In this blog post, we’ll explore the importance of choice and the paths humans should choose in life through the ‘Star Wars’ films.
The Meaning of Choice as Depicted in ‘Star Wars’
A genius boy piloting a podracer at incredible speeds—he is none other than Anakin Skywalker, the protagonist of ‘Star Wars: Episode I.’ Who could have predicted that an ordinary boy living as a slave in the desert of a poor planet would one day become a figure who would have a tremendous impact on the entire ‘Star Wars’ universe? It was Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn who discovered Anakin, and his recognition of Anakin’s exceptional potential was the turning point that completely transformed Anakin’s life. The countless choices Anakin Skywalker made thereafter even altered the fate of the galaxy, demonstrating just how far-reaching the impact of a single person’s choices can be on the future.
The “Star Wars” series, created by director George Lucas, began with the 1977 release of “Star Wars: Episode IV—A New Hope.” Episodes IV, V, and VI were produced first, followed by the release of Episodes I, II, and III, bringing the prequel trilogy to a close in 2005. Since then, new series and spin-off works have continued to be produced, solidifying its status as a global film franchise to this day.
What is the relationship between prophecy and choice?
Anakin Skywalker, identified as the prophesied one, becomes Obi-Wan Kenobi’s apprentice in accordance with the Jedi’s beliefs. However, it is important to note that the prophecy stated that a figure would emerge to destroy the Sith, and the Jedi believed that person to be Anakin. This plot device can easily be found in other movies and novels as well.
A prime example is ‘The Matrix’. In this work, Morpheus appears, believing that the protagonist, Neo, is the one destined to save humanity and end the war. Through the most famous scene—the choice between the red pill and the blue pill—Neo decides his path between reality and the virtual world. Neo chooses the red pill, opting to confront reality. However, after experiencing various events, Neo comes to realize that the prophecy may not necessarily be the absolute truth, and this aspect holds great significance throughout the entire work.
Another example is the ‘Harry Potter’ series. A prophecy also appears in this series, stating that a child will be born who will defeat the Dark Wizard Voldemort. However, Albus Dumbledore interprets this prophecy slightly differently. While the prophecy could have referred not only to Harry Potter but also to Neville Longbottom, Voldemort judged Harry—who, like himself, was a half-blood—to be a greater threat, chose him, and ultimately murdered Harry’s parents. Dumbledore explains that if Voldemort had ignored the prophecy or made a different choice, the outcome could have been entirely different.
Looking at these examples, one is led to think that even if a prophecy exists, it is ultimately our choices that determine reality. So, is a prophecy truly absolute, or can it change entirely depending on the choices we make? These questions extend into the realms of religion and philosophy. If a supreme being exists, that being must have a plan; at the same time, if humans possess free will, we are left wondering how these two concepts can coexist.
These issues apply directly to our own reality as well. After all, our lives are also a continuous series of choices, both big and small. For example, when preparing to enter college, we often agonize over which school and major to choose. Furthermore, those who have gone before us in life look back on the choices they made and feel either regret or satisfaction. It is difficult to know which choice was the “right” one until time has passed.
An even more significant example is marriage. Some people who married out of love go on to lead happy lives, while others, conversely, face difficulties. Ultimately, these outcomes also stem from the choices made. Of course, if we could foresee the entire future, we might choose only paths free of regret, but since humans cannot fully predict the future, that is impossible.
Religion and Human Choice
Major life decisions, such as career paths and marriage, have a profound impact on the rest of one’s life. Humans are incredibly finite beings, and compared to the vast universe, we are also very small. Our lives, too, pass quickly, like mist that lingers briefly before vanishing. This is likely why, since ancient times, the passage of time has been described as “a glimpse of a mountain from a galloping horse.”
However, just as a mayfly—which lives for only a single day—lives its one day to the fullest, humans, too, live by doing their best with today’s choices because they do not know what tomorrow will bring. Since we cannot even know what will happen an hour from now, the importance of our choices becomes even greater.
Of course, the story might be different if we were absolute beings capable of achieving perfect success in everything we do. However, such people do not exist in reality, because our time, abilities, and resources are all limited. Even Emperor Qin Shi Huang, who unified an era, dreamed of eternal life and sought immortality, but in the end, he could not escape death. Thus, no one can escape death, and living a truly fulfilling life in this world is no easy task.
This issue is also connected to religion. Christianity teaches that believing the Bible to be the Word of God and accepting Jesus Christ as Savior is the path to salvation. If this were an absolute truth, one could interpret that choosing not to believe in Jesus would lead to dire consequences, while choosing to believe in Him would lead to salvation.
However, various religious and philosophical perspectives exist regarding this claim, and opinions remain deeply divided even today. Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and other religions also present their own concepts of salvation and truth, and it is not easy to definitively determine which is absolutely correct.
Humans are not capable of fully verifying such truths, because there are clear limits to our perception and knowledge. Just as a point in one dimension cannot understand a line in two dimensions, and a two-dimensional being finds it difficult to fully comprehend a three-dimensional object, humans, too, find it difficult to perfectly understand realms they have not experienced.
Ultimately, what one believes to be the truth and how one chooses to live one’s life is up to each individual. Not only in religion but also in our daily lives, we face a continuous series of choices, and we experience different outcomes depending on those choices.
How should we live after making a choice?
We live our lives making choices every moment. And doing our best with our choices, moving forward with caution, is likely the most desirable attitude. In the poem “The Road Not Taken” by the American poet Robert Frost, the following lines appear:
Somewhere, someday, I shall
sigh and say:
There were two roads diverging in a wood,
and I—I took the one less traveled by,
and that has made all the difference.
We all wrestle with choices at every moment. However, what matters most is not just the choice itself, but having the mindset to overcome the difficulties and pain that follow that choice. I believe that maintaining a spirit of gratitude in any situation and cultivating the strength to overcome difficulties are essential attitudes for navigating this challenging world.
Above all, if you’ve made a choice after careful consideration, it’s important to give your best to that decision and humbly accept the outcome. Only by living this way can you minimize regrets about the path not taken and lead a life with greater satisfaction.
