Star Wars: Blogs | MasterMonkey13 | PATIENCE or IMPATIENCE?

MasterMonkey13

by: usetheforce19

date posted: Aug 18, 2006 12:41 PM | updated: Aug 18, 2006 12:41 PM

PATIENCE or IMPATIENCE?

"I will do what I must." - Obi-Wan.

It seems to me that Obi-Wan really loved Anakin. He wanted to at all costs save him from death. But, had time influenced Obi-Wan's mind?

This question sounds confusing but let me give you an example. A person who is afraid of hights is determined to get on a huge roller coaster. The person walks up to the end of the line confidently. But as the minutes drag on the person starts to think, he starts to think of everything that could go wrong, he starts to panic. He gets into the cart, he is stuck for the ride now, he just wants to get it over with.

So, let's look at Obi-Wan, he gets into Padme's ship confident that he is doing the right thing. But what does he do while on the ship, most likely he thinks.......he thinks about Anakin.........he thinks about how they were like brothers.....he starts to panic. He steps out of the ship to face a livid (a word which here means extremely angry) Anakin. He is stuck for the ride...

Obi-Wan thinks of everything that could go wrong while he and Anakin talk, but instead of shrinking away in fear and confusion, he does his duty. BUT, he doesn't want to do this, once he thinks that Anakin is lost he just wants to get it over with. He doesn't wants to prolong the fight, so he says, "I will do what I must," and then he does what he has to.

It ends up that what Obi-Wan must do is kill his brother, his friend. Obi-Wan cuts off three of his four limbs and leaves him to die. But does Obi-Wan rejoice? No. He did what he had to, and that's all, in fact it was the worst victory ever.

So did time effect Obi-wan's mind? Did time almost drive him to running away? Did Obi-Wan want to just get it over with? Did thinking actually hurt Obi-Wan's resolve? And most importantly, did Obi-Wan's just wanting to get it over with cost him a chance at redeeming Anakin? Those are my thoughts, what are yours?

This scene is one of the most powerful scenes in all of Star Wars.

"I will do what I must." "You will try."

May the Force be with us all! God bless!

http://blogs.starwars.com/huo2459iuS/43

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Darth_Muh

date Posted: Aug 18, 2006 1:00 PM

Good Theory, dwell on this I must.

I particularly liked the roller coaster analogy, I was terrified of coasters when I was young, then I got up the courage to ride one & that was it, you can't keep me away from them now

I recall one time in particular, I let my sister's friend talk me into riding one (the Carolina Cyclone if you're familiar with Carowinds). The line was long and during the wait my fear got the better of me and I chickened out. (I was only 9).

Anyway, I would have to agree that the time spent waiting on Padme's ship did somewhat weaken his resolve to attempt Anakin's redemption, and cause to concentrate on just "getting it over with"

	stormraiderjedidragon
date Posted: Aug 18, 2006 1:12 PM Sorry to be so short, but I agree.

	Jadakin Hyperspace
date Posted: Aug 18, 2006 1:14 PM The Roller Coaster that's true, except in my case I don't usually get scared on Roller Coasters I just feel my uncomfortable stomach. I went to Knott's Berry Farm a few months ago and I told one of the people with me not to go on Silver Bullet, that sure it was safe but he was going to get scared, he didn't listen to me and he came out so scared.

DJ Maul: Got Feet?
DJ Maul's Dancin' Cantina Party

date Posted: Aug 18, 2006 1:15 PM

Im sure Obi Wan had a LOT of things run through his mind, before and AFTER his confrontation with Anakin....I mean, who really WANTS to kill his brother???

What I sometimes wonder is why Yoda and Obi Wan didnt confront Sideous TOGETHER, and THEN go after Anakin.

With Sideous defeated, perhaps they both could have REASONED with Anakin, brought him back to the light, and saved not only HIM but Padme as well.

	jedimasterninks
date Posted: Aug 18, 2006 1:15 PM I would have to completly agree. Sometimes I don't have a lot of time but I will just pop Ep. 3 in and watch all of the mustafar scene one or two times. It's definetley a powerful scene that speaks volumes.

MomOf2YoungPadawan
Mamadala's Lair

date Posted: Aug 18, 2006 1:20 PM

Good catch!

It has always broken my heart to watch those scenes between Ani and Obi. Every time I do, I know what's coming, but somewhere in the back of my mind I hope the end turns out different.

You used some excellent analogies to illustrate your thoughts.

He did what he had to, and that's all, in fact it was the worst victory ever. True. I remember reading in the ROTS novel that Obi-Wan was thinking that it would be merciful to have finished killing Anakin on the "beach" at Mustafar, but he wasn't feeling merciful at that point. He just couldn't bring himself to do it. It's like having a pet that you know will die, but you just don't want to be the one to put it to sleep.

