Parallels in Hope: Obi-Wan Kenobi and Han Solo

By Anna Heneise 

Star Wars is a story built with parallels and inversions and especially symbolism. Characters are not simply characters, they represent change in the larger political and social spheres. Anakin Skywalker and Luke Skywalker are the fall of the Jedi Order and the rise of the New Jedi. Padme Amidala and Leia Organa are the end of the Republic and the beginning of the New Republic. Their characterization, their arcs, even their character designs are all about the larger role they play in their shifting galaxy. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Han Solo are as much a part of this pattern as their fellow leads, though the way their arcs run parallel to each other and the wider changes they represent are not as obvious at first. Their narrative roles, especially as members of their respective trios, do not directly represent a change in religion or politics, but instead represent the wider galactic attitude towards these changes. 

In the prequel trilogy the lead trio is made up of a young and powerful Jedi, a young and passionate politician, and their older and wiser mentor and friend. Obi-Wan is a Jedi in his own right, yes, but he is not the Jedi. He grew up in the final days of the Republic and is a representative of both the average Jedi and the ideal Republic citizen. There is a polished sort of courtesy to him, he professes complete faith in the Republic and devoted faith in the Jedi, and he has lived, if not sheltered, a slightly more privileged life than the average citizen. There is a running joke throughout the movies and shows that Obi-Wan, a skilled lightsaber duelist, considers weapons like blasters to be “uncivilized.” Obi-Wan upholds and benefits from the status quo. And then the status quo is destroyed. 

Obi-Wan could not save the Jedi, or the Republic. He could not save Anakin or Padme. When the status quo was lost, he lost his entire way of life— his home, his family, and his faith. He ends Revenge of the Sith with nothing except hope for the future. 

In the original trilogy the lead trio is made up of a young and powerful Jedi, a young and passionate politician, and their older and more jaded criminal friend. Han Solo grew up during the reign of a Sith Lord, and suffered under the new status quo the same way billions of former Republic citizens suffered under the new status quo. He is the direct result and representation of this tumultuous time; rude and rough around the edges, shoot first ask questions never, selling drugs and tangling with the mob to make a living. He does not have a home or a family, he has a ship and a reputation. He has faith only in himself. And then he gets involved with Luke and Leia. 

At the end of A New Hope, when Han decides to have hope in his new friend’s dream for the future, he begins to gain. He risks his ship and his reputation and himself in his friends’ fight, and together, over three long years, they win. And they don’t win back everything the galaxy lost, but they win a chance to build it anew. A chance to build a new way of life.

Obi-Wan and Han are the secondary best friends, and through this role they are the average citizens; they are the galaxy and its fate. Obi-Wan could not save his friends, or his family, or his way of life. But he died with hope. Han chose to have hope in his friends, and through that choice gained a family, and a chance at a new way of life. It’s all very classic Star Wars, but beautiful in how neatly these arcs line up, and how these characters emphasize the theme of hope present throughout the entire franchise.