Ted Craig

Professor Schultz

Star Wars: Resistance, Rebellion, & Death

12/13/2019

Powerful Actions, Powerful Transgression

Star Wars is a franchise built upon the concept of power. While broader power dynamics between groups (e.g., the Empire and the Rebellion in the Original Trilogy) dictate the general course of each narrative, specific power dynamics between individuals highlight the finer details and themes they present. The primary source of overt power in the Star Wars universe is the Force, an energy that characters such as Luke Skywalker, Anakin Skywalker, Sheev Palpatine, and Ben Solo are capable of using. This power is often associated with a type of conflict that can be defined through the concept of “transgression.” Fred Botting describes transgression in Gothic literature as “a crossing of limits or breaking of taboos and rules” (Botting 9). He claims the role of transgression concerns “the delineation of boundaries and the mechanisms— the norms, taboos, prohibitions— that keep them in place” (Botting 9). In effect, transgression is synonymous with the violation of a moral, societal, or natural law. Analysis of the aforementioned characters will reveal the nature of the relationship between power and transgression in their arcs. However, it is important to note why Star Wars narratives would present such a relationship in the first place.

In real life, power is often associated with a number of negative traits. John Dalberg-Acton, a nineteenth-century English politician, is known for the following statement: “power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely” (Dalberg-Acton). This quote is incredibly popular and, more importantly, substantiable. Inspired by this quote, social psychologist David Kipnis tested its verifiability through a study and concluded that this was essentially the case. In his words, “inequity in power is disruptive of harmonious social relations and drastically limits the possibilities that the power holder can maintain close and friendly relations with the less powerful” (Kipnis 39). Additionally, further research has shown that people in positions of power are more likely to be egocentric (Galinsky et al. 1072), unrealistically self-assured (See et al. 283), and treat others instrumentally (Gruenfeld et al. 125). Given this context, it would be reasonable to assume that the Star Wars universe would engage the concept presented by Dalberg-Acton and display the effects of power similarly.

Luke Skywalker displays transgression in his arc in The Empire Strikes Back. On Dagobah, he continues his Jedi training under Yoda and becomes more powerful in the ways of the Force. He envisions a fight where he defeats Darth Vader but, to his dismay, his face is revealed after Vader’s mask disappears (Kerschner, 1:05:22). This scene carries two major implications. One implication is that Luke sees himself in Vader, which is troubling because Vader represents the Dark Side of the Force and the Empire Luke worked so hard to dismantle. Another implication is that taking Vader’s life would be a transgression in itself for Luke because it goes against his sense of morality. His feelings are reaffirmed when he discovers that Darth Vader is his father at the end of the film (Kerschner, 1:51:15).

Return of the Jedi continues the theme of transgression in Luke’s character arc by further exploring the morality of taking Vader’s life. Luke openly expresses that he does not want to kill him, which creates tension in the scene where Yoda asserts that he “must confront Vader” (Marquand, 41:37) and receives support from the Force ghost of Obi-Wan (Marquand, 47:11). Later in the film, Luke encounters Vader again and remains strong in his convictions. However, he falters after Vader discusses how Leia can potentially “be turned” to the Dark Side of the Force (Marquand, 1:52:40). Luke lashes out in anger and overpowers Darth Vader, cutting off his hand and leaving him defenseless (Marquand, 1:53:20). In this instance, Luke is at his most powerful. He has power over Darth Vader which would facilitate transgression through the act of taking his life. The only reason Luke does not become a transgressor in this moment is because he does not let his anger overtake him and spares Vader instead (Marquand, 1:54:05).

Anakin Skywalker, who becomes Darth Vader in the Original Trilogy, reflects the theme of transgression in his character arc in the Prequel Trilogy. In Attack of the Clones, Anakin commits his first major act of transgression. He murders all of the Tusken Raiders in a village and recounts the incident to Padme, stating the following: “I killed them. I killed them all. They’re dead, every single one of them. And not just the men, but the women and the children, too. They’re like animals, and I slaughtered them like animals. I HATE THEM” (Lucas, 1:25:10). Anakin’s rage and lack of remorse is clearly expressed through this statement, and these qualities ultimately lead to his future transgressions. However, one could still sympathize with Anakin because the Tusken Raiders killed his mother and he wanted to avenge her.

With that said, Anakin’s future transgressions are more severe. Count Dooku, a Sith lord who previously overpowered Anakin in Attack of the Clones, encounters Anakin once again in Revenge of the Sith. Anakin grew stronger since he last saw Dooku, both in the ways of the Force and combat, and was able to turn the tables on him. In this instance, he was presented with the same choice as Luke: to kill his adversary or let him live. However, unlike Luke, he chooses the former (Lucas, 14:12). This was a major turning point for Anakin because, despite his claim that he “shouldn’t” kill Dooku, he goes through with the act and violates his own moral beliefs as a result.

In Revenge of the Sith, Anakin performs a number of major transgressions. He assists Palpatine in the murder of Master Windu, slaughters Force sensitive youth, assaults his wife Padme, and ultimately undergoes his transformation into Darth Vader after his battle with Obi Wan Kenobi leaves him in critical condition. 

