From a Certain Point of View--"Deception" in the OT

Originally posted on June 6, 2006

 You told me Vader betrayed and murdered my father. Luke to Obi-Wan, ROTJ

What I told you was true...from a certain point of view. Obi-Wan to Luke, ROTJ

This entry is a continuation of what I stared to discuss in my previous entry on deception in the SW saga. Now, those of us who grew up with the OT were not aware of any deception until ESB was released and it was revealed that Darth Vader was Luke's father. Following this revelation, we had another "shocker" when ROTJ was released...Luke and Leia were twins. Now the plot thickened...who else knew of this informaiton and how long did they know? After the release of the PT, we now know, and it made sense as to why these things were kept "secret:" for the safety of all involved. Now the question is...how is this deception "played out" in the OT and how dies it "fit" with the plot of the PT?

A New Hope

ANH, what I consider the first episode of the saga (rather than TPM), is the introduction to all we have come to know and love. We are introduced to two droids named C3PO and R2D2, a Princess named Leia, a young moisture farmer named Luke Skywalker, an "old hermit" named Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi, a "scoundrel" named Han Solo, and a Wookie named Chewbacca. Without knowing the entire SW story, one would not suspect any deception here...the only "true" deception was made by Leia by naming the Rebel base as Dantooine rather than Yavin. The next deception was made by Tarkin, who "tricked" Leia into naming the system of the Rebel base in order to save her home planet, and then destroying it anyway. After knowing the "whole story," we know that deception was the basis for the lives of Luke, Leia, and old Ben.

Nothing was as it seemed in those first years of the saga. Now, we don't know what Leia knew about her "real parents," but we can be fairly sure that she knew something...maybe not all the details, but at least some of them. However, Lukes' knowledge of his father was purposefully misconstrued to protect his identity and the "hope" of a better galaxy. From Owen and Beru to Ben, the truth about Anakin was never told...he was a pilot on a spice freighter, not one of the most powerful Jedi Knights of his time...that is, until Luke came across 3PO and R2, and then the time was right to make Obi-Wan's presence known to the Empire and to train Luke as a Jedi to ensure the "survival" of the Order/Galaxy. In order to do this, Ben had to entice Luke to join him by telling him a version of the truth about his father...that he was a Jedi Knight and a good friend. Now the plan was in motion...escape from Tatooine with the assistance of Han and Chewie, deliver the Death Star plans to Leia and the Rebel Alliance, rescue Leia, join the Rebels, and destroy the Death Star. In the meantime, Ben confronted Vader for the first time in approximately twenty years and sacrificed himself so that Luke could continue on his own path...whatever that may be.

Empire Strikes Back

ESB is what I consider the pinnacle of the saga...it is where the "truth" of what happened long ago is told...it is where the "shot heard around the world," so to say, is delivered. Here, we are introduced to Yoda, a former Jedi Master, who has exiled himself on Dagobah for the past twenty or so years. Through Yoda, Luke embarks on journey into a whole "new world"...the world of the Jedi, a world of discipline, a world where this mysterious Force "controlls" everything. Luke learns more about Vader and the seduction of the Dark Side. He faces his "fears" in the cave, and "fails" at this test set by Yoda...a test to determine how "ready" he is for the life of a Jedi. He has visions of Han and Leia suffering...visions sent to establish a "trap" to lure him to Bespin. Little does Luke know that Vader is waiting for him...waiting to lure him to the Dark Side, to join him and his Master in ruling the galaxy.

