The original Star Wars feature film premiered 35 years ago, in May 1977. At the time, I was six years old and just reaching the age when I could sit still and appreciate a two hour movie.
Like so many kids in my generation, I was transfixed and not only devoured all the movies but spent countless hours playing with the action figures, acting out lightsaber duels, and debating the burning questions left unanswered by the films, like whether Darth Vader really was Luke’s father (and, if so, why Ben didn’t tell him).
Though I don’t think of Star Wars nearly as much as I did back when I was six, I’ve come to realize the many life lessons I’ve internalized from the saga.
Han Solo and Chewbacca didn’t have to come back and clear the way for Luke to blow up the Death Star just as Luke, Leia, Chewbacca, and Lando didn’t have to risk life and limb to rescue Han from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt. But they all did, no matter the risk — because when it matters most, friends are there for each other.
There’s a scene early in the original Star Wars when Luke stares wistfully at the binary suns in the Tatooine sky. The gazing up and outward mutely expresses his deep yearning to escape the confines of his uncle’s provincial farm and do something important, like join the rebel fleet. Star Wars reinforces that we can breakaway and do incredible things, like rescue a princess from the Death Star or train to become a Jedi knight. Whether on Tatooine or a small town, it starts with a dream and belief.
We all steer off course sometimes or start something but don’t finish. Luke, frequently petulant and irritable In The Empire Strikes Back, ignores the advice of Yoda and Ben and rushes to face Vader instead of completing his training. It’s a bad decision and he pays for the mistake with the loss of some confidence, his hand, and a good part of his sense of identity. Luke does recover and learn from the experience, but the films make it clear that what gets him through is that he returns and completes his Jedi training, ultimately learning enough to confront successfully Vader and the Emperor.
Underestimation is a big theme in Star Wars. Grand Moff Tarkin underestimates the capabilities of the rebels to blow up the Death Star and refuses to evacuate, Luke believes he can handle Vader when he first confronts him in Cloud City, and the Empire dismisses the Ewoks during the battle on the forest moon of Endor. In all cases, underestimation proves costly, and the examples remind us not to get too overconfident in our own lives.
In the final moments of The Empire Strikes Back, after Luke has been fitted with a mechanical hand to replace the one that was lopped off by Vader, he stares at the new appendage speculatively, and we are left to wonder if he will he end up like his father.
Scientists are still working to determine exactly what we inherit from our parents, and a healthy debate persists over nature versus nurture. Star Wars splits the argument and suggests that we do inherit much, but that in the end we are free to choose. Luke shows this in Return of the Jedi when he initially channels his anger to defeat Vader but then refuses to go over to the Dark Side of the Force and take his father’s place at the Emperor’s side.
Putting aside for a moment the fact that Han Solo is one of the heroes of Star Wars and Jabba the Hutt is one of its villains, I’ve always thought that Han should have paid off his debts. Then Jabba wouldn’t have put a price on his head, Boba Fett wouldn’t have chased him down, Han wouldn’t have been frozen, and the gang wouldn’t have had to rescue him. Lesson: try not to take on too much debt, especially from unsavory lenders, but if you do, make your payments!
One can argue that the entire Star Wars saga culminates in the instant when Vader saves Luke and turns away from the Dark Side and against his master, the Emperor. The moment reaffirms our belief in the possibility and good in humanity. No matter the mistakes or misdeeds, anyone can change, because there is good in everyone. Some days I think we all can use some of that optimism back here on Earth.
We’re told at an early age not to “judge a book by its cover” and yet the images and messages in our media constantly contradict the old aphorism. When Luke first meets Yoda, he dismisses the creature as a mischievous and annoying interloper to his mission to find a Jedi master. Leia initially judges Chewbacca as a “big walking carpet”, Luke calls the Millennium Falcon a “hunk of junk,” and Han characterizes Ben as an old fool.
Yoda best demonstrates the point. That the diminutive one was the Jedi Luke was looking for all along reminds us that — with all due respect to Malcolm Gladwell — we often can’t gauge substance from a very limited impression.
Even though Star Wars is spread against a galactic backdrop, the characters are pretty closely connected. Luke and Leia are siblings (though they didn’t know it at first), Lando was an old friend of Han and Chewbacca, and the droids, well, they are like those super connectors on LinkedIn who are connected to everyone. We’re all connected and the degree of separation even in a remote destination like Cloud City isn’t that big.
The advanced technology and standard of living in Star Wars are impressive, but the employment market is as tight and complex as our own. For example, automation and mechanized (droid) labor are the norm, eliminating many jobs that would otherwise have been performed by human workers. Outsourcing is popular, as entities like the Empire hand out lucrative contracts to bounty hunters and specialists. Opportunities do abound, especially on big projects like the two Death Stars, but as the characters in the film Clerks observe, those jobs are not without moral questions or risk.
Chewbacca and R2-D2 weren’t playing Texas hold ‘em aboard the Millenium Falcon, but they might as well have been, as their chess game shows why sometimes (in chess, poker, or life) you need to know when to fold and let your opponent win. It should be noted that Wookies, in the metaphorical sense, aren’t always intimidating bruisers. As I’ve learned since becoming a parent, sometimes the wookie you need to concede victory to is a tiny four year old who can’t quite handle losing yet!