Nice job!

viagoangel2
Were Anakin and Padme' really one?

date Posted: Aug 18, 2006 1:33 PM

" I will do what I must. " Obi-wan to Anakin/Vader
" You will try. " Anakin/Vader to Obi-wan

Yes indeed this is ONE of the most POWEFUL scenes in the ENTIRE SAGA. It rips my heart out everytime. I like DJ Maul feel it would have been more beneficial for the SURVIVING JEDI if Obi-wan and Yoda would have taken on Sidious together and then confronted Anakin. My point being, that whenever a Jedi has taken on a SITH they have always done it in PAIRS...2 jedi VS. the SITH. Why would this time be any different? If successful, there would have been time to return Anakin to the LIGHT, he had only just begun his PATH TO THE DARK SIDE...he was sunk just yet. (cont)

viagoangel2
Were Anakin and Padme' really one?

date Posted: Aug 18, 2006 1:40 PM

Cont. from above *wasn't* not was. OK ...Now to what Obi-wan was thinking before and after the confrontation. Personally I think that after he saw what had happened to Padme' on Mustafar after he appeared from hiding away on her ship, he was already regretful.
I'm sure he felt as if he was had CAUSED her demise just as much as Anakin did. Him showing up like that was WRONG, it was deceitful and gave off the WRONG interpretation.
Padme' never would have CHOSE against her own husband, and Obi-wan's presence sent the WRONG message. To me that's why Obi-wan 20yrs. later stressed and even pushed on Luke..." LEARN THE WAYS OF THE FORCE LUKE. " Cause he regretted his intervention of Anakin and Padme....just my POV

LTjedijunkie

date Posted: Aug 18, 2006 1:50 PM

I think he blindly obeyed Master Yoda to go and confront Vader, even though he did not want to. Once he surprised Vader coming out of Padme's ship it was an irreversible course. If he had instead talked to Padme at a greater length and said , "I know you are worried about him and the things I told you are upsetting and horrible, but let's go to Anakin together, I want to help him" or something to that effect, things might have turned out differently. (cont..)

	LTjedijunkie
date Posted: Aug 18, 2006 1:50 PM (cont...) I think that Obi' face through the duel was one of stress/ anguish. It took everything in him to fight Vader, he seemed exasperated by the end when they are floating over the lava. And on the Tantive, Obi looked crushed the whole time. He now beared a heavy burden, aside from watching Luke, that of guilt from his choices.

	LTjedijunkie
date Posted: Aug 18, 2006 1:54 PM I don't think it was time that effected Obi's mind, exactly, but his unwavering belief in what Master Yoda told him. "Your arrogance blinds you".... DJ Maul- That was an excellent point about two Jedi taking on one Sith and that would have been a better idea!!! Great blog!

Pablo Wan

date Posted: Aug 18, 2006 2:00 PM

Him showing up like that was WRONG

Definitely. It was one sad twist of events. He should have been more careful, but he was having a hard ime trying to focus.

I can think of obi-wan deep in meditation inside Padme's ship, trying to be cool about what he was about to do.

Of course he didn't want to kill his brother , but he had to, it was his duty, and he tried not to listen to his heart, he needed all the peace he could get to fight with the force at his side.

"You were my brother Anakin, I loved you", at this point he felt his chest warm again (Not as warm as Anakin's was about to get

), and had not the heart to finish Anakin off.

Excuse me i'm cleaning this tears. Ok, done.

May the force be with you all

	jedilily1026 Years Matter Not (Gone Crazy...Be Back Soon)
date Posted: Aug 18, 2006 3:27 PM Yes it was a lose-lose situation for Obi-Wan. When they first started to duel I noticed that Anakin was much more aggressive than Obi-Wan. There was no talking to Anakin. Obi had to do what he had to do as you state.

	jedimaster13109 Meditations of a Star Wars Fan
date Posted: Aug 18, 2006 4:02 PM Good theory indeed, Meditate on this I will. Your analogy works well in describing your take on Obi-Wan. I have to say I would agree with you, Obi-Wan strapped himself into this and worked to force himself to take that last step after which there was no going back.

	usetheforce19 MasterMonkey13
date Posted: Aug 18, 2006 4:20 PM Thanks for all the comments, it seems that it is agreed that what I've said is true, but Yoda and Obi-Wan together probably could have killed Palpy and saved Anakin. May the Force be with us all! God bless!

padmeskywalker77
Padme's Legacy

date Posted: Aug 18, 2006 4:31 PM

Wow...great thoughts. I agree that this scene was one of the more heart-wrenching scenes of the movie. With Padme' trying to reason with Anakin, who was not listening to her, and then with Obi-Wan emerging from her ship, without her knowledge of him even being on board, to the final duel between brothers...it gets me every time. There are many ways this part of the movie could have played out differently with different outcomes, but we have what we were given.

	padmeskywalker77 Padme's Legacy
date Posted: Aug 18, 2006 4:32 PM I agree with you that Obi-Wan had to do what he did...once he saw that Anakin was not himself, Yoda's words of destroy the Sith, we must had to have resurfaced. However, when it came time to "finish the job," he could not bring himself to do it...he left Anakin's fate to the Force. They were essentially beyond the point of no return.

gozags65

date Posted: Aug 18, 2006 5:04 PM

I dont think it was possible to "redeem Anakin at that time. He had already committed such terrible acts, that it would be impossible for him to simply give up and continue as Obiwan's partner. It takes Vader, what, 30 years, to gather up the courage to turn away from the dark side. He is so emotional when Obi arrives, he would not even listen to reason. He would have attacked Obi-wan if Obi-wan had not attacked him.

	adambombski The New Imperial Times (On Break)
date Posted: Aug 19, 2006 10:20 AM You're right, that scene is one of the most powerful scenes in SW. It is one of my favorites. Thank you for adding me to your blog roll. May The Force Be With You.

	Gotipe Gotipe's Empire
date Posted: Aug 19, 2006 1:57 PM It is a bit sad, that scene all right.

Jedi Chika7

date Posted: Aug 19, 2006 4:54 PM

Did Obi-Wan want to just get it over with?

Probably, and also I think Obi-Wan knew if he didn't kill or seriously maim Anakin, Obi-Wan would die and the Order left in Yoda's hands, and then Anakin (being the cold blooded killer he is) would root out and kill Yoda, Padme would die with the twins unborn, and the Order would seriously and totally gone.

God, this is so depressing. I need choclate...

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