Death Star: Darth Vader

Death Star by Michael Reaves and Steve Perry

Chapter(s): 11

 

 I almost feel I should have waited on the last essay and finish chapter 11, though I didn't have much to say up to page 200 so maybe it is for the best that I didn't. The extra time gave me some ideas though. My thoughts on Vader have changed. I’m sure most think of him as having turned evil. To me, now at least, it feels almost like he hasn’t and is using his own force powers to do so. There is also an allegory to a phoenix within the first paragraph. Yes it is meant to show how he died, came back, and changed. The thing to remember is the phoenix is still the same bird. It is also important to remember it has a positive connotation. When we first see him he says he is still Anakin Skywalker in some ways. Palpatine clearly started his brain washing but all this time Darth Vader has been reinforcing it. “He let the dark side take him, let it envelop him in anger and hatred (72).” It is almost like he can’t keep it up on his own. Really if he is good the whole time and is using his suffering to power up his force power that is just twisted.

I’ve been thinking about the force lately. I don’t know much about it. The Star Wars books I’ve read focused on other characters. With the mentions of it in here I have wondered about a few of the details. It says that the force, at least in Vaders control, has the ability to stop hearts. If it can do such a thing why isn’t it seen more? I thought about it and came up with something I feel works. I believe the body has a resistance and it takes time, that is often not available, to overcome if it is possible to get by at all. It is kind of similar to how Obi-Wan were able to distract the Stormtroopers from the droids. It isn’t a stretch to see how that was orchestrated. They were not sure what they were looking for so it wouldn’t be too hard to overlook them. Now with your life in the mix it gets to be a bit more complicated. First of all your body can betray you if you are panicked and afraid. There is also a mental part to it. If you fear something you have to believe it can do you harm and lower the resistance you would hold. All and all pretty useless against a Jedi or someone who isn’t of a weaker will than the force user. This isn’t to imply there isn’t still a physical aspect like how objects are moved but there is a new quality in the use with a person’s own will.

 Reaves, Michael, and Steve Perry. Star Wars: Death Star. New York: Lucas/Del Rey/Ballantine, 2007. Print.