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Truly Wonderful, the Mind of a Child Is...
date posted: Jul 06, 2007 5:23 PM
Padmé's Death
Hello everyone!

I was looking through an old list of potential blog topics (from my SW marathon all that time ago), and I came across this one, and decided to write about it now!

Here's the section in which I discussed this in the previously mentioned marathon blog:
Luke is born, then Leia. They're so cute! Considering that she had just delivered her two babies, I find it incredibly hard to believe that Padmé "lost the will to live". Yes, she had lost her husband and love, but she wouldn't willingly die knowing that she had two children out there. Also, she truly believed there was good in him, so why would she give all that up?

As I said 4 months ago, I find it really hard to believe that Padmé would have let herself die, as the medical droid suggested. Any mother - especially one like Padmé - would do anything possible to stay alive, if only to care for and be with her children. Considering Padmé's character, I can't see her "losing the will to live".

Also, the last thing she said before she died was that she still believed there was still good in Anakin (then Darth Vader). Despite the fact that Anakin was "dead" - that his good self didn't really exist anymore - I think Padmé would have looked past that and held on to the hope that he would have turned back to the light side of the Force, as he eventually did when he eradicated the galaxy of the Sith, as the Prophecy said he would.

[As an aside, wouldn't it have been helpful if when the Jedi Prophet from who knows how long ago wrote that a Jedi would bring balance to the Force, he/she had also given the future Jedi the little tidbit of information that that meant they would also all have to be killed as well?]

Considering all this, I can't see why GL would have written this particular part of Ep. III this way. He must have seen the inconsistencies that so many of us (if not all of us... it wouldn't surprise me) have. I think he must just have known that she had to die, and that her "losing the will to live" was an easy way to facilitate that end without having to use technical and potentially confusing medical/technical jargon. Still, the MD could have said that "Her strangulation nearly killed her, and along with the strain being put on her body with double-birth, stress, and shock, we're losing her." (Or something to that effect... keep in mind that I'm not a writer - it would have sounded much better coming out of GL!!)

Having seen Padmé's character progress from Ep. I to Ep. III (from Queen to Senator to loving wife and mother), and seeing how compassionate, caring, and optimistic she was, it kind of seems like a sudden character change when we hear the explanation of her death. It's kind of like, "Huh? Where'd that come from?!"

Maybe it's just me, but I think that this could have been done better. However, as I've said many times in the past, who am I to judge the cinematic genius who brought us the best Saga in the history of time? ;

May the Force be with you! :D

Sarlacc-Pitt
Slowly Digested Over A Thousand Blogs
date Posted: Jul 06, 2007 5:36 PM
Padme lived! She didn't die! How else could Leia "remember" her??


Just kidding, although her death, and what many consider to be her "wimping out" was a big point of contention when ROTS came out... and I completely agree with your blog. At the time I remember discussing this with co-workers who were into SW... we were all like... WoOt? After all she went through... she... just... died of a "broken heart"???

Please!

But, who am *I* to argue with Mr. Lucas' vision... I guess he just wanted Anakin/Vader to live as tortured a "life" as possible.
leia19886
Someone get this big walking carpet out of my way ...
date Posted: Jul 06, 2007 6:40 PM
Padme just died from a broken heart

I think that was just a simple way of explaining why Luke grew up with his Aunt and Uncle.
While Leia grew up a princess. And like you said it's eaiser than digging up a bunch of
medical jargen.
FAN4YRS
A Rebel's Ramblings
date Posted: Jul 06, 2007 6:56 PM
Maybe she died like Obi-Wan in Episode IV. By that I mean, she died to save Leia and Luke. Perhaps she knew they would be better split up and certainly, as a caring mother, it would have been difficult--if not impossible--for her to live separated from her children.
  masterkenobi93
confessions of a teenage star wars fan
date Posted: Jul 06, 2007 8:09 PM
I been thinking the same thing! Why would you lose your will to live right after your kids are born? She even said that there was still good in Anakin/Vader, so why not live to see Vader transform back into Anakin?

