When I walked into the movie theatre a little over a year ago I had no idea I would emerge from my first viewing of ROTS head over heels for all things SW. The first sign that I was hooked was a peculiar and particularly strong identification with Anakin's character. This felt odd for many reasons, not the least of which is that Anakin is male. Up until that point I don't think I've ever identified with a male character the way I have with Anakin. Since that time I have found myself studying more mythology and writings about mythology most of which are still either written by men or mostly about men. Lately, however, I have found myself feeling more curious about the women of the saga and wondering what the mythological underpinnings of their characters might be.

Well, a couple of weeks ago I struck gold. While wandering through a bookstore I came across the most amazing book called Goddess in Everywoman: Powerful Archetypes in Women's lives by Dr. Jean Bolen. I highly recommend it to everybody. It is fascinating and very revealing. What Bolen does is talk about 7 of the Greek goddesses and how their character traits, relationships, and stories are reflected in modern women. Far from being buried under the ruins of a decayed civilization, or crushed by a relentless patriarchy, these goddesses are alive and well in all of us - and also in Shmi, Padme, and Leia.

First of all, The goddesses are broken down into three categories:

The Virgin goddesses are: Artemis (goddess of the moon and the hunt), Athena (goddess of wisdom and crafts), and Hestia (goddess of hearth and temple). Far from innocent weaklings these three represent independence, focus, strategy, logic, wisdom, and steadiness. They are "virgin" because they live independent lives that are not defined by relationships with men. The next category is made up of the Vulnerable goddesses: Hera (the wife), Demeter (the mother), and Persephone (the daughter). These three were vulnerable because they were open enough to be in relationship to others, but also suffered at the hands of others in those relationships.

In a class by herself is Aphrodite, the goddess of love who managed to be in relationships but was never hurt by them the way the vulnerable goddesses were.

Shmi, Padme, and Leia are complex characters and many different goddesses can be found to be active in them, but I have noticed, to my surprise, that the predominant goddesses in each looks like this:
Shmi: Hestia and Demeter
Padme: Artemis and Hera
Leia: Athena and Persephone
Aphrodite acts in all of their lives though mostly we see her influence in Leia and Padme.

Shmi: Spiritual Mother

Hestia is a goddess who has never been portrayed in art in a human form as all the others were. She is not showy or flamboyant. She is calm, centered, powerful, and yet strangely anonymous. She is a homemaker, and the home she makes feels like a refuge. She is quiet and unassuming, and yet she knows exactly who she is.

Shmi must have been an extraordinary woman to conceive Anakin through the force alone. But, unlike the other prominent women of SW she is not a powerful jedi, or senator, or royalty. She is a lowly slave largely unnoticed by the galaxy. When we first meet her we meet her at home where a band of travelers has come to seek shelter from a storm. Despite their means it is clear that Shmi has created a warm and inviting home (notice how the music shifts as the characters leave the wind and enter the front door). During one of the only true scenes of domestic life in the Saga Qui-Gon and the others sit down to a meal that Shmi has surely prepared herself, emphasizing the feeling of "home" her character brings. Because Demeter, the maternal archetype, is also present in Shmi she loves and is connected to her son, Anakin. She nurtures him, is protective of him, and wants the best for him. But the Hestia in her keeps her from clinging to him - or being entirely defined by being his mom. Hestia is a goddess type that is comfortable with solitude. Because of this Shmi can let go in a way Anakin cannot. When Anakin leaves Tattooine you can see that Shmi feels the loss, but I never found myself worrying for her emotional well-being, or that, like Demeter, the loss of her child would bring on a bout of immobilizing depression. Shmi, like Hestia, can take care of herself. However, on the other hand, though Shmi moves on, and even marries, there is a part of her that remains connected to her son. In the novelization of AOTC it is clear that it is Anakin above anyone else that she thinks of while being held by the Sand People. This shows, once again, that the dominant relationship archetype is still a maternal Demeter even after such a long separation from her son.

Many fans have noticed that in ANH Shmi's grave is conspicuously absent from the homestead lands. In this her character continues to follow a Hestia pattern. Though she is the mother of one of the most important figures in the galaxy she, and the memory of her, fades.

Padme: Focused, but Ever Evolving.

Padme exhibits three strong archetypes and really embodies each of them. First is Artemis. Artemis is symbolic of many things. She lives independently from men in a band of "sisters" (other minor female deities). She is focused and goal oriented. She knew exactly what she wanted at a very young age and got it. She is very much a woman, but at the same time asked her father for a tunic short enough to allow her freedom of movement as she explored the wilderness. She is also known to be fiercely protective of those with less power than her, especially children. Whenever I contemplate this list of attributes I'm amazed at how many of them fit the beloved Queen Amidala.

First of all, Amidala is a young queen - to rise to such a position at so tender an age would take extraordinary focus on a particular goal which Amidala had. While Artemis and Amidala are both "one-in-herself" sorts of women they are also associated with a closely knit circle of women. Amidala is often surrounded by her group of handmaidens, her loyal "sisters" who love and protect her. There is also an aura of mystery that surrounds their sacred circle. One has the feeling that there is a fierce bond between them, but the inner workings are something we can only wonder about (at least at first).

