Star Wars Theorycrafting: We take a look at Rey and Kylo Ren and the idea that attachments are forbidden in the Jedi Oder.
Fear led to the downfall of both the Jedi and Sith. According to Legends: The Rule of Two, Darth Bane erected the Rule of Two from the disembodied souls of the former Sith Lords who once called themselves his equal. A truce amongst the Sith Lords was formed to prevent the natural infighting amongst Sith, but peace was blasphemous and in turn made them weak.
Bane recognized the Sith Lords held only the illusion of power. Fear of death inhibited them. Bane’s rule was self-evident: the powerful must always rule the weak. Bane understood the Sith were destined to fall upon themselves. Although, he did acknowledge that too often those gifted in the dark side became victims of the envious collective.
He deduced there could only be two Sith: A master to hold the power and an apprentice to covet it. The Dark Lord understood the fear of death to be the ultimate victory, therefore the apprentice was charged with killing their master and finding themselves an apprentice who would one day continue the cycle.
Image Credit: Del Rey Books
Plagueis explains to Sidious the role between Master and Apprentice best:
"“Tell me what you regard as your greatest strength, so I will know how best to undermine you; tell me of your greatest fear, so I will know which I must force you to face; tell me what you cherish most, so I will know what to take from you; and tell me what you crave, so that I might deny you…“"
Jedi and Sith alike knew nothing was gained with fear. Fear hinders the weak and limits their possibilities. Yoda details fear as a road to the dark side but imagine how fear affects our lives. Many are afraid to lose their jobs because they can’t afford payments on their car without it. We’ve tied ourselves down to things we are told we need, like kites whose strings are bound to snap. We were meant to be free. If your obligations wear you down, simply set them free.
We see this clearly in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Interpretation: Luke can see the desperation in Rey’s face when she stretches the lightsaber to him. She knows she may have lost her family by leaving Jakku. Perhaps she imagines the Force will fill that void.
Kylo tells us Rey’s fears as he searches her mind:
Image Credit: Lucasfilm
"“You’re so lonely. So afraid to leave… you imagine an ocean. I see it. I see the island. And Han Solo. You feel he’s the father you never had. He’ll disappoint you.”"
Love eventually led Luke’s father, Anakin, to the Dark Side, and perhaps Luke has discovered this himself. Rey’s greatest choice may be between her family and the Force.
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Rey is just another kite with strings hoping to rise above her lonely, mundane life. She’s been waiting for someone to rescue her and now the galaxy rests on her shoulders. If she is not to become a Jedi, then how will she shape the universe?
We have seen her be both compassionate and arrogant. Surviving on her own, living in a brutal desert planet. How has that affected her perspective? Does Rey feel obligated to learn the force for the sake of it or does she see it a means to an end? The lightsaber that chose her was responsible for great and horrible deeds throughout Anakin’s history. The question is why it chose her over Kylo.
Kylo is a much more mysterious character as of now. How did Kylo come to serve Snoke, the Dark Side and the legacy of Darth Vader? He speaks of feeling the pull to the light and Rey gloats as she discovers his true fear:
"“You’re afraid. That you will never become as powerful as Darth Vader.”"
Darth Vader ruthlessly hunted down many Jedi in the aftermath of Order 66, but is Kylo unaware of Anakin Skywalker’s redemption? Power is what drives a Sith. But what drives the First Order? Kylo knows he must kill his father to embrace the Dark Side. To a true Sith these actions are liberating, but we see no change.
Much to my surprise, he loses his fight with Rey in the woods later. White snow, dark woods, a red and a blue lightsaber, the two push back and forth and then lock in place. By a small margin, Kylo’s lightsaber is extinguished in the snow and freed by Rey’s disarming chop.
Next: Star Wars: The Last Jedi — Anakin and Luke’s blue lightsaber is now Rey’s
The symbolism is strong with this one. Kylo will struggle to find some greater strength in the Dark Side, while he is continually pulled to the light, and Rey will have to control her emotions or be lured to the Dark Side. Anything that happens beyond that is anybody’s guess.