Anakin assists in the murder of Master Windu, a leading figure in the Jedi Order, because he posed a threat to Palpatine. Anakin feared that Windu would kill Palpatine and decided to protect him by attacking Windu himself (1:14:45). By assisting in this murder, Anakin hurt the Jedi Order and violated his former belief in their legitimacy as a benevolent organisation. Power played a role in this transgression as Anakin felt he needed Palpatine in order to become more powerful himself.

He further weakens the Jedi Order by slaughtering Younglings (i.e., Force sensitive youth) who could have become Jedi when they grew up (Lucas, 1:23:50). Younglings are simultaneously powerless and innocent, so slaughtering them indicates a power dynamic that is so extreme that it illuminates the moral failure of Anakin even more than his past transgressions did. The morals Anakin used to clearly hold are violated to the extent that one must question whether he still values them at all.

Throughout the Prequel Trilogy, Anakin constantly worries about Padme’s safety. In Attack of the Clones, he is assigned the duty of protecting her (Lucas, 25:00). This is presumably where Anakin’s overprotectiveness of Padme originated. Early in Revenge of the Sith, Anakin dreams of Padme in anguish (Lucas, 30:30). This is one of the reasons why he is easily seduced by the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise (Lucas, 46:05). According to the tragedy, Darth Plagueis had the power “to keep the ones he cared about from dying” (Lucas, 46:45). Anakin feared for Padme’s life and wanted this power to ensure her safety. For this reason, it is surprising when Anakin chokes Padme on Mustafar because it directly goes against his belief that Padme’s safety is paramount (Lucas, 1:46:18). The transgression lies in this violation. 

Anakin’s last major transgression in the Prequel Trilogy is interesting because it is a violation of natural law rather than moral or societal law. Anakin was severely damaged during his battle with Obi Wan, altering his appearance dramatically (Lucas, 1:59:38). After Palpatine saved him, Anakin was placed in a suit that could sustain him in his damaged form (Lucas, 2:06:52). It saved his life, but at the cost of obscuring his body. This can be seen as a natural transgression because he no longer appears to be human, and it is important to note in the context of power because this scene showed us Anakin at his most powerless. He is irreversibly incapacitated and emotionally distraught due to Padme’s death (Lucas, 2:08:49).

Sheev Palpatine is an interesting character to discuss because we do not see him “fall” to the Dark Side of the Force. Even in the Prequel Trilogy, Palpatine fully embraced the evil within him. He orchestrated the Clone Wars, turned Anakin to the Dark Side of the Force, executed Order 66, and created the Empire. Every action Palpatine performed was an attempt to gain more power, and said actions were not transgressive in terms of his own moral beliefs because there was no indication that Palpatine underwent a moral struggle while performing them. Furthermore, Palpatine is both a liar and master of manipulation and his dialogue consists heavily of deceptive rhetoric. As a result, we cannot judge his character accurately based on that alone.

However, Palpatine is a transgressive character when viewed through the lens of societal and natural laws. Some of his transgressions include the betrayal of the good faith of individuals within the Star Wars universe and the bloodshed he was responsible for. The Clone Wars resulted in many deaths, and the execution of the genocidal Order 66 almost eradicated all Jedi. It should be self-evident that many societal laws were violated through these events as Star Wars characters generally value life as much as real individuals do.

Palpatine’s natural transgression can be seen through his change in appearance in Revenge of the Sith. For the majority of the Prequel Trilogy, Palpatine possesses the features of a normal human. In Revenge of the Sith, Palpatine’s appearance changes when his Force lightning is deflected and Sith spell that allowed him to hide his grotesque and uncanny features is broken (Lucas, 1:13:40). This is notable for a number of reasons. Firstly, Palpatine assumed this form because he embraced the Dark Side of the Force and gained power from it. Secondly, the assumption of this form is a natural transgression because the form itself is simultaneously distorted and humanoid. It falls within the uncanny valley through its uncomfortable approximation of our general appearance, which means it violates the natural law that dictates our appearance more than other entities (e.g., animals) could. Given this information, we must conclude that a direct relationship exists between power and transgression in this instance. The transgression could not have occurred without his consolidation of power.

In modern Star Wars narratives, transgression continues to be an important theme. The Force Awakens introduces the character of Ben Solo, who is arguably the most transgressive character in the franchise. Like some of the aforementioned characters, Ben Solo aligns with the Dark Side of the Force. He serves under the dictatorial successor of the Galactic Empire— the First Order— and feels conflicted over his alignment. On one hand, Ben wants to fully commit to the Dark Side of the Force. He views his grandfather Anakin as a paragon for the Dark Side of the Force and strives to be like him. He also serves under the mysterious Supreme Leader Snoke, a powerful user of the Dark Side of the Force. On the other, it is clear that the value he holds for the Light Side of the Force prevents him from doing so. Ben had prior experience with the Light Side of the Force through his training with Luke, which is revealed in The Last Jedi. He is also aware that the Light Side of the Force tempts him, which is addressed in a scene in The Force Awakens where he looks upon the burned mask of Vader and asks to be forgiven for his vulnerability to its influence (Abrams, 58:52). This conflict is important to note because it drives the rationale behind a number of Ben’s transgressive acts.

