When I was young I would hear adults talking about my favorite films. One remark that was particularly interesting to me had to do with Leia's last name--Organa. I believe it was my Uncle Bill who said "sounds like organic".

I have been thinking about this, and how true it is. In many ways, Princess Leia is the first organic--living--entity we meet in "Star Wars".

Although See Threepio and Artoo-Detoo are friendly, they are machines. Vader, in the words of Obi-Wan, is more "machine now than man". Even the Stormtroopers, Imperial officers, and--I dare say--the Republic troops are extentions of a politic machine.

Princess Leia Organa is the first being we meet in Episode IV who represents what we know to be humanity--organic.

What a contrast to Episode I. Although under attack, Naboo is beautiful and teeming with organic life: the Gungans, the human citizens, and wildlife. In Episode I the first organics we meet are Jedi and their pilots. Powerful individuals who are in control. By Episode IV, the truly biological beings are under seige from a government that has become more machine--heartless--than human.

If this was done on purpose than Lucas was illustrating what occurs when the human equation is taken out of the picture. The Emperor's goal wasn't the betterment of the citizens, but power for power's sake ("Power! Unlimited power!").

To a large degree it was Princess Leia who sparked the new hope in Luke Skywalker.