Star Wars Response Questions

Star Wars is similar to a western in many ways. One of the scenes that represents this idea is the scene in the space port on Tatooine where Luke and Obi-Won meet up with Han. This scene is like a western scene because the atmosphere is very rough; the pilots are arrogant and don’t care what happens around them as long as it doesn’t concern their own well being. Western saloons were a place for gunslingers and ranchers to take a break or relax after a hard day and most of them did not care about the lives of the other men in the saloon. Another similarity to a western is the fight between Darth Vader and Obi-Won, it’s one of those fights were everybody knows that it between just them in a western it would have been a duel with 2 guns and 20 paces in the middle of the street instead it was 2 light sabers and the middle of the Death Star.
I think Star Wars reached a level of such popularity due to its variety of genre that it includes. Star Wars captivates audiences of all ages because of its humor, romance, and action. Star Wars also, at the time, included some of the newest ideas and technology to create the different creatures and machines seen throughout the film.
A theme that I identified was Luke Skywalker’s need to prove that he is somebody. Throughout the movie Luke is pushing to get out into the world or to prove that he can do the task at hand. In the beginning when Luke is at home all he can think about is how being there and working his holding him back from the academy and the Universe. Then during the battle to defeat the Death Star Luke proves himself a worthy pilot by flying a fighter which he has not been properly trained on and is able to accomplish the task that no one else could.
A traditional symbol that is used throughout the film is Darth Vader. To me Darth Vader represents all evil in the world (Galaxy). As the film progresses you see more and more of his evil and cruel ways and even his outward appearance suggests evil. The all black clothing and mask and the distorted voice all represent darkness.
~ Princess Leigh is a significant character in Star Wars because she is not only an important social figure but also a secret rebel. Leigh is a protagonist or more likely a anti-hero because in most dramas the heroes weren’t girls, especially princesses. Anyway Leigh proves to be able to take care of herself and is a decent warrior. Throughout the film she seems to surprise everyone with her different skills and abilities. An example is when there are trapped in the corridor, of the prison block, she is able to come up with an escape and she can shoot, which impresses both Luke and Han. I think Leigh’s character motivation comes from her childhood and all the things she has been exposed to. Being a princess she has been taught social skills and how to handle difficult situations but as the daughter of a rebel she has learned to hold her own and keep secrets even at high risk.