One cannot discuss the solidification of Ben Solo’s Dark Side status without referring to the scene in The Force Awakens where he confronts his father Han. After boarding Starkiller Base, Han tries to convince Ben to embrace the Light Side of the Force again (Abrams, 1:46:12). This causes Ben to openly express his conflict to Han, and he takes Han’s life in an attempt to resolve it (Abrams, 1:48:47). Ultimately, Ben comes out of the scenario more powerless than he entered it. He is severely injured when an enraged Chewbacca shoots him with a bowcaster (Abrams, 1:49:45) and loses to Rey in combat (Abrams, 1:57:30).

The Last Jedi continues with the exploration of transgression in Ben Solo’s character arc. Ben takes the life of Supreme Leader Snoke and usurps his title (Johnson, 1:44:39).  In doing so, he becomes the most powerful figure in the First Order. He acts with conviction and does not feel any regret or trauma, which means that murdering Snoke was not a moral transgression for him. However, his proposition to Rey after the incident was transgressive. He claimed the following: “It’s time to let old things die. Snoke, Skywalker. The Sith, the Jedi, the Rebels… Let it all die. Rey, I want you to join me. We can rule together and bring a new order to the galaxy” (Johnson, 1:47:56). If what he claimed were to pass, it would radically disrupt the order that defined the Star Wars universe for many years. His specific reference to the Sith and the Jedi is particularly absurd given that they were around for millenia by this point and played a significant role in shaping the universe’s history. The transgressive beliefs of Ben Solo are no longer defined through a moral basis at this point. Instead, they are defined by a broader societal basis and a conviction to utilise newfound power to enforce them.

After considering all of these arcs, it becomes clear that the relationship between power and transgression in Star Wars cannot be defined as a direct one. If it were, Luke would not have spared Vader, Anakin would not have been at his weakest when he first wore Vader’s suit, and Ben would not have struggled after Han Solo’s death (among other things). These events display how an increase in power does not necessarily result in an increase in transgressive behavior and vice versa. Instead, they indicate a more nuanced interplay between power and transgression— an increase in power allows for an increase in transgressive behavior and transgression itself is not inherently empowering.

While this may not seem like an important distinction at first, it is significant for a number of reasons. Firstly, it affords a level of responsibility to each character when they make decisions. If they make poor decisions because they are powerful enough to do so, it is ultimately their fault. As a result, Dalberg-Acton’s belief in the corrupting influence of power does not hold as much weight in the Star Wars universe because power is usually displayed as a facilitator of depravity rather than the cause of it. Secondly, it emphasizes the importance of evaluating traits. For example, compared to the Skywalkers and Ben, Palpatine is more egotistical, arrogant, and content in his position of authority. He is also the most transgressive by societal standards. On the contrary, Luke is sympathetic and effectively resists his transgressive urges. It would seem possible that transgression is more closely related to character traits than it is to power. However, the real effects of power are clearly relevant regardless so the relationship between power and transgression is still important to consider.

Power is a deceptively simple concept— one can know the meaning of power without understanding the weight or implications of having it. Furthermore, everyone has urges they know they should not act upon. Those urges could be unacceptable on an individual level or a societal level or both. Through its depiction of power, Star Wars engages this concept. It exposes our vulnerability to making poor decisions when we are in positions where we could easily do so. However, it shows us that we do not have to make those decisions and we could act against our urges by upholding our morals and convictions. I believe this is an extremely valuable lesson, even if the depiction of power in Star Wars does not always reflect its real life effects accurately. If it inspires individuals to improve themselves, then it serves a purpose beyond entertainment. It becomes a social critique that will always be relevant and worth considering.

 

  

 

Works Cited

Botting, Fred. Gothic. 2nd ed., Routledge Taylor & Francis Group, 1995.

Dalberg-Acton, John. “Letter to Archbishop Mandell Creighton.” 5 Apr. 1887 Letter.

Galinsky, Adam D., et al. “Power and Perspectives Not Taken.” Psychological Science, vol. 17, no. 12, 2006, pp. 1068-74.

Gruenfeld, Deborah H., et al. “Power and the Objectification of Social Targets.” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, vol. 95, no. 1, July 2008, pp. 117-27.

Kipnis, David. “Does power corrupt?” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, vol. 24, no. 1, 1972, pp. 33-41.

See, Kelly E., et al. “The Detrimental Effects of Power on Confidence, Advice Taking, and Accuracy.” Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, vol. 116, no. 2, Nov. 2011, pp. 272-85.

Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones. Directed by George Lucas, 20th Century Fox, 2002.

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. Directed by George Lucas, 20th Century Fox, 2005.

Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Directed by Richard Marquand, produced by George Lucas, 20th Century Fox, 1983.

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Directed by Irvin Kerschner, produced by George Lucas, 20th Century Fox, 1980.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Directed by Jeffrey Jacob Abrams, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, 2015.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Directed by Rian Johnson, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, 2017.