exactly
are the consequences if the Force is not “balanced” as Obi Wan shouts to Anakin
as he slides toward a river of molten magma? Well, the answer to this question
is complex, and it cannot be answered in totality without delving into the
Expanded Universe that belies the central movies (The Expanded Universe having
been born from the stories in the many novels, comics, information books, as
well as video games, that have accompanied this massive franchise), which is a
daunting activity that this paper simply does not have the time for. So, again,
for the sake of clarity, the arguments regarding the mechanics of the Force will
be limited to the movies only. From what can be understood in the movies, the
Jedi seem to stand on the right side of the Force throughout the story that is
told. True, this seems contradictory considering both of Obi Wan’s statements
regarding the nature of the Force: that it needs to “balanced” and that it is
merely an energy field that “binds the galaxy together”. But the Jedi are the
main characters in the story presented in the films, and Luke Skywalker becomes
a Jedi himself and later defeats the evil Sith, who are led by Darth Sidious,
the Emperor, and Darth Vader. In fact, Lucasfilm even made a statement saying
that the Jedi’s way was the preferred and natural state of the Force that was
always to be maintained (Asher-Perrin). So, the consequences of not maintaining
balance of the Force would lead to the darkness that Kenobi laments will befall
the galaxy now that Anakin has fallen to the Dark Side.
So,
the Force then is the scale by which the fate of the universe is weighed: if
evil, the Dark Side, is allowed to take a greater presence on the scale, then
the universe of Star Wars will fall to its power, and vice versa for the Light
Side. This bears resemblance to the ideals of Manicheanism, which is system of
faith defined as on in which “a divine realm of Light opposes a realm of
Darkness. It is, therefore, a purely dualistic world view” (“Manicheism”). But
the Force takes things farther than this. As mentioned before, the Light Side is
the preferred aspect of the Force by the which the must abide. Therefore, the
Force is essential to maintaining the safety and peace of the galaxy, and if it
is not recognized as so, nor kept in balance, the Dark Side will prevail. That
is why Han Solo’s comment upon the Force bears such impact “Hokey religions and
ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side” (A
New Hope) Solo is ignorant of the Force’s importance to the wellbeing of the
Galaxy. He does not realize that if the Force is left to become unbalanced, it
will spell doom for the galaxy. Such is the state of being that the Force
creates for Star Wars universe: it is constantly in a state of conflict between
the forces of Light and Dark, with vying to tip the scale in their favor.
So,
what does this mean for the characters who inhabit this galaxy far, far away?
With the Force being so imperative to the security of the Galaxy, it means that
every conflict, especially those that take part on an epic-scale, concern the
Force and whoever can control it. And yet, it also provides a necessary moral
compass to the story that is set in a galaxy all to itself. Joel Hodge states
that “Lucas’s stated aim was to create a mythology that could provide moral
guidance within the context of a renewed sense of spirituality and
transcendence.” So, basically, the Force constructs this goal of moral purity
for the characters of Star Wars. If the Force can stay balanced and maintain its
leaning toward the Light Side, then the Galaxy will remain peaceful and under
order. Such is the point of the Star Wars story. To achieve this moral glory.
This is iterated through the films as creating a bond with the Force and allow
it to guide and empower the characters as they try to utilize it. Yoda reflects
on this in The Empire Strikes Back:
“For my ally is the Force, and a powerful ally it is.” By allying themselves
with the true nature of the Force, rather than the warped and distorted
teachings of the Dark Side, the Jedi allow themselves to make the Force their
power, not their slave. It links them to the morality of the galaxy, and enables
them to maintain this balance. Maintaining the balance of the Force serves as
the goal they strive to achieve. It takes, as George Lucas stated, “all the
issues that religion represents and trying to distill them down into a more
modern and easily accessible construct”. The Force boils down to a religious
ideal of enforcing good in the Star Wars universe, which is how it stands with
the Jedi.
The
Force carries many meanings that are important factors for the inhabitants of
Star Wars. It provides consequences that end in either peace or destruction, and
in doing so creates a moral compass that leaves its universe in a constant
struggle for balance. And in finding these things out, the meaning of the Force
has become clearer to me as a necessary and vital component for the Star Wars
story. And this bears special weight to me, since Star Wars is a favorite of
mine, and is also a minor and rather humorous source of contention in my
household, with my mother having once had a crush on Luke Skywalker (with
emphasis on the fact that she did not have on Han Solo [portrayed by Harrison
Ford[) and with my father thinking it is not worth the tape it was captured on,
to say with some hyperbole. And with this disagreement in mind, along with I
have discovered about the story of Star Wars and the Force, it only goes to show
that every aspect of a fictional world constructed within the confines of any
story bears especial and pivotal significance.
Works
Cited
Asher-Perrin, Emily. “The “True Nature of the Force” is Way More Complicated
Than You Think.” tor.com, 12 Sept.
2012.
https://www.tor.com/2012/09/12/the-qtrue-nature-of-the-force-is-way-more-complicated-than-you-think/.
Accessed 14 December 2017.
Hodge, Joel. “How ‘Star Wars’ Answers Our Biggest Religious Questions”
The Washington Post, 21 April 2015.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/04/21/how-star-wars-answers-our-biggest-religious-questions/?utm_term=.2b7f03171a37.
Accessed 14 December 2017.
Lucas, George, director. Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Twentieth
Century Fox, 1977.
Lucas, George, director. Star Wars
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Twentieth Century Fox, 1983.
Lucas, George, director. Star Wars
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Twentieth Century Fox, 2005.
Lucas, George, director. Star Wars
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. Twentieth Century Fox, 1980.
“Manicheanism.”
Livius, 17 June 2017.
http://www.livius.org/articles/religion/manicheism/. Accessed 17 December 2017.
Seastrom, Lucas. “Mythic Discovery Within the Inner Reaches of Outer Space:
Joseph Campbell Meets George Lucas – Part I.” 22 Oct. 2015.
http://www.starwars.com/news/mythic-discovery-within-the-inner-reaches-of-outer-space-joseph-campbell-meets-george-lucas-part-i.
Accessed 14 December 2017.
