From: tmkst6+@pitt.edu (Theodore M Kostek)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.starwars
Subject: Re: themes and things
Date: 12 Aug 92 14:49:38 GMT
Organization: University of Pittsburgh
Originator: tmkst6@pmax1.cis.pitt.edu

Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.starwars
Subject: Re: Themes and things (was: Just how much of SW did Lucas make up as he)
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In article <1992Aug11.232010.14960@Princeton.EDU> rtbunker@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (Ross T. Bunker) writes:
>In article <1992Jul30.185055.17129@constellation.ecn.uoknor.edu> gene@midway.ecn.uoknor.edu (Gene E. Johannsen) writes:
>>talcott@Apple.COM (Adam Talcott) writes:

>>>I don't think when Ben did in ANH would be called lying.  What Ben tells Luke
>>>is very consistent with the facts.  If memory serves, Ben tells Luke that his
>>>father was "betrayed and murdered" by a young Jedi he was training who was
>>>seduced by the Dark Side of the Force.  
>>Ben's explanation in RotJ for what he said in ANH makes me cringe every time
>>I watch it.  It is the lowest ebb in the trilogy and inconsistent in a
>>profound way.
>
>It seems to me that Ben had several GREAT reasons for telling Luke what he
>did assuming he knew Vader was Anakin.
>
>1)  Ben had already failed once to train a Jedi.  He obviously intended Luke
>to become a Jedi also.  Ben saw him as someone who could perhaps stand up to
>the emperor and Vader since he knew the Force was strong with him.  However,
>knowing that his father had already turned to the dark side would have been
>a bit of a set-back.  Crushing from that stand-point alone.  Luke would have
>had trouble believing it and long before he had been trained he probably
>would have rushed off to save his father.  He almost had it happen anyway.
>
>3)  What could he tell him?  "I'm sorry, but your father is now the
>Emperor's right hand and a symbol for evil in the Universe.", or "Your
>father is held hostage by the powers of the Dark Side."  Slightly more
>truthful perhaps, but again, Luke would have been off to save him before
>he was ready.
>
>All things considered the way Ben tells it in ANH seems to me the most
>sensible story possible in any case.  (Suggestions?)

The quote that ties this whole thread together is from Yoda.
Rough quotations from memory of the scene in RotJ on Dagobah:

Luke: _Is_ Darth Vader my Father?
Yoda: Sleep, sleep, very tired
Luke: Master Yoda, I must know.
Yoda: <sigh> Told you did he?  Unexpected this is.  And unfortunate.
Luke: Unfortunate that I know the truth?
[here it is]
Yoda: No! Unfortunate that not ready were you.  That unprepared for the 
	burden you were.  That uncomplete was your training.  That you 
	rushed to meet him. 

Clearly, Yoda aggrees that there were very good reasons (mostly the ones
noted earlier, above) not to tell Luke - the truth hurts, in fact it can 
be one of the most destructive things around.  (I wonder if Ben and Yoda 
came to this decision on their own, or if they had a little pow-wow after 
Anakin's death/conversion to decide what the party line would be.)  

Knowing that he was doing 'The Right Thing' didn't make it any easier 
for Ben to lie to Luke (IMHO), and that is why he contrived the whole 
little 'point-of-view' speech; he was trying to assuage and hide his
guilt with a little (very little) profound (not) advice, (IMHO).  

From: tmkst6+@pitt.edu (Theodore M Kostek)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.starwars
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