The redemption of Anakin Skywalker in Return of the Jedi is the seminal event of the Star Wars saga, and the culmination of his complex and powerful character arc. By turning against his Emperor and Master, by saving his son and rejecting the Dark Side, Anakin completed his journey back to the Light after a 20-year detour through the heart of darkness.
Wrong-doing, redemption, forgiveness, and salvation are matters of great import to many of the world's religions, including Christianity. While George Lucas has stated that he did not base Star Wars on any one religion, his desire to spark thinking about spirituality in his audience allowed his movies to relate to multiple religious and mythological traditions.1 Anakin's final redemption can serve as an example of how the saga connects to the teachings of mainstream Christianity.
It may be helpful to take a brief look at some of the terms involved in a discussion of redemption and related issues. "Sin" is defined as "a transgression of religious or moral law," as disobedience to God's will and the separation from God that results from it, and more simply as "something regarded as being shameful, deplorable, or...wrong."2 There is no reference directly to sin in Star Wars, however, the "Dark Side" is a concept that seems to encompass not only evil-doing, but also the committing of actions that run contrary to "the will of the Force" (the Force being the equivalent of an ultimate spiritual power). The definition of "forgiveness" is "the act of excusing a mistake or offense."3 It is something -- a gift -- given to sinners by other people and by God. Again, the specific term "forgiveness" is never explicitly mentioned in the saga, but the idea of it is repeatedly shown. The central term, "redemption," and the related word "redeem" have two pertinent meanings: first, in Christianity, to redeem one's self is "to save [one's self] from a state of sinfulness and its consequences" -- a definition not specific to religion says that to redeem is "to restore...honor, worth, or reputation."4 These meanings can easily apply to Anakin in Return of the Jedi, as well as to Luke's determination to help save his father in that film. Finally, a concept related to redemption is that of "salvation," which in Christianity is closely tied to the eternal life and triumph over death and damnation that Christians who are redeemed or "saved" are promised.5 There is an afterlife in Star Wars that is considered the "path to immortality"; it is available to Anakin and other "good" Jedi, though it has not been clearly defined in films (in terms of exactly who can attain it, among other questions).
Looking at Anakin in Episode VI with a Christian perspective, one idea to consider is that even the worst sins are forgivable, and the worst sinners are eligible for redemption and salvation. In the New Testament of the Bible, only one sin is specifically mentioned by Christ as being unforgivable -- blasphemy of the Holy Spirit.6 This sin, which is sometimes defined as, among other things, "determined unbelief,"7 has no real equivalent in Star Wars, but it is worth noting that Darth Vader never stopped believing the Force, and never spoke against it; in fact, he did the opposite, chastising and punishing Imperial officers who were derisive of his beliefs, and making clear he remained an adherent of his "religion" even in the face of the power of something like the Death Star. However much this sin can be connected to the Star Wars galaxy, Anakin would not appear to be guilty of it.
No other sin is called unforgivable -- in fact, it is pointed out that terrible sins are and should be pardoned -- and this includes some examples of particularly terrible wrongs. For instance, harming children is mentioned more than once in the Gospels as a heinous crime befitting a severe punishment. And of course, Anakin murders children as part of the Jedi Order purge and during the Tusken slaughter, crimes that some audience members no doubt believe makes him irredeemable. In Mark 9:42, Jesus states that it would be better for a man "that a millstone were hanged about his neck" than he offend a "little one."8 Still, it is never stated that a person who commits such acts cannot be redeemed if he is indeed repentant. Also, the story of Paul tells of perhaps the worst persecutor of Christians in the early Church in his days as Saul, who, after his conversion on the road to Damascus, became one of the greatest leaders in Church history, largely responsible for the spread of Christianity throughout the world. Darth Vader was "the scourge of the Jedi" and was a crucial participant in the destruction of the Order.9 Yet, with his conversion in Return of the Jedi, he did what no other Jedi could do -- destroy the Sith Order completely and restore balance to the Force, allowing the Order to rise again through his son, Luke. Lastly, Jesus answers the question of who can be saved when he says, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."10 So, according to Christian tradition, Anakin's sins, terrible as they are, are not unforgivable, and he is still eligible for redemption and salvation.
