Definitions of Destiny: Chapter 20

[caryn_b]

Title: Definitions of Destiny
Author: Caryn B
Fandom: Star Wars (film canon only - see notes)
Timeline: 6 months after RotJ
Pairing: Luke/Han, slash
Rating: NC-17 overall; this chapter PG-13
Warnings: None
The list of chapters is here

Comments

[caryn_b]

The Jedi feared the Dark Side of the Force.
Perhaps this was their mistake, though it's arguable of course. This topic isn't simple.

Not simple at all, and there's no single, straightforward answer. I think it's not so much that they feared the Dark Side and the Sith, but that they feared allowing certain types of emotions and activities that they believed might lead to the Dark Side. They did have a great deal of foretelling of doom going on, and sometimes I wonder if such things become self-fulfilling prophecies. A lot of the Saga does say that to me - but it says different things to each and every one of us, which is one of the wonderful things about it! Of course, the Jedi did have a real reason to worry about the Dark Side!

That he did. Wiped them all. It was meant to be of course, but nonetheless - it was *dreadful*.

Yes, the whole thing was a tragedy in many ways.

If there's something that could balance the destruction he made it would be giving Luke and Leia to the galaxy

George Lucas has stated categorically that Anakin was the Chosen One and that he brought balance to the Force by destroying the Sith. I can't see that being the full picture, which is why I wanted to explore it more. Particularly as the Prophecy and the Chosen One were clearly in Qui-Gon's mind on Tatooine, in a period of time before they knew of the return of the Sith. The Council's first reaction to Qui-Gon's statement about Darth Maul was disbelief, because they believed the Sith to be extinct. Yet the Prophecy was still taken seriously, and an imbalance to the Force mentioned - so it seemed to be there, regardless of whether the Sith were around or not. But yeah - very complicated! And I do think Luke's approach (and subsequently Leia's), with his mixture of Dark and Light, is crucial to the Force being in balance. He learns to truly trust his feelings, whereas I feel that the Jedi Code taught that it was only okay to trust certain permitted feelings.

[sandspirit]

You're saying that there's no place for Jedi at all in the 'new' galaxy, aren't you? Hm-m, perhaps you're right. :) Though it's pity. It's a beautiful race.

[caryn_b]

No, I really don't mean to imply that. I think there's definitely a place for the Jedi in the new galaxy - more so, I think it's vital that there are Jedi. Luke is a Jedi, and always will be. Same for Leia. What I don't think would be right would be an attempt to 'turn back the clock', and for Luke to try to emulate the way the Jedi lived prior to this, and to try to recreate the Jedi Order in the same way that it existed before. My issues with the Jedi are not with the 'Jedi', but with the rules and codes of conduct that surrounded them, because I think, in then end, it was those same rules that helped bring about their downfall. I think Yoda's message to Luke in not telling him about the Council, and not making him learn the Code, was that he needs to continue the Jedi tradition in a new way. Of course, Luke has learned much from Ben and Yoda, and he will take that knowledge and pass it on, so it's not that he's severing links to the past, he's just building a new way forward.

The destruction of the Jedi was a tragic thing, and there's still a great deal to be taken from their teachings which I think Luke will find very valid and he will, I believe, want to teach all those good things and keep those good things - just not bound by those same rules.

Somewhere in the story (sorry, I can't remember where now!), I mention about Luke wanting to seek out more Jedi. But I think the Jedi we see will be more like Qui-Gon, who couldn't obey the Code either. I think he would have seen the pitfalls of those rules had he not died. Somewhere in TPM, Qui-Gon says to Obi-Wan, when Obi-Wan complains that Qui-Gon will not obey the Code, that Obi-Wan still has much to learn. I take that to mean about the approach to the Force overall, and I think his message stays through the whole Saga, right until Vader is redeemed by Luke. To me, Qui-Gon really 'got it' because he was prepared to think beyond the confines of the Council Code.

[caryn_b]

Sorry - I'm spamming you now :)

I just meant to say something else and forgot! This story does contain a lot of the things I think and feel about the events of the Saga, but also it has things that are relevant just to this story. I've read many interpretations of the Prophecy and the meaning of balance, and have found a lot to agree with, and a lot to disagree with too.

But I wouldn't want to say that what's in this story is the only opinion I have on it, or it's the only answer that works for me. I find I get into a story and a certain mind-set, and write accordingly. Another day I might write or read a totally different story that has a totally different interpretation and believe in it just as much. There are a few basic things that I feel strongly about, but I'm open to all and any interpretations of this subject because it is so fascinating to me, and I don't think there's any one set answer (even if George comes out with one!).

And I think Luke looks good in a cloak too. Or out of one... (will reply properly to you by email!).

And I'm waffling again :P