An interesting viewpoint on Anakin's killing the Tusken (original) (raw)

I haven't posted anything Star Wars for a while, but this article is thought provoking.

What Measure Is A Tusken?

This part:

When Anakin finds Shmi, she is tied to a post and shows heavy signs of physical abuse, with cuts and scrapes. We are never told in the films why they took her or exactly what they did with her, though some supplemental material suggests a Tusken rite of passage includes torturing a living being for an extended period of time. In any case, the Tusken are nasty, nasty customers.

I have seen EU material stating that a Tusken male's rite of passage is capturing and torturing an animal, keeping it alive as long as possible. So while that is not movie canon, it goes far in explaining Schmi's injuries. I cannot see her as being violent or aggressively fighting back in captivity as she seems the sort to comply with orders and patiently bide her time until a likely time to do something comes up. The Tusken would have no reason to harm her unless for cruel amusement or custom.

Taking a look at Anakin and his actions as a Jedi in contrast with the nature and customs of the Tusken reminds me of a discussion I had a few days ago; those who profess the Christian faith having a very difficult time extending forgiveness towards anyone who tortures animals.

So, for a Jedi Anakin's reactions and killing is wrong. When he kills the children he becomes as wrong as the Tusken.

His actions were very wrong for a Jedi, and definitely a path to the dark side as it is an act of anger and revenge. But if he hadn't killed the Tusken children and unarmed females, he would have been completely sympathetic to many of us, I think, because of how cruel the Tusken are.

For those who've followed my old Dark of the Stars fic, if this had happened to Kali Raya's mother, Kali's and her father's response would have been genocidal. Their people (old Sith) already live in a precarious balance with the Sand People on Tatooine. Which I think the Sith, even those who are not living completely in the Dark Side, would do. An interesting contrast to Anakin's actions.
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