To many in my generation — those of us who saw the original Star Wars trilogy in theaters when they were first released — the prequel films were major disappointments that diluted the original films. I appreciate George Lucas’ love of the material and desire to add to the saga, but secretly, if I’m being honest, I pretend he never made the prequel films and just retired from the movies after Return of the Jedi.
Star Wars is one of the most beloved and enduring movie franchises of all time. The above are just a handful of lessons I’ve learned from the films. What are your Star Wars life lessons?
Featured image courtesy of JD Hancock licensed via Creative Commons.
Frank Gullo is the Brand and Business Innovation Manager for the Superior Group, a workforce solutions and outsourcing firm. His writing has appeared in Business Insider, Computerworld, the SmartBlog on Leadership, Job Mob, and 12 Most, among others. Frank enjoys speaking to students about social media and personal branding. In his spare time, Frank volunteers as a firefighter and EMT. Frank tweets @FrankGullo.
We sometimes face what seems to be a seemingly impregnable obstacle in our lives (in Star Wars it's the 'Death Star). Star Wars teaches us that if we keep trying, there is always another way to win our battles.
Absolutely, Brett. Persistence is huge in Star Wars. How many X-wing fighters flew down the Death Star trench until Luke hit the mark?
@suzettemariel Jedi thanks for the share of my @12Most Star Wars post. http://t.co/QpShn6oX
I really appreciate "Finish what you start" and "do not under-estimate your opponent". I can personally relate to children not repeating the sins of their parents.
And I suck at letting the Wookie win. Let 'em win fair-n-square, or "losers walk" ;)
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@dbvickery It's a hard fight with my daughter (the Wookie). Though just a toddler, she's already good at brinksmanship and reading me and knows just when to shift from tears to hugs!
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Great, great insights. And not the obvious ones. I don't know if I learned anything from the film per se, but from the experience of watching them. Nothing has bonded me closer to my lifelong friends.
one:
That if someone really likes you that they will sit through anything. Including a marathon session of watching three long movies in one sitting just to spend time with you. Of course it helps when you both love the film and can repeat the lines in time with the actors.
Two:
Star Wars is a great starting point for any conversation. I met my best friend when we were both wearing Star Ward t shirts on the first day of college. We were sitting in the cafeteria and spotted each other. Been close ever since.
@susansilver thanks for reading and commenting. Star Wars served as a great point of departure for many of my early friendships as well.
More recently, I've come to appreciate that with Star Wars, you can pick up where you left off. Whether at reunions or getting reacquainted through social media, once you start talking about the films, you're right back where you were when you were eight.
@annedreshfield Thanks for the share of my Star Wars post - glad u liked it! Would love your opinion of my other posts: http://t.co/G4qqJpdQ
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Great list, Frank! #6 and #12 made me laugh out loud here at my desk. I'd also add that Leia's story is fairly telling for other young women out there -- don't let gender expectations stand in your way. Despite being underestimated because she was a young princess, she teamed up with the Rebels and ended up taking down the Empire.
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@annedreshfield Thanks and good point about Leia. When my daughter turned three, I wrote a column about her comparing to four famous fictional characters. Anchoring the list was Princess Leia!
The Force is in all living things and as such we should respect it. We are not Jedi and cannot control it. But I do believe "It surrounds us and penetrates us. It binds the galaxy together." - Some call it God.
@pbulteel Good addition. When I was researching what else had been written about Star Wars in this vein -- and there's a lot -- I noticed many posts elaborating the spirituality of the Force. So I tried to steer in other directions. Thanks.
@TimEntwisle That's hilarious! Does that include Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Belichick? I always suspected they were both were masters of the dark side of the Force.
@njsmyth Thanks for the RT of my @12most Star Wars post - you plugged two of my posts this week! #appreciation
@carrieatthill Thanks for the share of my Star Wars post and follow. Looking forward to future Twitter convos.
@kgrgeta Thanks for the share of my @12Most Star Wars post - I'm glad you found it entertaining.
@frankgullo Thanks Frank! I'll check yours out. #StarWars bloggers gotta stick together ;)
Han's debt was key to the plot. That's why he agreed to stick with Luke at first -- to get the money to pay it. Part of his character development is loyalty to friends with no hope of material gain.
@celerysoda1 Agreed - Han's debt is integral and I wouldn't remove it from the story. I included this point because -- for me at least -- I always processed his indebtedness and dealings with Jabba as a model of behavior to avoid. Frankly, Han was lucky he ended up meeting Ben and Luke -- they literally saved his life.
Being a hug Star Wars fan also, my favorite lesson came from one of the most pivotal scenes in Empire Strikes Back. During a training session with Yoda, Luke complains "I'm trying!" Yoda admonishes him by saying "Do or do not, there is no try!" That wisdom has resonated with me throughout my life. Brilliant piece Frank. Thank you!
@terez07 Thanks for commenting. There are so many great lessons to pick from Star Wars, it was hard to select just 12. I'm really interested in what other people cite as their favorite lessons.