A second aspect of redemption to examine is the thought that it cannot be earned. People often struggle with this idea, believing that sinners need to "make up" for their sins, to right their wrongs before they can be forgiven by others (or saved by God). While such acts are an important for a penitent person to undertake -- for "faith without works is dead" afterall11 -- they are the result of a conversion and desire to follow the right path, rather than what actually earns someone forgiveness or redemption. Christianity teaches that "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" and that the saved are "justified...by His grace though the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."12 As long a sinner is sincere, salvation is a gift bestowed upon the repentant, not a payment owed to him based on a tally of what he has or has not done. Both the 13th chapter of Luke and the third chapter of John state that inner conversion is the key to redemption and everlasting life: "Except ye repent, ye shall all...perish" and "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."13 Also, Acts 3:19 says that once a sinner is converted, it is as though his sins have been "blotted out".14 When it comes to redemption, what counts is sincere conversion and grace, not tracking various acts.
In Star Wars, there is the question of whether Anakin's "works" are "enough" to make up for the horrible crimes he has committed -- even if the act in question was killing Palpatine at the cost of his own life, ending the Sith Order, saving his son, destroying the Empire, and so on. However, this may miss the point; it is not the act of destroying Palpatine that gives Anakin redemption -- he makes the right choice/converts, and once that has occurred there is nothing else he can do but kill Palpatine and save the day. In any event, it is most likely his inner change that saves him, as there is little he can do to balance out the crimes he has committed in over 20 years of following the Dark Side.
Following from this point -- if one cannot earn salvation and conversion is what counts, then so-called "death-bed" or last-minute conversions are as valid as any others. This can be another sticking point for some who watch Star Wars: after spending half his life serving the Dark Side, Anakin's redemption comes mere moments before his death. How can five-to-ten minutes spent in the Light measure against the decades spent in Darkness? But in Christianity, just as there is no tally of good and bad deeds that are added up to determine salvation, there is no clock running on the time spent doing good or doing evil. The Bible recounts the tale of a thief condemned to die for his crimes, who showed true faith shortly before his death as he hung on his cross next to Jesus. Jesus responded to him saying, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise."15 The parable of the Prodigal Son tells of a man welcomed home by his father with open arms, despite years of sinful and wasteful living; he was as welcomed and loved as the "good" son who had acted right and stayed with his father throughout the same time period.16 Clearly, the time consideration does not preclude Anakin from redemption.
Another matter to consider is the role that other people play in forgiving sinners and helping them toward salvation. Anakin's "helper" is obviously his son (though at least one other person also believed in his potential for good -- his wife Padmé). Luke provides a positive example of someone who "hates the sin but loves the sinner" in his dealings with his father. The phrase, often attributed to Saint Augustine, points to moral clarity about right and wrong, while offering forgiveness to people God loves and who may still be redeemed.17 Luke has no question about his father's actions and knows he himself cannot join the Emperor or fall to the Dark Side. His clarity -- even in the face of death at Palpatine's hands -- serves as an example to Darth Vader. Yet Luke also approaches Vader with compassion and a determination to save him, and neither fight with him or kill him. He does this despite disagreement from Yoda and Obi-Wan, despite deep concern from Leia, despite the plans of the Emperor to use his caring for his father against him, and despite his father's own initial resistance. In the Gospel, Jesus exhorts Christians to love their enemies, however difficult that can sometimes be, and cautions them on judging others against standards that they themselves may not be able to meet. He further states that he was sent to Earth for the sinners, and he was often criticized for speaking and communing with known wrong-doers.18 He said that people should repeatedly forgive those who have wronged them, and famously said those without sin could cast the first stone against another. Luke's actions in Return of the Jedi show him to be a model of forgiveness and compassion, and he is the fundamental factor in his father's redemption.
