Did you know that the first fable dates back to ancient Greece? Aesop, the first known fable writer, invented the notion of using fantasy tales to teach real-world lessons.
When you think of fables, you might think of the stories of your childhood. But, did you know that Star Wars can also be considered a fable? Its use of fantasy belies the real-world lessons it teaches the viewer about the power of righteousness.
For instance, when Obi-Wan sacrifices himself, his death is both powerful and heart wrenching. But, it also teaches the viewers lessons about the meaning of sacrifice.
In this article, we’ll be going over how his death has reverberations in both his fantasy world and our real world. Read on to learn more!
Why Does Obi-Wan Sacrifice Himself?
Obi-Wan sacrifices himself to Darth Vader as a diversion to allow the others to escape. In this way, he makes the ultimate sacrifice and shows the others the value of heroism.
Sacrifice and the Jedi Order
The Jedi Order is a group built around sacrifice in order to achieve complete oneness with the Force. Jedi are taken to the Temple when they are very young and must sacrifice a real family for their training.
Furthermore, throughout the series, we see Obi-Wan choose to stay alone and unattached in order to remain single-mindedly loyal to the Jedi Order. This devotion can be compared to real-world religious icons like Buddha or Jesus, whose dedication to their spiritual beliefs supersedes other attachments and frivolities.
Death is, in many ways, the ultimate sacrifice. By sacrificing himself for the principles of the Jedi Order, his body disappears and he becomes one with the force. This shows that he did, in fact, completely align himself with the Force and the values of the Jedi.
The fact that Obi-Wan is so unimpeachably good is one of the reasons that he is such an icon of the Star Wars franchise. It’s also the reason why a superfan might want to pick up an Obi-Wan lightsaber replica for their collection!
Alternate Theories
One popular Star Wars theory is that Obi-Wan sacrifices himself in order to show Darth Vader that only a true Jedi could become one with the Force. He might have hoped Anakin would begin to question his bath and what he had learned from Palpatine.
Fans even theorize that Obi-Wan’s death scene is the main reason that Vader decides to kill Palpatine in the future. In A New Hope, however, Obi-Wan’s spirit tells Luke that Anakin is too far gone to be saved from the dark side, which suggests that this wasn’t Obi-Wan’s plan after all.
However, whether he planned it or not, his sacrifice clearly had an effect on Darth Vader.
The Ultimate Hero of the Franchise
While other characters are flawed and damaged, Obi-Wan seems single-mindedly dedicated to the side of good. This makes him a less relatable character, but it makes him an iconic figure in the franchise and a real teacher for both Luke and the viewer.
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