In an effort to elude the Empire, Han, Leia, and Chewie sought refuge through an "old friend" of Han's--Lando Calrissian, now the port administrator on Bespin. Little does the trio know, however, that Lando "sold them out" to the Empire through a Bounty Hunter named Boba Fett...a long-time nemesis from the time of the Old Republic. It is here that Vader's "trap" for Luke is established...and it worked as planned, to a certain degree. However, Vader did not plan on Luke having learned "so much" about the Force and how to control his feelings. Vader's last-ditch effort to convince Luke to join him was to tell him the "truth" about his father...Ob-Wan never told you what happened to your father...No, *I* am your father. Of course, Luke was upset by this information, this "deception" (if you will) by Ben and Yoda, this "lie" he had been living for all of his life. However, he did not let this information sway him from the "light," and he let fate decide his destiny when he jumped. He called on Leia for help...Leia, who heard his "cry" through the Force...Leia who did not know why she could hear him and why she knew where to find him. As Yoda said before Luke left Dagobah...No, there is another...maybe Leia was this "other?"

Return of the Jedi

ROTJ is where we learn even more about our beloved saga...we learn more about Anakin and Vader, we learn more about the Emperor, we learn more about Luke and Leia, and we learn more about the "deception" surrounding the lives of our heros. Luke learns from Yoda that Vader is his father and that there is another Skywalker. Upon hearing this, Luke displays surprise and sadness...sadness more a result of the death of Yoda. Through Ben, Luke discovers the truth about his father and his "long-lost sibling"...he learns that Anakin was seduced by the Dark Side and ceased to be, becoming Darth Vader; he learns that his father is more machine now than man...twisted and evil; he learns that he and his twin sister had been separated following birth to protect them and that she remains safely anonymous. However, Luke "reaches out" through the Force and knows that Leia is his sister...however, Ben warns him that his insights serve [him] well, but they could be made to serve the Emperor. Now Luke's "mission" is to save the Rebellion, the Galaxy, and his father.

Armed with this "new" information, Luke returns to join the Alliance and volunteers to accompany Han, Chewie, and Leia on their mission to deactivate the energy shield on Endor. As the crew approaches the Second Death Star and Endor, Luke fears he has endagered the mission, for he sense Vader...and Vader senses Luke. Vader's mission now is to bring his son before the Emperor...to "force" him to turn from the light. Prior to Luke's leaving the Ewok camp, he confides in Leia about his "mission," about the fact that Vader is his father, and about the fact that they are twins. Luke then surrenders himself to Vader in the hopes of saving Anakin, his father. This confrontation on the bridge on Endor is where I can see the "turning point"...the point where Vader is losing his "battle" with Anakin, and Anakin is trying to emerge from the Darkness. As the two duel aboard the Death Star, Luke finds himself unwittingly divulging information about his sister, and then finds himself "teetering" on the edge of the Dark Side. However, when Luke takes a moment to pause after "defeating" Vader, he realizes that Anakin had once traveled this path and that is not what he wanted for his life. He offers himself as a "sacrifice" to the Emperor by tossing his lightsaber...again leaving his destiny to fate. While watching Palpatine bombard his son with lightening, Anakin (not Vader) could no longer take the deception of the Dark Side, and left his destiny to fate by destroying Palpatine. Finally, after years of lies, deceit, and mistrust, Anakin re-emerged and fulfilled his role as the "Chosen One," becoming one with the Force.

After ROTJ, it was "clear" why deception existed in the OT...to protect the "hope" of the Galaxy, Luke and Leia. However, it would be another sixteen years before we learned the story of Anakin Skywalker and how he went from a young slave on Tatooine to becoming a powerful Jedi to becoming the feared Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith. From the time of the OT, it was evident that Obi-Wan did not believe that Anakin/Vader could be saved...it was Luke who believed this and did everything he could to help Anakin. What we did not know is why Luke believed this so strongly when everyone around him did not. Following the release of ROTS, we can speculate that it was Padme' who set these feelings in motion...is it a coincidence that her last words to Obi-Wan were that there is good in him..I know...there is still..., and that Obi-Wan just happened to be holding Luke at the time  . I think not.

Any thoughts/questions/suggestions? I realize this is not an "all-inclusive" discussion on deception in the SW saga...it is meant to get all of you thinking about it and what it means. Thank you all. May the Force Be With You...Always