What “Star Wars” Taught Me about War, Liberty, and Human Nature

“For a young immigrant boy who knew nothing about politics or history, Star Wars had a universal appeal that transcended language, nationality, time, and other superficial social barriers.”

Editor’s note: This piece was prepared for Star Wars Day, May 4th.

“All who seek to destroy liberty in a democratic nation should know that war offers them the surest and shortest route to success. This is the first axiom of science.” – Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America

One of my fondest childhood memories was watching Star Wars: A New Hope for the first time. This was my earliest introduction to American popular culture and sparked my lifelong devotion and obsession with the space opera franchise. Even though my first grade self had no idea what a Senate was or what “the last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away” meant, I quickly became enthralled by the idealistic farm boy Luke Skywalker, the swashbuckling smuggler Han Solo, and the strong-willed and beautiful Princess Leia in their adventures and struggle against the Galactic Empire.

For a young immigrant boy who knew nothing about politics or history, Star Wars had a universal appeal that transcended language, nationality, time, and other superficial social barriers. And I was not the only one. In his delightful and perceptive book The World According to Star Wars, legal scholar Cass Sunstein recounts a story about how a meeting with high-ranking Taiwanese officials on the subjects of human rights, the world economy, and its complex relationship with mainland China turned into a conversation about Star Wars. Similar excitement over Star Wars and unlikely fan bases were also reported in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Nigeria, Egypt, Israel, India, and Japan. What is it about Star Wars that speaks so strongly to the human psyche?

As a student of Joseph Campbell, creator George Lucas understood the power of myth and archetypes that connected the human experience ranging from the Odyssey to the legend of King Arthur. In addition to its seamless integration of classical motifs such as heroic journeys and destiny, Star Wars contained a distinctively American element. As eloquently summarized by Sunstein:

“Star Wars also makes a bold claim about freedom of choice. Whenever people find themselves in trouble, or at some kind of crossroads, the series proclaims: You are free to choose. That’s the deepest lesson of Star Wars. That’s the twist on the Hero’s Journey. The emphasis on freedom of choice, even when things seem the darkest and life is most constrained, is the saga’s most inspiring feature…That’s the hidden message and real magic of Star Wars—and the foundation of its rousing tribute to human freedom.”