Vader's right arm...

Padme92 · Treasury Councillor Joined: Mar 27, 2004 Posts: 2123

Last week, Geoff and I were watching ROTJ, and I realized (yes it took this long) that Vader's arm that Luke cuts is the same on that Dooku cut in AOTC. When Geoff and I were talking about that we came to realize that maybe there was a more symbolic look to it. Like in AOTC, when Anakin's arm is cut it is symbolic to his first steps toward the dark side and becoming a machine. Then when Luke cuts off the arm, could that symbolize Anakin being brought back out into the light side by Luke cutting off the dark side to Vader?

Just wanted to know what others thought about that.

Jade-Walker · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 27, 2004 Posts: 1031

I've always taken Luke's amputation to be more a symbol of the divergent paths set before him. We've seen his face in the Vader mask in the cave on Dagobah. Now he gets a mechanical hand--just as his father before him. Will he continue to follow the light? Or will he continue on his father's path? Wink

Krash · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 20, 2004 Posts: 3495

Padawan92 wrote:

When Geoff and I were talking about that we came to realize that maybe there was a more symbolic look to it.

Em noticed it first, and it would go with the idea GL has about there being repeating themes throughout the saga.

When Anakin loses his arm to Dooku, it was days(?) after he went on the rampage in the Tusken camp. So, that and his obsession with "fixing things" no matter the methods could lead him down a path where he becomes convinced that technology can fix anything (very Imperial mind-set) as opposed to the way of the jedi.

You could almost make the comparision that the mechanical arm was almost like a cancer, and that Luke cutting it off at the source allowed Anakin to be his old self again.

Padme92 · Treasury Councillor Joined: Mar 27, 2004 Posts: 2123

That is wasn't just a parallel to Luke but maybe something more...

TheRandomMenace · Jedi Knight Joined: Mar 30, 2004 Posts: 1886

Quote:

I've always taken Luke's amputation to be more a symbol of the divergent paths set before him. We've seen his face in the Vader mask in the cave on Dagobah. Now he gets a mechanical hand--just as his father before him. Will he continue to follow the light? Or will he continue on his father's path?

I totally agree with Kim... preceeding the fight, Palpatine gives his speech about Luke taking his father's place at his (Palpy's) side. Then Luke smashes on Vader, demonstrating just how powerful he has become. The thing I look at most after Luke cuts Vader's arm off is how he stares at his own clenched gloved hand and finally sees for himself that he's become as powerful as his father... and that he's becoming his father. Then it sort of hits him that he's going to become Anakin, and he makes his choice, the one Anakin could never do, and throws his saber down, withstanding the Dark Side.

This is my favorite parallel thusfar in the saga, too. Very Happy

Beltayn · Jedi Knight Joined: Apr 18, 2004 Posts: 1712

Hmm...I gave this some thought...about as long as it took me to scroll through all of these posts...

These characters are for the most part, right handed... they hold their lightsabers right handed...their opponant wants to "disarm" them... aim for the fleshy limb... <swing>... "AAGGHHH! MY HAND!"... now both father and son are known as "Lefty" Skywalker and "Lefty" Jr. Razz

Padme92 · Treasury Councillor Joined: Mar 27, 2004 Posts: 2123

Then again Mark is a southpaw....aka a lefty to begin with (have to stand up for the 3% lefties in the world)! Wink

fett_lover · Jedi Knight Joined: Sep 24, 2005 Posts: 347

Aren't lefties the smart ones?

TurtleTrooper · Jedi Knight Joined: Sep 16, 2005 Posts: 341

You know, when I was a young warthog, I though Luke grew his hand back after he got it chopped off. Thus, I though Luke was becoming Darth Vader when Luke clenched his fist. It shows Vader's stump and then Luke's gloved hand. I thought that Vader's hand came off and became Luke's hand and Luke was becoming Vader. It's kind of what Random was saying, just a little more symbolic. Just a little.

Truly wonderful the mind of a child. Even when that child's me.

jasconsolojediknight · Youngling Joined: Jan 30, 2006 Posts: 922

When i first saw ATOC, and the sence my first thought was wow this fight is kind of Foreshadowing things to come. I mean it got dark and you saw a red lightsaber follow by a blue in similar manor as in ESB.