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Analogy of Romeo and Juliet and the Star Wars Prequels |
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"A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..." and "Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona where we lay our scene..." are both opening lines to two very different stories. Two tales that have become legendary in their own ways but have very diverse differences. One was written hundreds of years ago by the renowned William Shakespeare and the other was written after its sequels a few years ago by one of the greatest directors George Lucas. One is based in the Italian city-state of Verona and the other a distant galaxy full of turmoil. But Romeo and Juliet and the Star Wars prequels have a number of things in common, however how diverse their settings can be.
The first part of the Star Wars saga (the Phantom Menace, Attack of the clones and Revenge of the Sith) is set on a number of very unlike planets including Coruscant the whole planet city, and the volcanic hell Mustafar. The story is set around the heroic Jedi, who use the mysterious power of the 'Force' to act as guardians of peace, and in the Clone Wars, become warriors of the Galactic Republic. The Force is what basically controls the Star Wars galaxy and is what most of the population believe in. It's the galaxy's version of Romeo and Juliet's 'fate' and fortune that is presented in the text. The prequels' couple, Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amildala, are in forbidden love; Anakin is a Jedi, who are not allowed to have intimate relationships. "We live in a real world. Come back to it. You're studying to become a Jedi Knight. I'm a Senator. If you follow your thoughts through to conclusion, they will take us to a place we cannot go... regardless of the way we feel about each other." Padme's intelligent view on the situation was the only doubt they had on the relationship. But despite the ancient Jedi rule and Padme's political life as a senator, Anakin and Padme give in to their love for each other and marry in secret. An action that would ultimately lead to the origin of an evil empire.
Although Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet never had any words of doubt about their relationship at all. Just like the Star Wars galaxy's Clone War Romeo and Juliet's families are in a brutal feud, which made their love impossible for both of them, as their parents hated each other. But the daring teenagers gave in to their feelings (just like Anakin and Padme) and were married by Friar Lawrence. A decision that led to their tragic deaths.
The couples in both in Star wars prequels and Romeo and Juliet could be presented as "star crossed lovers" because fate/the Force brought the couples together- lovers that were all from completely different backgrounds. Their meetings also concur with this description: Romeo and Juliet met at the Capulet's party, where Romeo wasn't allowed. The young man fatefully spied Juliet's beauty, "Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.", and the teens fell in love at first sight.
Anakin and Padme met ten years before their marriage; where fate/the Force brought Padme to Anakin's home world Tatooine. It was a meeting where Anakin sensed he would one day marry this beautiful handmaiden to the Queen of Naboo (Padme's home world).
Both their meetings were very significant to their stories. They were even more foreboding since the audiences/readers knew what was going to happen to the characters eventually. Therefore, the couples were 'star crossed' from the beginning.
Romeo Montague and Anakin Skywalker, the male lovers in the stories share a number of similar qualities in their characters. They are noble, very courageous and romantic when they're with their wives. They were also immature at times but also would protect their loved ones in any situation. Romeo's loving is shown when he executed Tybalt (with a sword) in revenge for killing his best friend Mercutio, a murder that was blinded by pure anger. "Alive, in triumph! And Mercutio slain! Away to heaven, respective lenity, and fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!"
Anakin's caring for his mother, Shmi, is shown when he slaughters a tribe of Sand People, (with a lightsaber- a kind of sword!) "I... I killed them. I killed them all. They're dead, every single one of them..." These murders were driven purely by revenge as well. And it caused them to turn 'darker' too or in Anakin's case, slide closer to the 'Dark Side' of the Force.
"How doth my Juliet? For nothing can be ill if she be well." Romeo's words showed his true love and passion for Juliet and could have applied for Anakin as well. Romeo also showed his passion when he killed himself to join Juliet in death; "Well Juliet I'll lie with thee tonight..."
Although, Anakin's way of saying "I love you Padme sweetheart," was to literally join the dark side and topple the galaxy into darkness. When the twenty-three year old Jedi found out his wife was pregnant, he immediately began to have premonitions of her death. Ignoring Padme's promise: "I will not die in childbirth, Ani, I promise you!" and elder Jedi advice to: "Let go of everything you fear to lose," Anakin slid into an evil Sith Lords hands' and joined the Dark side of the Force- to save Padme from dieing. So it is possible to say that Anakin 'died' when he became Darth Vader. He risked his whole life for Padme just like Romeo.
