Star Wars Meta: On Prophetic Dreams and Visions
Force visions and prophetic dreams to be part of the skillset of even untrained Force sensitives. In the prequels, Anakin dreams about becoming a Jedi (TPM), his mother's death (AotC), and Padme's death (RotS). In The Empire Strikes Back, Luke has a vision about his friends being in trouble. In The Clone Wars episode "Assassin," Ahsoka has a dream and series of visions about an attempt on Padme's life. In Star Wars: Rebels, Ezra has a vision of Gall Trayvis and later a dream about his parents. In The Force Awakens, we learn that Rey has been dreaming of Luke's island long before she ever set foot there. So here's my question: if Force visions and prophetic dreams are a known ability, why did Anakin receive such consistently bad advice on dealing with his?
During Attack of the Clones, we learn that Anakin has been having dreams about his mother in peril for long enough that it is negatively effecting his sleep. Obi-Wan dismisses the possibility that Shmi is actually in danger and assures Anakin that dreams pass in time. The Force is basically screaming at Anakin, but Obi-Wan essentially urges him to put his fingers in his ears and hum until it stops. In Revenge of the Sith, Anakin goes to Yoda after a dream about his wife's impending death. Yoda responds saying:
"Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force. Mourn them not. Miss them not. Attachment leads to jealousy. The shadow of greed, that is. Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose."
Contrasted to that is what Yoda says when Ahsoka comes to him with vague visions of someone close to her being attacked by Aurra Sing in "Assassin":
"So, you begin to see clearly, the true power of the Force. Visions, they are. Underestimate them, you must not. Meditate, to see clearly. More experience, you need."
Not only does he basically congratulate her on unlocking a new Force power, he offers her soul, practical advice on how to proceed. She comes back to him again after meditating, and he encourages her to actively try to prevent Senator Amidala's death.
When Ezra first has a vision in Rebels, Kanan confesses he doesn't know much about them, but stresses that the future is always in motion and it's best not to take them at face value. He urges caution before acting. Later, when Ezra has a dream about his parents, he helps him track down additional information and accompanies him on his mission to find out what happened.
What accounts for the way Anakin's visions are handled, as opposed to Ezra's and Ahsoka's? Some of it might come down to teaching style. In Attack of the Clones, Obi-Wan expresses concern that Anakin's skills in the Force have made him arrogant. He repeatedly tries to put the boy back in his place. He questions whether Anakin has the skill to sense any danger going on in Padme's bedroom (he does!) and makes sarcastic remarks about his skills with a lightsaber. While Kanan is willing to admit that Ezra may have Force skills he lacks and working through learning about them together, Obi-Wan is more concerned with making sure his student doesn't get a swell head then helping him get stronger. There's also the attachment issue. Obi-Wan is troubled by Anakin's continued attachment to his mother and may very well think that her death might help his student let go (especially since the Council would never give them leave to help her), while Kanan accepts Ezra's attachment to his parents and understands it's actually a good thing.
And then there's Yoda. According to the DVD commentary on the Clone Wars episode, Dave Filoni specifically wrote the scene with Ahsoka to redeem Yoda for the genuinely terrible advice he gave Anakin in the films. To me, it has the opposite effect. He was capable of giving sound advice, but chose not to in favor of scolding him for caring if someone lived or died. Why? Did he assume the person in peril was another nobody like Anakin's mom and not want him to waste valuable Jedi time trying to save them? Did he think Anakin was talking about Palpatine, who the Jedi were plotting against, and not want him to get involved? Did he just not particularly care for Anakin and wanted to shame him for his attachments as he had done repeatedly throughout the prequels and Clone Wars? I have no idea.
Why do you think Yoda gave Anakin and Ahsoka such different advice? Do you think Obi-Wan suspected that Anakin's dreams were real Force visions? Have you ever had a prophetic dream?
During Attack of the Clones, we learn that Anakin has been having dreams about his mother in peril for long enough that it is negatively effecting his sleep. Obi-Wan dismisses the possibility that Shmi is actually in danger and assures Anakin that dreams pass in time. The Force is basically screaming at Anakin, but Obi-Wan essentially urges him to put his fingers in his ears and hum until it stops. In Revenge of the Sith, Anakin goes to Yoda after a dream about his wife's impending death. Yoda responds saying:
"Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the Force. Mourn them not. Miss them not. Attachment leads to jealousy. The shadow of greed, that is. Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose."
Contrasted to that is what Yoda says when Ahsoka comes to him with vague visions of someone close to her being attacked by Aurra Sing in "Assassin":
"So, you begin to see clearly, the true power of the Force. Visions, they are. Underestimate them, you must not. Meditate, to see clearly. More experience, you need."
Not only does he basically congratulate her on unlocking a new Force power, he offers her soul, practical advice on how to proceed. She comes back to him again after meditating, and he encourages her to actively try to prevent Senator Amidala's death.
When Ezra first has a vision in Rebels, Kanan confesses he doesn't know much about them, but stresses that the future is always in motion and it's best not to take them at face value. He urges caution before acting. Later, when Ezra has a dream about his parents, he helps him track down additional information and accompanies him on his mission to find out what happened.
What accounts for the way Anakin's visions are handled, as opposed to Ezra's and Ahsoka's? Some of it might come down to teaching style. In Attack of the Clones, Obi-Wan expresses concern that Anakin's skills in the Force have made him arrogant. He repeatedly tries to put the boy back in his place. He questions whether Anakin has the skill to sense any danger going on in Padme's bedroom (he does!) and makes sarcastic remarks about his skills with a lightsaber. While Kanan is willing to admit that Ezra may have Force skills he lacks and working through learning about them together, Obi-Wan is more concerned with making sure his student doesn't get a swell head then helping him get stronger. There's also the attachment issue. Obi-Wan is troubled by Anakin's continued attachment to his mother and may very well think that her death might help his student let go (especially since the Council would never give them leave to help her), while Kanan accepts Ezra's attachment to his parents and understands it's actually a good thing.
And then there's Yoda. According to the DVD commentary on the Clone Wars episode, Dave Filoni specifically wrote the scene with Ahsoka to redeem Yoda for the genuinely terrible advice he gave Anakin in the films. To me, it has the opposite effect. He was capable of giving sound advice, but chose not to in favor of scolding him for caring if someone lived or died. Why? Did he assume the person in peril was another nobody like Anakin's mom and not want him to waste valuable Jedi time trying to save them? Did he think Anakin was talking about Palpatine, who the Jedi were plotting against, and not want him to get involved? Did he just not particularly care for Anakin and wanted to shame him for his attachments as he had done repeatedly throughout the prequels and Clone Wars? I have no idea.
Why do you think Yoda gave Anakin and Ahsoka such different advice? Do you think Obi-Wan suspected that Anakin's dreams were real Force visions? Have you ever had a prophetic dream?