American Romanticism in Film: Star Wars

Instructions

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  One such example of an alluring Romantic hero is Luke Skywalker from the widely acclaimed movie trilogy Star Wars. Through Skywalker's values, experiences, and journeys we learn more about ourselves, the balances of nature, and the values of classical American Romanticism.
  
  Luke Skywalker made his grand debut as the protagonist in the hit movie trilogy Star Wars. He was depicted as an innocent youth with pure ambitions. Skywalker came from humble beginnings living remotely in a plain adobe as a solitary citizen in yet another barren wasteland in some uncharted galaxy. Much like how the American Romantics considered society to be a haven for evil doings, the society in which Luke lived was corrupt as crime rings were dominating, smugglers were commonplace, and illegal activities spanned from horizon to horizon. Yet, despite the adverse conditions of this dangerous society in which he lived, Luke remained pure of heart and spent most of his time fascinated by the desert and the many alien creatures that inhabited it.
  
  He possessed survival skills and knowledge that enabled him to endure the harsh conditions of the desert and live in communion with nature. Luke retained his innocence of youth by living freely without care as he always maintained an optimistic smile toward nature through every passing day. However, tragedy eventually struck his peaceful life as his family was slaughtered by crime lords while he was away enjoying the tranquility of the desolate desert. Along with his natural demeanor, Skywalker's choices in result of his unfortunate circumstances were what came to make him truly fit to be described as an American Romantic hero. He was naturally innocent, young, and pure and this family tragedy was the impetus that began his journey toward greater understanding and higher truth.
  
  After discovering his family slaughtered in cold blood, Luke went to his mentor Obi-Wan for solace. Through his initial interactions with his role model Jedi Master Obi-wan Kenobi, it became apparent that Skywalker was one that had high aspirations along with good intentions. Luke aspired to become a Jedi Knight like Obi-Wan, a defender of justice, not only because he grieved for his lost family and wished to put an end to the crime that tainted his planet's society, but also because he was pure of heart and this was the natural path for him to take. Almost identical to American Romantic heroes, Jedi Knights followed a strict code of conduct as they valued virtues of honesty, justice, respect, munificence, intuition, balance, and understanding. American Romantic heroes valued emotion, communion with nature, intuition, supernaturalism, inspiration, and contemplation of the natural world.
  
  Often times Jedi meditated and actively contemplated problems with a greater power of the universe which they referred to as the Force. This greater power of the universe is similar to what the Transcendentalists of the 19th century referred to as the Oversoul, or divine being. In many aspects, the properties of the Force are identical to that of the Oversoul as both are said to be a unifying force through all life and the universe. Jedi communed with the Force in solitude and gained insight and greater understanding of the universe much like the Transcendentalist/Romanticist Thoreau did in his two year escape to the wilderness. Again, like American Romantic heroes, Jedi profoundly understood the balances of the nature and the universe and had unmatched keen intuition. Through his apprenticeship of the Jedi arts, Skywalker underwent numerous journeys around the galaxy and with each adventure he revealed something new about his honorable personality.
  
  As an apprentice to the Force, Luke went through many inevitable conflicts with evil and the dark side. In each conflict he confronted, Luke became more definitive in his character and soon he became predictable through his always pure and honorable actions. As his character became more unambiguous, his moral values became obvious as well. The audience could then clearly observe Luke's spiritual and moral development. Luke valued trust, understanding, friendship, and harmony. These values helped identify Luke as an American Romantic hero as it highlighted Luke's purity of purpose. It soon became apparent that he truly valued his friends to such an extent that he would plunge himself headlong into danger for their sake. He saved his friends so many times in his journeys that it seemed to become a reoccurring motif in the story for him to always save those that were in distress.
  
  It could be said that one of Luke's primary personal set ambition in the movie was to protect his friends, even against the discretion of his wise Jedi teachers. Luke's composure and diligence was magnificent as he was true and pure to himself and others. In one example, when Luke was undergoing essential rudimentary trained by Jedi Master Yoda on planet Dagobah, through intuition and meditation Luke heard the Force tell him that his friends were in grave danger. Luke did not hesitate to terminate his Jedi training prematurely to come to the aid of his friends. Against the discretion of his masters, Luke went blindly to battle to save his ailing friends. This demonstrates that Luke was driven greatly by his emotional impulses. Like an American Romantic hero, Luke was driven by his emotions and intuition.
  
  In conclusion, Luke Skywalker is only one of the commonly found classical American Romantic heroes exhibited in our modern pop-culture. He has become adored by us all and welcomed into our hearts with open arms. Luke Skywalker was a classical American Romantic hero because he possessed innocence of youth, purity of purpose, profound intuitive understanding, and diligence in the paths to higher truth. He was driven by his instinct, intuition, and emotions and underwent many tests of honor in his path toward higher truth and understanding and as a Jedi he was constantly in tune the universal force/being. Through Skywalker's adventures, we can learn to appreciate nature, balance, harmony, and the values of classical American Romanticism.