George Lucas wrote the scripts and directed movies with the intent to entertain. That is all. The primary focus audience is that of a twelve year of boy. But the series of films has become so much more; the creation quickly surpassed the vision of the creator. Delving into the work, it’s easy to find Christian allegory.
Lucas intended to represent a rather generic religion, something sanitized to appeal to all. He makes no qualms declaring it a religion. Han Solo cynically calls it a “hokey religion” and states he doesn’t believe in it though his companion, the Wookie Chewbacca, clearly does. Lucas wrote the script with grandiose themes based on a hero’s epic journey. Luke became the ultimate hero of the Galaxy (blowing up Death Star in the first movie) with lauds later shared by Han, Leia, Lando and Wedge. In Christian theology, who is the greatest hero of earth? The God-man Jesus Christ who gave his life that man might have eternal life. Yet Luke is not the Christ figure in this work.
There are those making a strong argument for the case that Anakin Skywalker is the Christ figure. There are similarities. He had a loving mother (Shmi for Mary) who had a miraculous birth. Shmi told Jinn that there was no father but I believe clues were provided in episode three during the opera discussion between Palpatine and Anakin that indicate Darth Plagueis may have been involved in the conception of Anakin when experimenting with midichlorians. Palpatine recognized Anakin as the subject of these experiments early on and kept a close watch over the boy. Anakin had an extraordinary capacity in the force, with a higher midichlorian count than Yoda. This strength reminds me of Samson, the judge from the Old Testament with phenomenal strength (until his hair was cut). Anakin was believed to be the one to fulfill the prophecy – to bring balance to the force. The mention of a prophecy recalls the Old Testament prophecy of the Messiah. Anakin was born into slavery. Christ was born free. Old Testament Moses, however, was born into slavery in Egypt, was hidden and then raised by Pharaoh’s daughter in the palace. This is similar to Anakin being saved from slavery by Qui Gon Jinn and raised in the Jedi Temple. Moses also fulfilled a prophecy in that he saved his people and led them to freedom.
Anakin, as Vader, sacrificed his life to destroy the evil Emperor. Palpatine represents the Great Adversary, the Devil. Not only Christ sacrificed himself, Samson did as well.
Anakin could never represent the Christ. Christ never fell to the dark side. Jesus resisted temptation. Anakin became Darth Vader for twenty-four years. He lived evil. He lived a life in living hell with his respirator and feeding tubes and monitors. He had four artificial limbs. His black mask inspired fear in the hearts of whoever looked upon him. Anakin could not be the Christ figure, despite his eventual redemption.
Anakin is so much the prodigal son. He had promise. He was loved, cherished and spoiled. He willfully follows temptation and went to the dark side, the evil side. He lived a life of passion. He married though it was forbidden. He loved though it was forbidden. He loved his wife so much that his fear for her death drove him to seek dark knowledge, ally with a Dark Lord of the Sith and turn against his mentor. In the end, he repents. He kills the evil one. He returns to the light side of the force and embraces his son.
Fiction works frequently cited with a central Christ figure which we commonly believe the authors intentionally created characters to represent Christ. Prominent trio: First, Lord of the Rings, second Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe from Chronicles of Narnia, and third, Harry Potter.
The representative of Christ is generally one who is well-liked, knowledgeable, a teacher who guides the main character, is betrayed and, facing evil, dies sacrificing himself so that the main character and assorted other characters can live. He then returns in some form to continue to advise the main character. The return is key as it points to the resurrection of Christ after his death on the cross. Examples of Christ figures: Aslan in Narnia after confronting the White Witch; Gandalf in Lord of the Rings after confronting the Balrog; and Dumbledore in Harry Potter after confronting Beatrix and Snape, minions of Voldemort.
With this analysis, there is a character in Star Wars who fits the description. There is one, a teacher for the main character who sacrifices himself facing the bad guy and returns after his death to further advise the main character: our only hope, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
