[yourUsername]

There was no such prophecy in the OT, and there didn't need to be one in the PT.  It was Lucas' attempt at introducing a mythic fantasy aspect.  And why was it bad for there to be a hell of a lot more good guys than bad guys?  Unless Lucas has the Sidius attitude that good and bad are "just a point of view"....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I think Lucas introduced the Prophecy to explained why things had happaned as completely as they had. One could ask "Why did the Force not protect the Jedi from the Emporer's rise?" and so on and so forth. Also, it introduces the Force as something that has a will. And Star Wars was always "mythic fantasy" archetype stuff, even if Lucas didn't intend it to be so fully that way.

As for the "more good guys" being bad, there is tons of speculation on that point already in this forum. The Jedi could be seen as stifling, and actually hindering the Force. Or losing themselves from the Force with all their occupation of the Republic and deciding who is called "Master" and whatnot. It's not that they are bad, but that they are symbolic of good intentions getting hindered by dogmatic rules that have nothing to do with the "Living Force". The Jedi, if left alone, could have let the Republic continue as it had unimpeded, which was probably a bad thing in the long run.



Just wanted to add this quote from Episode IV and the popular view of the Force within that galaxy "far, far away", which leads to the question, "Why would the Force allow the Emporer to gain power and allow the Jedi to be eradicated as thoroughly as they had?"

HAN: Kid, I've flown from one side of this galaxy to the other. I've
seen a lot of strange stuff, but I've never seen anything to make me
believe there's one all-powerful force controlling everything. There's
no mystical energy field that controls my destiny.

This post has been edited by yourUsername: 08 August 2005 - 12:27 AM

[sargon1955]

One could ask "Why did the Force not protect the Jedi from the Emporer's rise?" and so on and so forth. Also, it introduces the Force as something that has a will.

Why does an energy field have to have a will at all (like technology or magic in general)? It renders the whole question irrelevant. It would have been much better if the focus had been on the actions of PEOPLE, not the Force.

The Jedi could be seen as stifling, and actually hindering the Force. Or losing themselves from the Force with all their occupation of the Republic and deciding who is called "Master" and whatnot.  It's not that they are bad, but that they are symbolic of good intentions getting hindered by dogmatic rules that have nothing to do with the "Living Force". The Jedi, if left alone, could have let the Republic continue as it had unimpeded, which was probably a bad thing in the long run.

Bleah. I have no use for Lucas deciding to junk the concept of the Jedi as noble knights protecting peace and justice, and instead portraying them as bad for peace, justice, and freedom. It really makes for a muddled moral and philosophical mess (“well, you see, it was actually a GOOD thing that the Emperor took over and killed billions, because it was the will of the Force…”). This analysis helps confirm the utter worthlessness of the PT for me.

[WalkingCarpet]

Revised scene from ANH;

Luke: The Force?

Ben: The force is an energy field that surrounds every living thing. It was created by Jedi Master George Lucas to explain away any gaping plot holes, of which there are many, in this here saga that you're about to join.

Luke: Sounds impressive.

Ben: Oh, it's very versatile. From simple loss of memory, or even unlikely gaining of memory, to contradictions in the way time passes and discrepancies in the physical appearance of objects and people. The Force will account for them all.

Luke: Erm....

Ben: In fact, even the nature of the Force itself is subject to such inconsistencies. You see, its not actually a mystical energy field, it's something to do with little bug-like creatures that swim about in your blood or something, I don't really know about that because we haven't learned about it yet, even though it happened when I was about 21, which will be in about 20 years time.

Luke: Can I go now?

[sargon1955]

Excellent explanation for why Lucas turned the Force into the all-purpose Ginzu knife of motivations and explanations, Carpet.

[yourUsername]

From The Empire Strikes Back

VADER: Your destiny lies with me, Skywalker. Obi-Wan knew this to be
true.

VADER: Luke. You can destroy the Emperor. He has foreseen this. It is
your destiny. Join me, and we can rule the galaxy as father and son.
Come with me. It's the only way.

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

          Luke enters the cockpit and looks out the window. He is
        almost unconscious with pain and depression.

LUKE: It's Vader.

INTERIOR: VADER'S STAR DESTROYER -- BRIDGE

VADER: Luke...it is your destiny.

Again, the Jedi must have foreseen such a huge event, such as the fall of the Republic and the disappearance of the Jedi, coming. One could easily imagine that a vision so great would be considered a Prophecy and known by the Jedi Council.

[yourUsername]

Ben:  In fact, even the nature of the Force itself is subject to such inconsistencies.  You see, its not actually a mystical energy field, it's something to do with little bug-like creatures that swim about in your blood or something, I don't really know about that because we haven't learned about it yet, even though it happened when I was about 21, which will be in about 20 years time.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And the Force isn't the midichlorians. The midichlorians are the bridge between the Force and the Jedi.

[xenduck]

for what its worth, i agree with yourusername. but i dont disagree with walkingcarpet or sargon; i think the two views can/should be reconciled. personally im not really up to the task right now...maybe the force will do it. you know, balance things out a bit.