The inaugural edition of a new regular column!
“You were the chosen one! It was said that you would destroy the Sith, not join them…You were my brother, Anakin. I loved you.”
By Mike Audette // If there is one constant throughout the fandom of the Star Wars saga it is debate. There have been battles over every bit of dialogue and every topic. That being said, Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of the most famous characters in the pantheon of Star Wars, and his story is one that absolutely intrigues me.
If one is going to try to understand Obi-Wan, it is necessary to study his numerous relationships throughout the saga. One thing that I am most fascinated by is how Kenobi suffers loss and how he deals with it. Throughout his life he has faced challenge after challenge that dealt him blows physically, mentally, and emotionally. He never seems to break, until that one moment when he has to make a terrible choice: kill his friend, his student, his brother, or let live the destroyer of the Jedi Order. What he does to Anakin haunts him for the rest of his days until they can meet again.
While Obi-Wan Kenobi followed the Jedi Path to the letter of the law, there’s one thing he had a very hard time dealing with: attachment.
Naboo
From what we can see through The Phantom Menace, Obi-Wan is every bit the standard Jedi padawan of the age; critical of their masters’ decisions from time to time, competent in use and knowledge of the Force, and usually having trouble staying mindful of their thoughts and feelings. While he might disagree with Jinn about young Anakin Skywalker being the Chosen One, he understands it’s not his time and place to question his master’s motivations. Obi-Wan certainly has an attachment to his master.
On Naboo, Qui-Gon Jinn is murdered by Darth Maul. Kenobi then defeats Maul–well, at least we think he’s dead; we’ll come back to that later. What was Obi-Wan thinking in that moment? He just witnessed the death of his master while he was forced to watch. His reaction says it all: loss, shock, anger. Vengeance? Then, he learns that Qui-Gon’s dying wish was for Kenobi to train the (alleged) Chosen One? Wow. That is something heavy to be dropped on you that early in your Jedi training.
Does the loss of Qui-Gon affect Kenobi’s tutelage of Anakin. The answer is yes. While it may not be overt, he undoubtedly feels this loss, and assuredly is dealing with his own understanding of loss, grief, and attachment. His fury propels him to kill Maul. His regret and duty is what propels him to take on Anakin as his padawan. He may not be fully prepared to train the Chosen One, yet he takes on the challenge.
Mandalore
On Mandalore, Obi-Wan’s true love is murdered by Darth Maul. You read that correctly. Darth Maul is still alive and has been living off his hatred for Obi-Wan. Now that’s something pretty crazy. Wait a minute. True love? I thought Jedi aren’t supposed to fall in love? This is Obi-Wan Kenobi we’re talking about. Earlier in his apprenticeship, he was sent on a mission with Jinn to protect the Duchess while she was negotiating peace between the warrior Clans of Mandalore. During this mission Kenobi and the Duchess develop feelings for each other but he of course knows this is not the Jedi way.
Fast forwarding into the Clone Wars, in a twist of fate, Obi-Wan is reunited with Satine. Kenobi is sent to investigate rumors that Mandalore is looking to leave the Confederacy of Neutral Systems to join with the Separatists. In an effort to defend her position, Kenobi and Skywalker escort the Duchess to Coruscant. While traveling, a Deathwatch supporter attempts to assassinate Satine but he is thwarted by Obi-Wan and Anakin. In the middle of the action, Obi-Wan professes to Satine that he would have left the Jedi Order all those years ago if she asked him. Think of the courage he had at that moment to tell her that. Years later, Maul will again force Kenobi to deal with loss, as he cruelly kills Satine while Obi-Wan watches. Satine’s dying words to Obi-Wan: “Remember, my dear Obi-Wan, I’ve loved you always… I always will…” That is a stake through his heart. As soul crushing as that had to be, Obi-Wan continued on the Jedi path. Embroiled in a Galaxy-wide war Obi-Wan was required to bottle that huge loss inside and surge on forward without skipping a beat. Deep down we know that losing Satine in that fashion was absolutely devastating. But he forges ahead because he must, finding comfort in the dogmatic, black-and-white rules of the Jedi Order.
Mustafar
On Mustafar, Obi-Wan leaves his padawan, best friend, and brother for dead. Imagine what was going through his head at that time. He had felt the death of Jedi all over the galaxy through the Force. He returns to the Jedi Temple with Yoda to find holo-recordings of Anakin murdering younglings. The person he had the closest relationship with, his own student, has turned his back on the Jedi Order and joined the Dark Side. Even as Anakin’s evil deeds are shown to him, Obi-Wan’s fierce attachment leaves him in disbelief. He would rather fight Darth Sidious than face Anakin. He may have been a Jedi master, but he had never truly become the disaffected Jedi he espoused.
After a grueling duel on Mustafar, Obi-Wan gains a tactical advantage and cuts Anakin down when he makes a last ditch effort to take him out. While Anakin is lying on a lava river beach, without any limbs besides his robotic arm, Obi-Wan bears his soul to him. He tells him everything. He was his brother, he was the Chosen One supposed to bring balance to the Force not cast it in darkness. He loved him. He was attached to him. Did he want to have to do this? Most certainly not. Did he? Absolutely.
Everything in Obi-Wan’s life culminated in this one decision. However, in the final moment, he did not land the killing blow that a “proper” Jedi would dispassionately deliver. He could not bring himself to do so, despite his resolve, because of his attachment to the now wretched Anakin, who admittedly hated him.
Would Obi-Wan come to regret this decision? It is hard to say, but it is clear that Ob-Wan must have done some soul-searching out on Tatooine, because when we catch up to him in A New Hope, we find a Jedi master who has mastered the art of letting go.
Luke Skywalker and the Ultimate Sacrifice
Years have gone by since Obi-Wan’s duel with Anakin. He has taken Anakin’s son, Luke Skywalker, to Tatooine to live with his aunt and uncle. Due to certain events, Obi-Wan reveals (through a certain point of view) that Darth Vader betrayed and murdered Luke’s father. While a seemingly blatant lie to Luke, he understands that this is his key to not pass along his one faulty trait: attachment.
Imagine if Luke was not able to let go of Kenobi’s death? What would Luke’s perspective on the Force be if he did not see the old wizard disappear? Kenobi realizes for Luke to succeed he can’t have his attachment to loss. In a short time of teaching Luke he has shown how much he has overcome compared to when he was teaching Anakin; knowing when to hold on and when to let go. He shows Luke what it means to truly be a Jedi. To be strong, to not give into anger or hate, and to be ever mindful. In his final confrontation with Vader, he is finally free, and becomes one with the Force.