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 | The Importance of Being Whiny |
 I've often heard people refer to Luke as "whiny." I'm never sure exactly what they mean by this. Are they referring only to the "Tosche Station" comment? Or do they really think Luke is a whiny guy?
To me, Luke Skywalker is a hero, because he overcomes his own limitations to rise up and embrace his destiny-which includes a bunch of scary, life-threatening stuff like facing his father in mortal combat and nearly getting killed by the Emperor.
Luke is not the Terminator. He is not indestructible. He has fears, anxieties, doubts. This is what makes him a true hero. He faces external challenges, but more important, he conquers internal challenges.
When Luke balks at helping Obi-Wan initially, when he gets frustrated with Yoda, he's showing us our own true natures. Many of us go through life turning down opportunities that seem scary or unpredictable. Many of us decline to get involved when we see a potentially dangerous situation. Why should Luke be any different?
My favorite Luke-defining scene is when he says: "I can't get involved! I've got work to do! "
Ben notes: "That's your uncle talking."
It's not just his uncle talking, it's his "normal life" talking, it's the rut he's stuck in. I think that Luke's frustration with his own life, and the fact that he shows it to us, is admirable.
He's not a superhero, made of stone, ready for the quest. He's not a robot. He's not an armored knight, full of bravery and valor. He's just like us. Unsure, uncertain, wanting to do the right thing, but caught between our values and our commitments.
Maybe some call it whiny, but I call it "real." And I think that's what has made Luke an enduring hero for over 28 years. He's real.
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http://blogs.starwars.com/RyanKaufman/5 |
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Elephanto
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date Posted: Sep 12, 2005 11:02 AM
Very well put these are the main reasons why Luke has remained one of my favourite characters in the whole Star Wars universe.
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SaintBK
There's a point to this, I swear it.
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date Posted: Sep 12, 2005 11:02 AM
Interesting insite. I never really thought of him as "whiney" either and loved/respected the things he did and went through. ROTJ has been my favorite of the original trilogy since I first saw it, the whole idea that he had to face his father in such a dramatic way and how he handled it.
However, Obi-Wan is more my type of hero and I'm glad the prequels were made as they help to build on his character/personality. Gotta respect a guy who can stand in the face of danger and make a joke.
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RyanKaufman
Look, sir! Zombies!
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date Posted: Sep 12, 2005 11:34 AM
Interesting point, SaintBK.
There's the hero we can identify with (and I think that's Luke) and then there's the hero we aspire to be. (And I think that's Obi-Wan or sometimes Han.)
The people we aspire to be are generally more fully-formed heroes in the midst of their careers.
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i12bajedi
I'm Making This Up As I Go...
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date Posted: Sep 12, 2005 11:42 AM
To me, Luke always represented to me the very essence of heroism; I never could figure out why people called him whiney. You've got it right!
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Darth Rex0
So be it....
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date Posted: Sep 12, 2005 11:47 AM
Luke is the Joseph Campbell hero to a tee. Lucas really embraced Joseph Campbell's teachings. Campbells's main contention was that almost all hero's (whatever the storry) go through a certain cycle. One of the first parts of the cycle is "the real world or reluctant hero". Luke is holding on to his real world and is reluctant to let it go and face the change. We all go through this in our everyday life, but we don't always take the chance. That is what makes Luke intresting and you are right, he isn't whiney.
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bonniegrrl
Droids Just Wanna Have Fun
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date Posted: Sep 12, 2005 11:48 AM
i still think he's real whiny. Maybe it's just his tone. I mean, Han's human too with plenty on his plate, but don't hear him whining. And Leia was threatened waaaay more than her brother, but she doesn't whine. Nag -- yes. Whine -- no. Then again out of all of the whiners in the galaxy, C-3PO is the worst.
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The Dark Moose
Moose Poodoo
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date Posted: Sep 12, 2005 11:53 AM
It could be said that Anakin had whiney moments of his own.
"But I don't want things to change."
Resistance to change is an integral part of the growing process. Of course, Anakin grew into a homicidal maniac...but...that's different :0) Truth be told,, Anakin's fall from heroic status stemmed from his inability to accept the profound changes in his life. Luke, however, was able to, despite being "whiney." Like father, but not quite like son.
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RyanKaufman
Look, sir! Zombies!
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date Posted: Sep 12, 2005 11:55 AM
"Luke is the Joseph Campbell hero to a tee."
He really is. I've been very interested in Campbell and what he has to say about myth and human culture. Ask poor Karen Traviss--- I've bent her ear more than enough about the subject. 
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Lieutenant Wiggum Jansen
DETENTION BLOG AA23
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date Posted: Sep 12, 2005 12:25 PM
Thanks Ryan. Accusations of "whininess" seem to abound in this day and age. As well as the overused word "annoying".
