theEviljedi
Chyren sure has some of the best theories.(This is on Shmi's purpose in Star Wars) Read on...
It is a psychological thing, I believe, the major plot issue that Lucas alluded to with Anakin & Shmi. I stress I am guessing all this.
The biggest life lesson that Shmi gave to Anakin was that all beings should help one another with no thought of reward. What has happened to the Lars homestead is that it was attacked by thirsty Tuskens, whom Clieg Lars fought off with his son, getting (possibly mortally) wounded in the process. Realising that the Tuskens only wanted water because without it they could not survive, Shmi goes out to offer water to them in a gesture of peace. The Tuskens, mistaking this for another attack, and frightened by past encounters with brutal humans, beat her and take the water.
So Anakin learns the hard way that trying to help other beings only loses you your most beloved. And his heart starts to blacken.
Personally, if that's the way it goes, it is a very compelling reason for Anakin to start down the dark path, and a believable one,I think. If that is Shmi's story purpose, then it's not a waste, IMHO. The prelude to all this, of course, is an unknown factor and really holds the key.
It is a psychological thing, I believe, the major plot issue that Lucas alluded to with Anakin & Shmi. I stress I am guessing all this.
The biggest life lesson that Shmi gave to Anakin was that all beings should help one another with no thought of reward. What has happened to the Lars homestead is that it was attacked by thirsty Tuskens, whom Clieg Lars fought off with his son, getting (possibly mortally) wounded in the process. Realising that the Tuskens only wanted water because without it they could not survive, Shmi goes out to offer water to them in a gesture of peace. The Tuskens, mistaking this for another attack, and frightened by past encounters with brutal humans, beat her and take the water.
So Anakin learns the hard way that trying to help other beings only loses you your most beloved. And his heart starts to blacken.
Personally, if that's the way it goes, it is a very compelling reason for Anakin to start down the dark path, and a believable one,I think. If that is Shmi's story purpose, then it's not a waste, IMHO. The prelude to all this, of course, is an unknown factor and really holds the key.