Obi-Wan Kenobi was once a celebrated Jedi master who fought in the Clone Wars. Its sad he became a strange old hermit on guard duty in the desert. It’s astonishing and sad to think how “Ben” Kenobi’s life came to be this way. Imagine what went through his mind thinking of those last days of the Republic. The love he chose not pursue. The judgment he put on others. And the family of jedi he lost.
Such a turn would put anyone in a dark place. How could he continue to live? Did his will ever break from his circumstance? And what the scars he’s endured? He has countless scars from battle and war. Such things can lead to mental, emotional, and physical damage. It’s a lesson in how life can take a turn and leave people in dire situations.
Excited audiences see Ben is in his life, 10 years after the fall of the Republic. Living on Tatooine like a gray rat in the desert. The planet would not be the first place many would choose given the expanse of the universe. Twin suns, landscape that’s nothing but sand, little water. But fans know Ben’s story and why Tatooine is a place of both turmoil and hope for the future.
Skywalker
Ben has one enduring trait that has carried the him throughout his life. Despite how he may feel or he if disagreed, Ben had a commitment to his duty. He was a reliable jedi when it came to any mission, no matter how difficult. Whatever feelings he had that may have been in conflict with the mission, Ben always did his duty.
On Tatooine, Ben is on the most important and dangerous mission of his life. He is a fugitive in hiding from the Galactic Empire. He is being hunted by agents of the dark side and if he meets a fatal end, there may be no hope for the galaxy.
The Destruction of the Jedi Order
How did it come to this? In the final years of the Republic, Ben suffered from what many in the jedi order suffered from; complacency and hubris. Some people think it was destiny or fate for the jedi to fall. They were peacekeepers, with a tremendous connection to a power that few understood. But power that isn’t checked can blind a person to their flaws.
It didn’t help that the Jedi served the senate. There was a lot of corruption in the Senate, and this made it easier for the public to see the Jedi as corrupt as well. People in positions of power have their own objectives and forget about the needs of the people who put them there. Evidence of this is how Jedi treated citizens they “helped”.
Chancellor Palpatine convinced the galaxy the jedi were the true enemy as warmongers striving for power. This was a lie, but there was so much evidence to ignore it. Even the jedi thought they were doing the right thing in being generals of the Grand Army of the Republic. When they finally realized their error, it was too late.
The jedi’s fall is very much like another order of legendary Knights that came under purge. They had wealth and power, but they lost their connection with the common people. The ones who needed their help.
Ben Kenobi’s Purpose
Hide
Train
Survive
Protect
At the point of the new TV series, Ben has been on Tatooine for 10 years. What thoughts went through Ben’s mind of the great order of peacekeepers and the mistakes they made. How could these men and women with the power of foresight, not see their inevitable collapse? Did Ben ever want to give up after thinking of this?
Ben is one of a handful of jedis to survive the purge. His story is tragic, but there is hope with his duty to protect.
What We Can Learn from Ben Kenobi
Ben’s story is a fascinating case study of perseverance. The life of a jedi is not an easy one. And many of them sacrificed themselves for a greater purpose. Ben sacrificed his possible happiness with Satine Kryze of Mandalore. He sacrificed the last years of his life to watch over the son of the man who helped destroy the Jedi Order. Finally, he gave his life to help a farm boy and his friends escape and become one of the greatest jedi to ever live.
Have you reflected on who you are as a person? Or do you feel you do not need reflection because you have already conquered your demons or dark side? Do you quite when things go to dust? Are you making any sacrifices to achieve something greater than yourself?
If there is something to take away from Ben and the fall of the jedi order, it would be simple self-reflection. Anyone can fall to hubris and complacency and not learn and move forward. Lack of growth is lack of understanding of ourselves. The more we learn about ourselves the more power we have to overcome our dark side and not fall to hubris.