STAR WARS: A CHARACTER STUDY OF LEIA
In spite of her limited presence in Episode IX, Leia possesses a strong backlog of material. Of all character studies, she required the most research. Her character shines in five films and two books: “Bloodline” and “Leia: Princess of Alderaan”. Upon diving into all of this material one theme about Leia’s character remained consistent.
HER DEVOTION TO THE CAUSE
She is gifted with a work ethic that would put any workaholic to shame. Nothing matters more to her than her cause, a divine calling that the deepest love or the greatest despair could falter. That said, let us explore what we know of Leia’s character so far and hope Episode IX honors her strength and spirit.
Throughout the original trilogy, women prove to be in short supply, which leaves Leia one of few options from whom female fans can draw inspiration. Yet, it is Leia’s shining personality that makes her the favorite female lead. Her undeniable loyalty to what seems at many times a hopeless cause is what makes her a top leader for both the Rebellion and the Resistance. She is indeed a force with whom to be reckoned.
"You say her name, and people straighten up.” (Bloodline, 139)
Princess Leia is the woman who loses everything, absolutely everything, in the midst of the Galactic War.
In
the book “Leia: Princess of Alderaan”, her home planet of Alderaan is described as a prosperous planet fortunately overlooked by the Empire. Leia’s upbringing as
a princess is one of privilege and unlimited resources. It would be
very easy for Alderaan's potential queen to keep her head down, focus
on her diplomatic training, and perform her senatorial duties.
That is not the
Leia we know and love. Even at the age of sixteen, Leia feels a burn
in her heart for peace and justice. Much to her parents' objections
and unspeakable loss looming, she joins the Rebellion
without a second thought. The one thing that plagues her more than concern for her people is her concern for the people of the entire galaxy.
That conviction continues to burn in her heart after her planet is reduced to rubble. She fuels her work as a rebel with her hatred for the Empire and the ones responsible for Alderaan’s brutal destruction. She loses her kingdom, her home, her family, her friends, her dignity, and her future. She loses everything at the beginning of the Original Trilogy, and she lives the rest of her life to avenge her loss.
“Sometimes I felt as if the only thing that kept me going in the aftermath of Alderaan was the strength of my hatred for Vader.” (Leia, "Bloodline" 83)
However, the Rebellion’s victory at the end of the Return of the Jedi is only the beginning of her work. After the fall of the empire, the Galactic Senate is born. She attempts to rebuild her life with a new family: a brother, husband, and son. She also earns a prominent place in the new senate.
Once again, she faces a golden opportunity to lay down her arms and embrace the comforts of her position. She does not. She cannot. As specified in "Bloodline", her incredible instincts courtesy of the Force enable her to sense that trouble is brewing. So, she remains on guard. If not for those instincts, the Resistance would not exist to stall the rise of the First Order. Instead, the First Order would gain immediate control of the entire galaxy.
“I miss being hands-on. I miss dealing with problems personally. I miss talking to pilots and soldiers instead of politicians all the time. I miss feeling like...no. I miss knowing that what I was doing really mattered.” (Leia, "Bloodline" 62-63)
Her loyalty to the cause comes with a price. In spite of her loyalty, her reputation in the Galactic Senate is shattered. Like his masters before him, her brother Luke disappears and exiles himself as soon as failure taints his reputation leading to the loss of her son. Ben not only falls to the Dark Side, but he also becomes the commander of the same organization that she devotes most of her life to destroy. Her husband Han then abandons her and the Resistance in favor of his old smuggling job. Just when she thought Han would return to her in the Force Awakens , he is killed in action. Her brother’s death shortly follows in the Last Jedi.
By the end of the Last Jedi , what remains of her friends and colleagues can fit within the small confines of the Millennium Falcon. Every other member of the Resistance falls in battle, because of the brutality of the First Order. Still, she fights. When all else is lost, she always has her cause. She never gives up hope.
She never becomes a Jedi in the Sequel Trilogy or the Alternate Universe (formerly the Extended Universe). Instead, she serves the galaxy in the way she knows best. She remains in politics. Her career choice does not make her more or less powerful in the Force It does not affect her purpose to preserve peace in the galaxy. She is a protector of balance. She uses her powers for good. She is just as important to the Light as Luke or Rey. She simply chooses to use the Force in an unconventional way.
Will she die for her cause? Experience dictates that she is fully aware of that risk, especially in the aftermath of the Last Jedi . Han dies for it. Luke dies for it. She could very likely follow in their footsteps. She would die fulfilling her destiny. May her end be as inspirational as her journey.
