Originally posted on July 26, 2006
I have been searching for a connection between Leia and Padme' for a while now, and I finally found one . I have written on the connection between Luke and Padme', and others have written similar entries on the connection between Luke and Padme', Luke and Anakin, and Leia and Anakin. However, I have not seen too many on the connection between Leia and Padme' besides the never-ending question of how can Leia remember her mother and Luke cannot.
What is it that connects Padme' and Leia besides their "bond" of mother and daughter? Sure, they both are strong politicians during their time in the Senate, but Leia's strong political beliefs and voice could be from her being raised by Bail Organa rather than having been passed to her from Padme'. So, what do these two women share? It is their ability to *love*.
When we first meet Padme', she is a fourteen-year-old Queen, in a position of power and influence. We see her as a handmaiden-in-disguise, and are able to form an idea of the kind of person she truly is...kind, caring, and not above anyone. She will work with others in order to accomlish a goal, and is not afraid to join in the fight. In AOTC, she is now a twenty-four year-old Senator, still in a position of power, but now a woman. She has obligations to the Republic, but she also desires a family. Then, Anakin Skywalker re-enters her life...Anakin, now a nineteen year-old Jedi Padawan, not the nine-year-old boy from Tatooine. Although Anakin tries to get Padme' to see him, to get her to love him, she keeps a "straight head" and does not give in to temptation. However, when faced with death on Geonosis, she can no longer deny her feelings, and confesses her love to Anakin. After the battle, Padme' and Anakin marry and spend the next three years living in secret. Padme's love for Anakin remains with her, even as she takes her last breath.
Fast-forward to ANH where we meet Luke, Han, and Leia. We all know that Luke and Han "fight" over Leia in ANH and ESB and that Luke discovers that Leia is his twin in ROTJ, so this "triangle" was dissolved with this realization. However, the focus here is on Leia, not the "love triangle" of Han, Luke and Leia. Now, Leia is a politician in the Imperial Senate and is a leader of the Rebel Alliance, so she more than likely had little time for "romance." Now, enter Luke and Han, and she now has two suitors who would do anything to "win" her love. However, she continues to focus on the task at hand...destroying the Death Star and winning a battle for the Rebellion. During ESB, the "battle "between Luke and Han over Leia continues, but, because of his proximity to her, Han wins out. I was watching her facial expressions toward Han in the beginning of ESB, and I could see that she was interested...afterall, I am a woman, I should know that look . Anyway, she continues to keep that barrier around her feelings...that is, until they (Han, Leia, Chewie, and 3PO) are hiding in the asteroid field trying to elude the Empire. Han essentially "corners" her, and they kiss. Now, the "flames" are ignited, and Leia cannot deny her feelings, no matter how hard she tries. By the time ROTJ comes around, the feelings she has for Han are obvious, and it is just a matter of time before she gives in to these feelings. Her love for Luke becomes more of a sisterly kind of love, which "paves the way" for Han to love her.
Now, I have not read the novelizations of the OT or any EU following the time period of th OT, so I am not familiar with everyting about Leia and her personal life. I could be missing something here, but I am not taking into account this expanded information.
May the Force Be With You All
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