MK93
kyle228
Truly Wonderful, the Mind of a Child Is...
date Posted: Jul 07, 2007 9:08 AM
Thanks for all your comments!

I guess he just wanted Anakin/Vader to live as tortured a "life" as possible.
That's very true.

By that I mean, she died to save Leia and Luke.
That makes sense. I see where you're coming from. In that regard, I can see why she "lost her will"

Thanks again, and MTFBWY!
Darth_Hiram
A Journey into The Force
date Posted: Jul 07, 2007 9:15 PM
Yeah, I thought it was a bit cheesy when I first saw it play out that way. I'm with you that GL could have used some medical jargon or something. But I guess in the end her heart was broken and her husband had completely turned to evil. His choking her pobably didn't help matters either! But the fact is maybe she couldn't bear to raise the children of the galaxy's newest Sith Lord. She knew there was good in him, but couldn't find it in herself to go it alone.
Good blog, Kyle!
Jade Sabre777
A luminous being, I am...
date Posted: Jul 07, 2007 9:23 PM
Great blog - I totally agree! I think using medical jargon would have been a much better choice than her just losing the will to live. The latter just doesn't make sense.

Still the MD could have said that.....
I like it: simple and easy to understand!

MTFBWY
Jade
  Master Deireanach
date Posted: Jul 10, 2007 6:31 AM
It does seem out of character for her but it really isn't if you dig deeper. She's the most carring selfless person in the entire saga, she gave herself fully to Anakin and tried to help the very troubled boy. To see him turn to the darkside broke her heart. Also she loved the republic more than anyone, to see it destroyed "to thunderous applause" would have been too much for her to bear. Add to that, she just gave birth to the most powerful force users children, she knew down deep they'd be safer if everyone thought they were dead or never born, remember most except a very select few knew she was pregnant. In the end for a woman who gave so much to everyone for so long, she just couldn't take it anymore.

MTFBWY
kyle228
Truly Wonderful, the Mind of a Child Is...
date Posted: Jul 10, 2007 12:19 PM
Thanks to all those who commented!

His choking her pobably didn't help matters either! But the fact is maybe she couldn't bear to raise the children of the galaxy's newest Sith Lord
That's very true. I'm sure she knew that their children would be potentially dangerous to the galaxy, and I'm sure she didn't want to give herself the chance to make matters worse... but I still stick to my original opinion on this one!

CONT'D
kyle228
Truly Wonderful, the Mind of a Child Is...
date Posted: Jul 10, 2007 12:19 PM
I like it: simple and easy to understand!
Thank you! That's what I thought!

Master Deireanach, I really enjoyed reading your comment. I guess, considering the points you made, about seeing the Republic she had put so much into destroyed, andher husband who she had loved and had been devoted to so much was gone, one could accept the fact that she "lost the will to live".... Nice!!

Thanks again, everyone! MTFBWY!
  Fish1941
date Posted: Jul 12, 2007 10:07 AM
Any mother - especially one like Padmé - would do anything possible to stay alive, if only to care for and be with her children. Considering Padmé's character, I can't see her "losing the will to live".

I'm beginning to suspect that humans have no idea of how weak they can be. Why do we always assume that a strong-willed person is incapable of succumbing to despair? And why assume that any mother would never lose the will to live? It's ridiculous! Every single individual - whether real or fictional - have strong and weak points in their personality makeup. If a strong-willed person like Frank Sinatra can attempt suicide out of despair, then someone like Padme can lose the will to live.
  darth maul517
Darth Jedi Maul Secura
date Posted: Aug 14, 2007 4:14 PM
Hey kyle. Sorry for missing so much. This blog was great. I have thought why Padme died and I still have no reason. I dont like the eplanation given and never think padme would give up even if she did not believe there was good in anakin.
Anyway, how have you been?
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