3) Those Trademark Family Themes Make The Story More Relatable And The Tragedy Even More Tragic
Another overriding theme throughout the Star Wars’ interconnecting narratives is family. The majority of the key characters within the movies are related to one another (sometimes without them even knowing it) and this gives the series a distinct “soap-opera” feel. Now, I don’t say that in a disparaging way, but instead I believe that it actually really helps to ground the fantasy sci-fi drama, while enabling us to connect on a human level with this fictional galaxy that is far, far away.
I mean, who can forget that pivotal scene where Vader reveals his true relationship to Luke in The Empire Strikes Back? Moments like these are burned into our cinematic memory and they’re sprinkled throughout the whole of the series. These moments not only assist in elevating the heartbreaking tragedy of how the events unfold, but also help us to relate to the characters in a more significant, meaningful way.
These family themes throw up some big, sociological questions: Are we simply a product of our parent’s genes? Or are we the product of our environment and experiences? Do we really have free choice over our fate? Arguably, Star Wars aims for a fairly balanced commentary on all of these philosophical concepts and, at its best, attempts to delve deeply into the very nature of the human condition.
Published: Aug 11, 2017 10:06 am