The Defender

A fifth archetypal pattern that is important in the original trilogy is that of the Defender. In these movies, the Defender is a person whose dedication to democracy and the galaxy's freedom is second to nothing, not even the Defender's own personal safety. The Defender has no other reason in her head except to guard or reclaim democracy at all costs. In the original trilogy this role is filled by Princess Leia. Unlike Luke and Han--who are looking for fortune (Han only), love, and glory--she has only the freedom of the galaxy at heart for her commitment to the Rebellion. In Episode IV we see that commitment in her refusal to cooperate with Vader despite his torture of her. Even when faced with the destruction of Alderaan--her precious home--she gives them a false lead to the location of the base.

We also see it in IV in her willingness to put her own life and the life of her ship at risk by intercepting the schematics of the Death Star. In V we see this archetype when she insists on being one of the last people to leave the Rebel Base on Hoth even after the Empire has landed and is invading the base. We also see it in her willingness to go to the Endor moon with Han despite the risks involved. Perhaps the most telling thing about Leia in relation to this archetype is her willingness to be a rebel to the Empire even though her wealth and her priviledge could insulate her from the negative effects of living in the Empire.

In the prequel trilogy, it will come as no surprise that the role of Defender is filled by Padme Amidala, and to a lesser extent Bail Organa (Leia's foster father-to-be). In Episode I, Amidala--in a moment rich with both Regal Feminine and Defender archetypal patterns--chooses to leave Coruscant even though all circumstances say she will probably be killed because of it. Nevertheless, the freedom of her people and her responsibility to protect that freedom are more important concerns to her than her own safety. Earlier in the movie of Episode I, Amidala fills this archetype by leaving the planet. Under instruction from Qui Gon and her other advisers she decides that her only chance to save her people is for her to go to Coruscant and help convince the Senate to intervene in the invasion. Thus, that act fills this archetypal pattern.

In Episode II, we see the archetype of Defender come forward in a more general way. Now instead of defending Naboo, Padme is defending democracy and diplomacy against the option of intergalactic war. In a scene that was unfortunately cut from the final edit of the movie, Padme argues to the Senate that an assassination attempt made against her is a plot to stop the Military Creation Act, not the other way around. She insists that they vote on it immediately. The Chancellor, however, postpones the vote until he can get Amidala out of town.
She again shows her Defender metal when faced with the choice, in a scene cut from Episode III, of betraying a group she is a part of to force the Chancellor to back off from his unprecedented control or betraying her husband Anakin. Because, as the Defender, her first loyalty is to freedom and democracy, she chooses, against her own heart, to betray Anakin.

The way that Bail Organa matches this archetype is that he is the founding senator of the faction to force the emperor to back off of his attack on democracy. He also helps to found the Rebel Alliance. It is clear that he and Padme are birds of a feather. It is also clear that he is the transmitter of both the Regal Feminine pattern of behavior as well as the Defender pattern of behavior from his dear friend Padme Amidala to his foster daughter Leia. It is clear that this template has been faithfully applied to the new trilogy in a way that is beautifully complimentary to the first.