The Force in Canon - Discussion

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DarthAnt66
In anticipation on The Last Jedi, I figured we should discuss and try to answer some of the core existing themes concerning the Force.

The foremost question I have is what exactly was the Chosen One prophecy? As per Lucas, the description was simplying "to destroy the Sith." How would cleansing just one-side of the Force bring it into balance though? It seems essential that both the Jedi and the Sith, the two extreme organizations of the Force, needed to be destroyed. If true, then how could Luke Skywalker live yet the prophecy be fulfilled? It would seem to me that, with the galaxy in the presence of no Sith and one Jedi, that the Force would be out-of-balance toward the light-side.

The second point of discussion is simplying on the various "sides" of the Force. The canon interpretation seems to be a spectrum, with the light on one end and the dark on the other. Some Force-users aim to be in the middle, however unless they have sufficient mastery, they generally stray toward either the dark or the light. Also, based on this perspective, the Jedi, the ultimate light-side faction, would be just as extreme and dangerous toward the balance of the Force as the Sith, again bringing into question how Luke could be alive yet the prophecy fufilled.

I've observed that Yoda and the Emperor have essentially the same extremist view of the Force. Both believe in the absolute giving of ones self toward their respective side of the Force, believing the other to be inherently corrupt or unnatural. It's the same coin, just different sides. Now with Luke and Snoke, it seems they found a new coin, but again represent each side of it. Snoke is stated to have been encouraging Kylo to find balance between the light and the dark side. I imagine Luke will do the same for Rey. The difference is that it seems Snoke puts emphasis on the struggle (or inherent chaos) of staying in the middle, and it is the pull felt toward either one side that is the key to absolute power, although that's just my theory.

What are your thoughts?

UCanShootMyNova
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TenebrousWay
Lucas once stated that the Light Side is the only "natural" aspect of the Force. The Dark Side is a perversion, some kind of parasitism. So, returning "balance" to the Force is exactly what he said: destroy the Sith. With the new Disney canon, though, things may change.

NewGuy01
Exactly. That's why the films' new direction is stupid: because it treats the light and dark sides as equally legitimate.

Beniboybling
He also said that it's like ying and yang and the Force isn't good or evil lol.

TenebrousWay
In the old Canon, the Dark Side is associated with mass murder, child killing, planet busting, corruption and evil in general. It's going to be difficult if Disney tries to change that now.

SunRazer
Well, Snoke's probably gonna end up dead and Luke might end up changing his ways again, so it's not like we know for sure if they think the dark side is equally legitimate.

relentless1
heres the way see it: Anakin brought balance to the Force by killing Sidious and himself but the balance was always Luke.

Luke was a compassionate guy, unlike the Jedi before him he had attachments but because of his good nature those attachments were a help not a hinderance to his progress, this already sets him apart from the way the old Jedi did things because they believed that being detached was the way of the light which we know in real life isn't the way to do things, you need passion in your life otherwise you aren't really living.

Luke was able to take the positive emotional states from both sides of the Force and use them to become right down the middle, I believe that he will use this philosophy to create a new brand of Force users, once that are more human than the Jedi but not lunatics like the Sith were.

Also notice in Jedi that Luke wore black and choked out those pig guards at the beginning; this is nods to his balance with the light and dark side as well.

Anyways in summary I believe Anakin as the Chosen One was destined to bring balance and Luke was the physical manifestation of that balance.

Darth Luminous
As per Lucas, the description was simplying "to destroy the Sith." How would cleansing just one-side of the Force bring it into balance though?

It's the balance of the Force, not the balance of the Force-users. Force-users are not the Force. You're making a category error. The Jedi and Sith are not the sides of the Force. The Sith are not the dark side. The dark side is an energy field, the Sith are a social club.

Also, based on this perspective, the Jedi, the ultimate light-side faction, would be just as extreme and dangerous toward the balance of the Force as the Sith

What does Lor San Tekka have to say about that?

We in fact have no canon that shows the Jedi as dangerous toward the balance of the Force. The Sith tend to do things that the Jedi do not: for example, Plagueis and Siduous' rituals, taking over the galaxy and instituting a reign of terror, that sort of thing...

Lucas once stated that the Light Side is the only "natural" aspect of the Force. The Dark Side is a perversion, some kind of parasitism.

No, he never said that. That's revisionism by internet fanboys putting words in his mouth. His actual statements say and imply otherwise.

That's why the films' new direction is stupid: because it treats the light and dark sides as equally legitimate.

It's not a new direction. It's been there all along.

heres the way _see it: Anakin brought balance to the Force by killing Sidious and himself but the balance was always Luke.

The balance isn't a person. The balance is a condition of the Force itself, a property which the Force does or does not have at a given point in time.

relentless1
The balance was Luke though; he took the best aspects of the Jedi and the Sith and combined them

TenebrousWay
Originally posted by Darth Luminous
No, he never said that. That's revisionism by internet fanboys putting words in his mouth. His actual statements say and imply otherwise.

Good to know. The duality of light/dark is much more interesting than the previous interpretation.

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