When we were kids watching these movies, I never laughed at Luke when he wanted "to go to Tosche Station to pick up some power coverters". I identified with him, even though I wouldn't know what to do with a power converter.
Great post!
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MasterObi-Wan
My little slice of the GFFA
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date Posted: Sep 12, 2005 12:46 PM
Very true. I completely agree.
But you do have to admit, "But I was going to Tosche Station to pick up some power converters!" came out a little on the whiny side of the Force... 
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RyanKaufman
Look, sir! Zombies!
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date Posted: Sep 12, 2005 12:52 PM
I'm still not sure why that is whiny.
I mean... Luke's got plans. His uncle is asking him to do something completely boring and useless: clean some grimy droids. Guh! NO thanks!
I can see why Luke would say "Wait a minute, I got other plans, buddy! And they involve power converters, which sound really cool!"
So I don't see it as unwarranted.
Who among us hasn't been in a similar situation?
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Lieutenant Wiggum Jansen
DETENTION BLOG AA23
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date Posted: Sep 12, 2005 1:32 PM
It's as though many people don't identify with the characters anymore. Everyone is so cynical; you have to stand outside of a movie and judge it, rather than get "inside" a movie.
I call this the Mystery Science Theater 3000 effect. The extreme side of this (and of course there's a lot of shades) are those rude persons in theaters who laugh at the serious things, or scoff (hissing or mumbling) at scenes intended to be serious.
Going to the movies, for them, seems to be about showing other people how witty or unaffected they are.
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Martin649
The Order
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date Posted: Sep 12, 2005 2:33 PM
Luke is whiny! At least when he has to do something he doesn't want to do...But what teenager hasn't? I think it shows Luke as a normal teenager...He is my hero!!!
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SaintBK
There's a point to this, I swear it.
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date Posted: Sep 12, 2005 3:25 PM
What is up with that anyways? "Clean those droids before you send them to the dust pit!" "Should I drip dry or send them through the spin cycle?"
Certainly any kid has been asked to do things they don't want to do or when they already have plans; but what do they do when asked that? They whine! Like Martin said, it just shows him as normal.
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Darth Grapejuice
Grapejuice Holocron
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date Posted: Sep 12, 2005 8:23 PM
Luke is cool. Yes, maybe he had a slightly whiny voice in A New Hope, but that was obviously on purpose. It made the development of his character from the naive "whiny" young man from A New Hope, to the brave Padawan of The Empire Strikes Back, to the cool and confident Jedi of Return of the Jedi.
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Darth Grapejuice
Grapejuice Holocron
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date Posted: Sep 12, 2005 8:26 PM
Excellent entry as well. Yes, Luke is the "every man" and that's what makes him a true hero.
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Rainbow Droideka
Aren't you a little short for an egg?
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date Posted: Sep 12, 2005 8:34 PM
Ryan (or should I call you Mr. K?), I think when people talk about the Tosche Station line, they're mostly referring to his tone of voice.
I agree with your points though, I think. I've never felt like Luke was especially whiny, although I admit I've never really sat down and waited for the distinct feeling that he wasn't, either.
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Joser Kyind
Joser Kyind's Jedi Holocron
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date Posted: Sep 14, 2005 7:42 PM
Well spoken Ryan. It's nice to see someone else who actually likes Luke. I get pretty tired of all the Luke bashing I hear all the time.
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Z-score
The Star Wars Uncle
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date Posted: Sep 16, 2005 12:38 AM
Yes, I always thought Luke was a hero. I do think in A New Hope he may have acted a little whiny, but that's portraying the everyday person who doesn't want to let things go. But as Luke progresses throughout the trilogy he becomes a bigger and bigger hero until he's the one rescuing Han rather than Han being the one saving Luke's tail like he did during the attack on the Death Star.....I think that's a significant moment.
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Darth Nenya
.::THE TANGO OF JAR-JAR BINKS::.
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date Posted: Sep 17, 2005 11:28 AM
Yeah, I also thought that Luke was a real Hero. You really put some insight in this. I just think Luke's voice is really, really annoying a couple of times.
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soccerkid10
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date Posted: Sep 18, 2005 12:38 PM
I LOVE THIS BLOG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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K3iran
Bloggity blog blog.
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date Posted: Sep 29, 2005 5:44 PM
I could not agree more. He's real. As you said, that's why he's endured. Great insight.
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wartime consiglieri
The Headless Jedi
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date Posted: Nov 21, 2006 8:37 PM
I'm totally down with Luke, but he is whiny. "Oh, don't do that." "Hey, what happened to the projection, tell him to bring it back." "I am ready. Ben, tell him I'm ready." But he was perfect in ANH. I wouldn't change one note of Mark Hamill's performance.
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