"Your arrogance blinds you, Master Yoda. Now you will experience the full power of the Dark Side." ~ Darth Sidious, Episode III

Indeed, these words have been true ever since the "beginning". I'm referring to Episode I, not IV. Many believed that arrogance was the cause for the demise of the Jedi Order. Watching the films, I tend to believe that. Each film has several instances, some more obvious than others, of a Jedi's arrogance getting the better of him. It is the more subtle instances of arrogance that are more powerful and have a tendency to change the character's fate in a matter of seconds.

One particular scene wonderfully illustrates this fact. It is one of those subtle instances as I mentioned above, that, even after 100 viewings (yeah, so what!), it manages to escape you until the one moment where you sit up and say to yourself, "whoa" in a very Neo-ish sort of way...

The scene: the heart of the Theed Royal Palace. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn are engaged in a furious duel with Darth Maul. The battle proceeds into the depths of the palace and Maul leads the Jedi duo into a plasma mining area where the Jedi become separated by segments of force-fields within the interior of a pathway leading into the mine itself. Just as the battle becomes more intense, all three are separated by these force-fields.

Waiting for the force-fields to release, each fighter goes into his little routine: Maul, pacing back and forth as if a hungry lion waiting for his next meal; Qui-Gon kneeled down, in total concentration - and control of the situation, perhaps? Or was he meditating on the moment, fearing the worst and reflecting upon what happens next? But I digress... then there's Obi-Wan, breathing heavy, a look of determination in his eyes. The force-fields release, Maul and Qui-Gon engage each other and Obi-Wan is running through the barriers, trying to catch up before they close again...

Yes, we all know this Sol, what's your point? Well, I got one. Read that last line again. Here, I'll help - ...trying to catch up... Trying. Trying? Why try? Do or do not... Why did Obi-Wan simply run through the barriers? Was Obi-Wan that arrogant that he thought he could just mosey through the force-fields and think he could catch up? Was he that arrogant that he thought Qui-Gon could handle Maul all by himself? I believe this young padawan was arrogant, and this arrogance changed both his and Qui-Gon's life instantaneously. And the proof lies in the film itself, actually in the beginning to be more precise.

Let's rewind back to the inside of the Trade Federation cruiser, to the point when Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon had escaped the room full of dioxys. They've destroyed the battle droids and were blocking the blaster shots of the droidekas when Qui-Gon states, "It's a stand-off..." Then, in the blink of an eye, both Jedi vanish from the screen. Using their Force-controlled speed, they zoom down the corridor faster than you can ignite a lightsaber. That's a pretty nifty trick....which leads back to the original question - Why is Obi-Wan trying to catch up? Why not just do it. Why didn't he use this blazing speed that was on full display earlier? Why couldn't he use it? Did he forget? Come on. Was he caught up in the heat of the moment? What moment? He was trapped at the beginning and then towards the end of the red force-fields. There was no moment, there was only a brash and arrogant Obi-Wan who completely overestimated how blind arrogance can leave someone.

So, do you think his arrogance led to Qui-Gon's death? Or was it unavoidable, was it destiny?