Watching the latest episode of Star Wars: The Acolyte and reading the various reactions to the storyline & Jedi has been interesting. One thing I love about The Acolyte is how they are dissecting the Jedi & their mythos. This isn’t a new thing, looking back Star Wars has made a point more than a few times that the Jedi are a force (pun intended) for good. They are morally upright people, warriors that put peace before everything. And it’s true they are as flawed as anyone else and those flaws can lead to issues. I’ll pick a few situations from the films as examples of when the Jedi steered off the path.
“Unlearn what you have learned…” Master Yoda, Empire Strikes Back.
To say that I am a Star Wars fan is an understatement. Since I could remember, I have quoted the films, read the books, listened to the scores, played the games, and enjoyed the various elements of the property. Like most people, the Jedi were a source of awe and wonder to me. My Uncle Gary used Yoda’s teachings as stepping stones when he talked to me about Karma and Universal Laws. The mix of monk and warrior appealed to me, they weren’t looking for conflict, but they were perfectly able and ready to defend themselves.
And they had LASER SWORDS!!!
For all things awesome the Jedi are, as I grew older I began to look at them in a different light. Starting when I played the West End Games Star Wars roleplaying game, I found their lifestyle was rigid and playing a Jedi or a Force Sensitive (a character that has a strong connection to the Force) difficult. There were rules on not just how to act, but going as far as what you thought. You could easily be swayed to the Dark Side with the right GM’s hand. It wasn’t unfair or unreasonable. You just had to be ready to end up with a couple of Dark Side points attached to your character’s.
“He’s the Chosen One. He will bring balance.” Qui-Gon Jinn, The Phantom Menace
With 1999’s Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, we are introduced to the Jedi as a group of individuals and not just a small handful as we saw in the first film. One of my favorite characters from that film was Qui-Gon Jinn. The Jedi Master of Obi-Wan Kenobi, he felt totally in control in every scene, had a wit that wasn’t overbearing, and would see the “bigger picture” in each scenario he found himself in. Qui-Gon did not want his Padawan to simply go with what is the Dogma of the Jedi, each moment was a teachable moment with one of the biggest lessons being “What Would a Jedi Do” may not always be the best thing.
And that is where we get into the biggest problem with the Jedi.
Qui-Gon runs into a young fella named Anakin Skywalker while on a remote sand pit of a planet called Tatooine. Instead his sole focus being the protection of Queen Padme Amidala,Qui-Gon gets sidetracked in not using the boy to get off the planet (in an EXTREMELY dangerous race that humans rarely survive), Qui-Gon is stuck on the idea that Anakin is the “Chosen One who will bring balance to the Force.” Even his Padawan Obi-Wan questions the wisdom of his actions and is brushed off.
That’s a lot of pressure to put on a child as it is. Now let’s add that Qui-Gon’s master plan also involves separating Anakin from the only person he knows and loves, his Momma. His Momma. Let’s take Anakin away from his Mom, leave her in slavery, and start training him to be a Jedi (that will bring balance to the Force, don’t forget that) when other youth start their training earlier. And people wondered why Anakin was a ball of confusion and anger….
“Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.” Yoda, Revenge of the Sith
“Hey Kofi, you know so much about the Jedi, when do the parents drop the kids off at the Jedi Kiddy College?”
Thanks for the question, check this out! The Jedi Order finds young people at a very early age to start their training. The path of a Jedi is very strict and using the Force takes discipline and time. Therefore when children are accepted into the Jedi order as Padawan Learners, they leave their family. Leave them for good. You see, attachment is a big no-no for the Jedi. That “leads” to the Darkside of the Force*. In order to be the best Jedi you can be, you have to totally delicate yourself to master yourself and the Force.
*Allegedly
So let’s recap: Jedi Master Qui-Gon“finds” Anakin Skywalker and because he has a hunch & Anakin’s midichlorian levels are higher than anyone’s save Yoda, decides he will do whatever it takes to bring him to Coruscant to the Jedi Council, and demand that he (and he alone, as he apparently is the person who can train him) take Anakin has his Padawan. And his current Padawan Obi-Wan can go do the trials to be a Jedi Knight.
If this was Earth I’d say Qui-Gon is full of white privilege for his take on Anakin….
Sadly, Qui-Gon would not live long enough to train Anakin. After his death by the hands of Darth Maul, Qui-Gon tells his Padawan Obi-Wan to train the boy. Before Obi-Wan can be properly tested to be a Jedi Knight, much less Master, Qui-Gon in his infinite wisdom puts the pressure of training the “Chosen One” on Kenobi’s shoulders. Wow.
And this will not be the first time that the Jedi fail themselves and the galaxy.