Amidala is also adventurous, and unafraid of exploring the "wilderness". After landing on Tattooine instead of waiting aboard the starship she joined in the exploration of a new and strange world (even changing her clothing to allow her unrestricted movement). Then, there is of course her fighting spirit. In the ROTS novelization it says that Amidala as a senator was known for her moral integrity, but wasn't above using her reputation for fierce physical combat to intimidate - both of these are strong Artemis traits. What I love the most about the Artemis archetype is that we see the possibility of a woman having qualities that are usually considered to be male. Instead of "acting like a man" it's clear that Amidala was following her most basic feminine instincts. However, Artemis is not a goddess that promotes relationships - for that to develop other goddess patterns must come into play.

In AOTC Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was activated and caused first and foremost a dramatic shift in wardrobe! Much has been said of this wardrobe, but I believe, that Amidala so identified herself with her Artemis side, that the shift to Aphrodite was unconsciously done. It's almost as if the independence of Artemis, and the attraction of Aphrodite were battling it out for supremacy. However, before too long, Aphrodite clearly wings and the sensuous Padme emerges fully.

Once married, though, Padme shifts again. While to the rest of the world Padme remains Senator Amidala in her heart of hearts she is really Mrs. Anakin Skywalker. This is made very clear in the ROTS novel. Padme is shown to believe that being Anakin's wife is the most "herself" she's ever been. She is his wife and the mother of "his unborn child." I believe a woman under the influence of Demeter would say "mother of my unborn child," but Padme now lives almost exclusively in relation to her husband. This is truly a woman under the influence of Hera, the goddess of marriage - for whom being a wife was the most important thing to her existence and happiness. It is during this phase (in keeping with the vulnerable goddess pattern) that Anakin is violent towards her for the first (and the last) time. But even so her commitment to him (a strong Hera trait) is unwavering to the last. When she sees Obi-Wan after the duel on Mustafar her only concern is for Anakin's well-being. Later as she dies on the birthing table as Anakin foresaw her last words are not about her new born children, but about Anakin. She is his wife to the very end.

Leia: In Distress, but Not Distressed.

Finally, there is Leia. In terms of plotline Leia is given the role of Persephone - the abducted maiden who needs to be rescued. In fact, Leia is captured and requires rescuing more than any other character in the saga, at least once in every episode she appears in. Not only that, upon arriving someplace new she is often given (or forced) to wear new clothes. Persephone is a very malleable goddess, one who, lacking a strong sense of self, will often bend to another's wishes. I think that when Leia is given new clothes it is an attempt by others to mold her into what they want her to be. However, while Leia's clothes may shift her sense of self is clearly defined because GL has given us an interesting twist on an old idea. Once Luke and Han have battled their way into the DS's detention center they find that instead of rescuing an innocent Persephone they have instead a feisty no-reward-is-worth-this Athena on their hands.

Athena was her father's daughter. She was born a fully formed adult and was "the only goddess portrayed wearing armor." She was a master strategist and had no trouble negotiating a man's world. As Athena is more head than heart centered she was often the best at developing "good tactics in the midst of a conflict" ("Into the garbage chute, flyboy!")

Leia's adoptive father Bail obviously had a big impact on Leia's life. She becomes a senator like him (a head for strategy can be a great political asset) and inherits the rebel cause he helped to create. She even knows who of Bail's old allies to contact in a crisis. As ANH opens she is calmly with no trace of panic reciting her message to Obi-Wan and sends R2 on his way - all while her ship is under attack. At the age of 19 she's already a respected senator and many have commented when they first saw Leia onscreen they assumed she was older than Luke. On the DS Leia doesn't cower. She is a master strategist and completely holds her own among the most intimidating men of the galaxy. I always find it interesting that she and Vader (a father figure she unknowingly resembles) are always onto each other's next move. ("She must have hidden the plans in the escape pod." "They're tracking us.")

Unlike her mother she is rarely if ever seen in a group of women, instead she is "one of the boys," though like her mother she isn't acting like a man she is acting like herself - like Athena.

Because of this nice level head she has on her shoulders she is also very good at limiting her connection to her heart. After landing on Yavin 4 and greeting an old friend she says in response to his fearing "the worst," that "We have no time for our sorrows, Commander." With that she is immediately back down to the business typical of a level headed Athena. This is great in the midst of a battle, but when it comes to a relationship such reactions would provoke even the calmest of gentlemen to say that she could "use a good kiss." Once again, to help Leia understand "what, precisely, (she is) supposed to know," about Han's continued hinting at an attraction between them another goddess would have to come into play. In Leia's case I think it is an Aphrodite pattern that awakens her ability to love, as well as Han's evolution from an outwardly selfish space pirate, to a more selfless hero.

What I have said here about the archetypes and the characters is in no way exhaustive. Nor do I think that these overlaps with Greek goddesses were in any way intentional. But because GL is constantly tapping into those fundamental stories and character patterns for inspiration it is also no surprise to me that one can find overlaps with ancient ideas almost everywhere.

If you've hung in there to the end of this I think you deserve a medal, and I would give you one if I could. If you want to know more give the book a try. I always find the more that I learn about SW and mythology the more I learn about myself.


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