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A
CONTRAST |
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The
True Hero of Myth2
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The
Fallen Hero - Anakin Skywalker
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| The Setting |
Once upon a time...... |
A long time ago in a galaxy
far, far away..... |
| The Hero |
The hero is in an obscure
place with nothing extraordinary about him. |
Young
Anakin, a slave on Tatooine, has extraordinary
abilities. |
| The Call |
The call to adventure
usually comes through a herald, which requires the hero
to separate and begin his journey or quest. |
Qui-Gon
Jinn and Padme Amidala appear in the shop where Anakin
works. Recognizing his extraordinary abilities
and believing he may be the one prophesied to return
balance to the Force, they help Anakin obtain his
freedom. Separating from his mother, he begins
his quest to become a Jedi Knight. |
| The Wise Guide |
The hero is given a wise
guide. |
Anakin
becomes the "padawan" of Obi-Wan Kenobi, who
is to train him for the Jedi Order. Anakin's
arrogance causes him to resent Obi-Wan's authority. |
| The Powerful Weapon |
Usually the hero receives a
powerful weapon to help him in the battles he must
fight. |
Anakin
receives a Jedi Light Saber which he loses and
misuses. |
| Hero Partners |
The hero is given partners
to help him on his quest. |
The
implication is that Anakin has a secret partnership
with Chancellor Palpatine, who he judges to be a good
man. |
| Rescuing the Princess |
Usually there is a princess
being held in a castle or labyrinth that the hero must
negotiate in order to set her free. |
More
often than not, Anakin is following Padme's lead, not
rescuing her. He follows her even when it means
disobedience to the Jedi Order. |
| Hero in Battle |
The hero has to go through
many battles usually against terrible beasts and evil
forces. |
Pride
and ambition cause Anakin to be overly anxious to rush
into battle, which is very costly in the fight with
Count Dooku. |
| Sacred Groves |
The hero must leave and go
to a special place alone to be taught and tested. |
His
first solo assignment places him in a garden-like
setting on Naboo with Padme. Not having been
tested, he enters into acts of disobedience. |
| Mystical Union |
Usually there is some sort
of a mystical union with a woman. |
Even
though they both agree that a union between them is
impossible, Anakin and Padme enter into a secret
marriage; one that is forbidden by his oath to the
Jedi Order. |
| Sacrifice and Betrayal |
The hero often is betrayed
and must suffer a type of "death". |
Anakin
betrays his calling to the Jedi Order. He does
not suffer a type of death. |
| Return of the Hero |
After rescuing the Princess,
the hero returns home. |
After
disobeying his mandate to protect Padme, he takes her
with him to Tatooine. |
| Descent to the Underworld |
The hero usually has to make
a visit to the "Underworld". |
Anakin's
decent to the "underworld" occurs when he
goes to rescue his mother from the Tusken
Raiders. Walking in disobedience, he is led into
something for which he is not prepared; this results
in great tragedy.3 |
| Reconciliation with the
Father |
The hero needs to be
reconciled with his father. |
Obi-Wan
speaks prophetically to Anakin when he says,
"You'll be the death of me." Anakin's
response is, "Please don't say that, Master.
You're the closest thing I have to a
father." There is no reconciliation with
Obi-Wan, just growing antagonism and disobedience. |
| Final Victory |
When the journey is over and
the quest has been obtained, there is a grand
celebration. |
The
celebration will come only after being redeemed by his
son, Luke. |
