Star Wars Why The Franchise Features Many Orphaned Characters

Star Wars is a sci-fi franchise that tells the stories of the adventures of unique characters, often revolving around the Jedi Order and the Force. The franchise features a number of films, TV shows, video games, and literature, all of which feature a great variety of characters. From great Jedi Masters like Yoda to killer bounty hunters like Cad Bane, there is no shortage of amazing characters to bring you into their world. That said, a great many of the characters have no family background, and most of those whose family backgrounds are known are orphaned.

From Anakin and Rey to Grogu and Ezra, many of the main characters in the Star Wars universe are orphans from the beginning or become orphans throughout the saga. This may simply seem like an attempt to create trauma for the characters to live through, but there are many reasons why George Lucas would want many beloved Star Wars characters to be orphans or become orphaned. Here’s why the franchise features many orphaned characters.

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They Don’t Have Any Attachments

     Lucasfilm  

In the Star Wars universe, many of those who are Jedi or are set on the path to becoming Jedi are orphaned. A well-known part of the Jedi Code is that there must be no attachments to anyone, blood-relative or otherwise. An orphan has already had those attachments taken from them, forced to let go of their parents. For those who wish to become a Jedi, this is an advantage as they will not only be less likely to form attachments in the future, but this prevents any Jedi from returning to pre-existing attachments. While this may seem like it’s not that big of a deal, Anakin’s attachment to his mother was the first stepping stone to him becoming Darth Vader as he tried to save her from death and when he couldn’t, he released some of his inner demons that would surface again when Padmé was threatened with death.

Stronger in the Face of Adversity

     Disney+  

Most would agree that loss makes you stronger and that is in fact true. Orphans are forced to deal with the tragedy of losing the people who are meant to take care of them and teach them everything they know. While some adults become orphaned on-screen, true orphans lose both parents at a young age. Orphans are thrown into the deep end and left to figure out how to swim on their own. Suddenly, everything becomes a life or death situation, and they are forced to adapt or die. This harshness makes orphans stronger in the face of adversity and calm in a crisis, two ideal character traits for the heroes of any story. In the Star Wars universe, most of the orphans are Jedi or are simply capable characters who have not known love, like Din Djarin from The Mandalorian, who lost his parents when he was young and was taken in and raised by Mandalorians. Not only did losing his parents make him stronger, but he gained the guidance of Mandalorians to become the undefeated warrior he is today.

Makes For Remarkable Adventures

     20th Century Fox  

One aspect of many characters having no familial guidance is that the characters are more likely to step into risky situations because they have nothing to lose. Orphans’ lack of family allows for the characters to embark on life-threatening ventures without having the risk of hurting the ones who care about them if they die. When Luke lost his aunt and uncle to the wrath of Darth Vader, as much as it broke his heart, he was able to leave Tatooine with Obi-Wan and face danger head-on. Were it not for Luke losing the few guardians he had left, he never would have left for a dangerous battle. Jyn Erso, in Rogue One, is another example of an orphan who, after losing her father, becomes a martyr whose sacrifice aids the Rebellion in taking down the Empire by getting them the blueprints for the Death Star.

More Independent at a Younger Age

     Lucasfilm Animation  

Due to the lack of guidance from parents, orphans are left to fend for themselves. As a result, they become more independent faster than most because they have to in order to survive in the dangerous galaxy. This aspect makes orphans ideal candidates for becoming a powerful Jedi as they must function in the world alone and often without any guidance at all. Much like Padawans who carry out great tasks on the battlefield that many would believe impossible for anyone so young. However, it is the Jedi way to get Padawans on the field in order for them to handle the pressure of being a Jedi and giving them the full picture of what their job as a Jedi will entail. Orphans have the upper hand in a scenario such as this as they will already have the basics of independence down.

Introduces Injustice to the Characters

     Walt Disney Studios  

The loss of a parent is not an easy thing to stomach, but losing both parents, often at the same time, seems dreadfully unfair — and it is. Losing one’s parents is the pinnacle of injustice for the child left behind. Jyn Erso in Rogue One was faced with the horrific fate of her mother being murdered while her father was forced into servitude for the Empire. While Jyn lost both her parents that day, she was taken in by extremist Sol Gerrera who ended up abandoning her when she was 16. There is no justice in what happened to Jyn; she was a victim of circumstance, which is part of what made her so tough and cynical. This injustice also softened Jyn’s resolve and made her more understanding of the plight of the Rebellion, who hoped to save the world from the injustices the Empire was inflicting on the galaxy.