One newStar Warsstory reveals thatObi-Wan Kenobi’smost well-known lesson for Anakin Skywalker wasn’t quite true.Obi-Wan’s most memorable quotesare some of the most iconic in the franchise, although several of them reveal he wasn’t afraid of skirting the line between truth and lie. This began in the originalStar Warstrilogy with his assertion that he’d told the truth"from a certain point-of-view"regarding the fate of Luke’s father.
This continued in otherStar Warsmovies and TV shows, particularly the prequels, which includedthe confusing line"Only a Sith deals in absolutes.“One of his most famous prequel lines came inStar Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Cloneswhen he told Anakin"This weapon is your life"as a rebuke for Anakin constantly losing his lightsaber. Despite that refrain,a brand-newStar Warsbook suggests Obi-Wan’s lesson to Anakin may have overstated the significance of a Jedi’s lightsaber.
Other Jedi Kept Multiple Lightsabers
Obi-Wan’s assertion that Anakin’s lightsaber was his life suggested that this one weapon was intended to be sacred, but that evidently wasn’t quite the case.Many Jedi, including Master Yoda himself, kept several lightsabers. While Jedi like Ahsoka Tano had dual lightsabers, this was something different; certain Jedi kept multiple lightsabers at once but used them interchangeably.
Certain Jedi kept multiple lightsabers at once but used them interchangeably.
This was reinforced in the brand-new canonStar WarsbookStar Wars: Mace Windu: The Glass Abyss, written by Steven Barnes. The book states:
“Here Mace stored past lightsaber hilts, from his first half-scale weapon he had built in childhood to several models he had shaped over the years, utilizing the kyber crystals of Ilum that had called to him. His personal designs had evolved, as was tradition.”
This revelation indicates a pretty major discrepancy between Obi-Wan’s lesson about Anakin’s lightsaber and the actual practice of keeping and changing lightsabers among the Jedi.
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What is particularly notable about this passage is the sense that Mace Windu’s collection of lightsabers was not an anomaly. On the contrary,it was tradition for Jedi to adapt, replace, and upgrade their lightsabers over time. This makes sense, particularly in light of the lightsaber needing to change in scale as a Jedi grows (whichThe Glass Abyssmakes clear), but given Mace Windu had an entire case of lightsabers, this evidently extends far beyond simply a sizing issue.
This makes Obi-Wan’s assertion all the more perplexing. It’s undoubtedly true that lightsabers are important, and kyber crystals, which are inside each lightsaber, form a bond with the Jedi. It therefore would be a great shame to lose one’s lightsaber, as they really were more than just weapons. Nevertheless, the notion that Anakin’s lightsaber was his"life"seems a bit overstated. This raises questions about whether Obi-Wan’s lesson was yet another example of his at times hyperbolic language or if there was something more to this statement.
Star Wars: Everything You Need to Know About Kyber Crystals
Kyber crystals have become an essential part of Star Wars lore, from their debut in the first Expanded Universe novel to the current Disney canon.
Was Obi-Wan Exaggerating… Or Was This Just A Different Jedi Tradition?
Realistically, particularly in light of their dynamic throughoutAttack of the Clones, it’s possible that Obi-Wan really was exaggerating because he was frustrated with Anakin’s recklessness and concerned that he had a general lack of regard for the Jedi way. There were of course much more pressing issues when it came to Anakin going his own way rather than adhering to the Jedi code—such as his marriage to Padmé—but it wouldn’t be out of character for Obi-Wan to chastise Anakin in a way that put it on a bit thick, especially in that period.
It’s conceivable that there would have been multiple lines of thought and unique traditions when it came to lightsabers.
A much more interesting possibility is thatObi-Wan may have been operating from the perspective of a completely different Jedi practice. It’s conceivable that there would have been multiple lines of thought and unique traditions when it came to lightsabers, which would be in keeping with the Jedi havingdifferent lightsaber formsand even distinct ways of approaching the dynamic with their Padawan learners. The differences between Anakin Skywalker’s relationship with Ahsoka Tano and Luminara Unduli’s relationship with Barriss Offee inStar Wars: The Clone Warsmake that clear enough.
Perhaps Mace Windu was more of the mindset that keeping multiple lightsabers was acceptable based on need, preference, or various changes over time, whereas Obi-Wan held to a tradition that revered and venerated the lightsaber much more. That wouldn’t be all that surprising, particularly given their personalities and relationship to the Jedi way. Obi-Wan was known to be dedicated to maintaining order and adhering to the rules; he had to frequently encourage his own Jedi Master, Qui-Gon Jinn, to listen to the Council, after all.
Mace Windu, though quite strict when it came to his expectations of others, especially Anakin, had plenty of history bending the rules. His own lightsaber form, Vaapad, was indicative of that, as it allowed the user to tap into their emotions and therefore brought them dangerously close to the dark side. It’s unclear to what extent Obi-Wan Kenobi was exaggerating when he told Anakin Skywalker his lightsaber was his"life,“but it’s safe to say this was not a universally held view among the Jedi inStar Wars.