A final related matter is the issue of salvation and eternal life. Everlasting life and escape from damnation are promised to those who believe in Christ (the well-known verse John 3:16 states this plainly).19 Anakin experiences an post-redemption afterlife, through a path referred to as "immortality" by Yoda in Revenge of the Sith. The Episode III novel suggests that only the selfless can achieve this state of being.20 The fact that Anakin finds this afterlife is moving proof of his final salvation. Also of note is the fact that Anakin had searched in vain for immortality (for others he cared about) at least since his mother's death in Attack of the Clones, and had done many terrible things in pursuit of that power. In the end, he was unable to save those he loved, and his own life was ruined in the process. It is not until he is willing to sacrifice his own life, to let go and do what was right, that he finds the power to both rescue his son and defeat death. In Matthew 10:39 Jesus says, "He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it."21 That seems to apply somewhat to Anakin in the end.
In conclusion, there are many parallels to be drawn between the redemption of Anakin Skywalker in Return of the Jedi and Christian teachings on sin, forgiveness, redemption, and salvation. These connections add to the rich storytelling George Lucas has created in his epic saga.
Notes and Works Cited
1. Moyers, Bill and Lucas, George. "Of Myth and Men." Time. April 26, 1999: Vol. 153, No. 16.
2. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language (Fourth Edition). (2000) Houghton Mifflin Company.
3. WordNet® 2.0. (2003) Princeton University Press.
4. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language
5. Robert W. Yarbrough. Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology. Walter A. Elwell, ed. 1996. Grand Rapids: Baker Books.
6. Matthew 12:31-32, The Holy Bible, Authorized King James Version. Iowa Falls: World Bible Publishers, 1989.
7. The Wycliffe Bible Commentary. Charles F. Pfeiffer & Everett F. Harrison, ed. 1962. Chicago: Moody Press. p. 950. There are different interpretations of what "blasphemy of the Holy Spirit" entails. Some theologians believes it refers to the Pharisees of Christ's day attributing His miraculous works to Satan (in which case, it would be impossible for anyone not alive during Christ's time to commit the sin). Others argue it refers to those that have actively, knowingly, and repeatedly rejected the Holy Spirit, leaving themselves unable to access the sole road to forgiveness and salvation. However, it is important to note that while the second definition leaves the possibility of a person committing an "unforgivable sin" more open, no man can know what is in the heart or soul of another, and cannot/must not judge another person to be in such a position.
8. The Holy Bible. See also Matthew 18:1-9 and Luke 17:1-2.
9. Darth Vader character databank entry from the official Star Wars website, StarWars.com, <starwars.com/databank/character/darthvader/index.html>
10. Luke 18:26-27, The Holy Bible.
11. James 2:20, The Holy Bible.
12. Romans 3:23-24, The Holy Bible.
13. Luke 13:3 and John 3:3, The Holy Bible.
14. Acts 3:19, The Holy Bible.
15. Luke 23:39-43, The Holy Bible.
16. Luke 15:11-32, The Holy Bible. Also, for another parable that relates to "last-second" redemptions, see the story of the workers in the vineyard in Matthew 20:1-15.
17. "St. Augustine's Letter 211," translated in J.-P. Migne (ed.) "Patrologiae Latinae" Volume 33, (1845). Saint Augustine wrote "Cum dilectione hominum et odio vitiorum," which translates to, "With love for mankind and hatred of sins," often repeated as, "Love the sinner but hate the sin."
18. Matthew 5:43, 7:1-5, 9:11-13, The Holy Bible.
19. The Holy Bible.
20. Stover, Matthew. Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith. Ballantine Publishing Group, New York. 2005.
21. The Holy Bible.