Juliet Capulet and Padme Amidala's stories aren't very similar; one reason is because Padme's side of the story wasn't told as much. Because the Star Wars prequels had many other plots to tell, most of Padme's was cut out. In contrast, Juliet Capulet's story was told more than any other character. Juliet was immature (as she was only thirteen) relied on elder advice and was completely swayed by Romeo. Padme Amidala is in her twenties, a respectable senator and didn't give in to Anakin's seducing until she knew she was completely in love. Padme also got pregnant, which changed the story dramatically. Although they both shared similar love and desperation for their husbands, love that eventually caused their deaths. Juliet stabbed herself with a dagger, when she found Romeo dead beside her in the Capulet's tomb room; "O churl! Drunk all, and left no friendly drop to help me after?" He had poisoned himself believing that Juliet was dead. She was only under a potion, to make her seem dead.
Padme dies of pure grief, which started when she was informed that Anakin had joined the Dark side from her friend and Anakin's master- Obi-wan Kenobi. Disbelieving this horrid news of her husband and father of their unborn-child: "You're wrong! How could you even say that?" she went after Anakin to find out the truth. After being choked by Anakin when he thought she betrayed him, she was soon taken to a nearby planet, Polis Massa. It was there where she survived just long enough to name her newborn twins, Luke and Leia and to assure Obi-wan Kenobi that there was still good in her husband. Padme and Juliet's last words both showed that they truly loved their husbands.
The lovers in the story all had some form of an 'advisor' in their lives. Some of these advisors did more harm than good and can be blamed for their deaths. Although, is was never shown that Padme Amidala never got any form of parental advisory.
Anakin Skywalker had two main mentors who were usually on completely different sides- a reason why Anakin would have become so confused. He relied on them for support, since his mother was dead and he never knew his father. Obi-Wan had been his best friend and father figure for over ten years, who always showed him the best Jedi way. His other 'fatherly' mentor was Chancellor Palpatine who guided him on everything in life, including the dark side of the force. It was Palpatine who mainly caused the 'death' of Anakin, as he was the one who informed him that the Dark side could save Padme from dieing; "You have great wisdom, Anakin. Know the power of the dark side. The power to save Padme."
Romeo's father figure (his real father wasn't as caring) was Friar Lawrence, who, just like Palpatine (though not an evil Sith Lord), guided Romeo and in time, Juliet in their desperation. He married Romeo and Juliet, believing all the way that the teenager's love would stop their parent's feud. The Friar was also the one who gave Juliet the sleeping potion, since she was desperate to kill herself.
Like Romeo, Juliet couldn't rely on her parents for caring advice. She relied on her Nurse in most of the story. The Nurse had been looking after Juliet since she was a baby and Juliet trusted her. In the story, the Nurse was responsible for making sure Romeo knew when his wedding was scheduled and provided a ladder for him so he could get to Juliet's bedroom. But when the Nurse betrayed Juliet's trust; the teen, desperate for help, had to rely on the Friar; "I'll to the friar, to know his remedy: If all else fail, myself have power to die."
The couples' advisors can all be somehow blamed for the lover's tragic deaths. From not acting correctly to influencing their evil sides, its possible that they all felt a little bit bad for what they had done (except maybe for Palpatine who now had control of the galaxy).
Romeo and Juliet and the Star Wars prequels are very different stories but are also very similar. Anakin and Padme and Romeo and Juliet showed their audiences what love and hate can do to people. The lovers were blinded by their love and passion, which ultimately caused their deaths. But out of their endings came some happiness; the birth of Luke and Leia, which brought hope to the Star Wars galaxy and the ending of the Montague and Capulet feud restored peace to Verona. These two stories are sure to bring enjoyment and entertainment to the whole world for a very long time. Even though Star Wars is yet to reach its hundred-year mark.
This text is © Ana Marasa, 2006. Reprinted with permission by the author. This text may not be reprinted without the authors explicit permission.
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