Jedi Force Ghostshave been inStar Warssince the very beginning, with Obi-Wan Kenobi warning Darth Vader warning that he would return more powerful than he could possibly imagine, but it’s only due to this theory that I’ve begun to understand them. Although Force Ghosts have been around for decades, they’ve remained mysterious.
The extent of their powers seems to have grown inStar Warsmovies and TV shows, particularly with Luke Skywalker being able to interact with the physical world in theStar Warssequel trilogy. Yet, this has complicated the rules of Force Ghosts and made them more confusing.Finally, thisStar Warstheory may truly explain Force Ghosts.
Force Ghosts Really Do Have Unlimited Power
Star Wars Has Increasingly Revealed Just How Powerful They Are
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalkerseemed to confirm thatForce Ghosts actually do have unlimited power inStar Wars. Initially, it seemed as though Force Ghosts could not manipulate the Force. After all, Force-sensitive beings are able to do so because of theirmidi-chlorians.
Force Ghosts would logically not have the capacity to do so, then, because they aren’t corporeal, and therefore these biological elements would not exist within them. However,Star Wars: The Last Jedicompletely flipped this concept on its head, as Yoda could use the Force as a Force Ghost in that movie.
Therein lies a need for a theory to explain this change, asStar Warshas yet to provide a direct answer. Specifically, these updates to Force Ghosts in the sequel trilogy suggest that Force Ghosts are able to manipulate the Force without the need for midi-chlorians because they are one with it entirely.
Force Ghosts are able to manipulate the Force without the need for midi-chlorians because they are one with it entirely.
Force Ghosts Are Bound By The Will Of The Force
This Can Explain Why Force Ghosts Don’t (Or Can’t) Intervene More Often
This therefore makes Force Ghosts even more in tune with the Force than any living being could ever be, which would actually explain an awful lot, far beyond their unlimited power. Specifically,this theory would explain why Force Ghosts will not/cannot intervene at any given time.
Because Force Ghosts are one with the Force, they are also bound by it.This explains why Obi-Wan Kenobi tells Luke that he cannot help him in his fight against Darth VaderinThe Empire Strikes Back. The will of the Force is for Luke to confront Darth Vader himself, likely for him to learn the truth and overcome it.
Because Force Ghosts are one with the Force, they are also bound by it.
Obi-Wan is thus bound by that will, and he is subsequently prevented from getting involved directly. This explains other bizarre plot holes in theStar Warsmovies as well. In fact, yet another issue this addresses isThe Last Jedi’sLuke Skywalker plot hole, wherein Obi-Wan does not appear to help Luke through Kylo Ren’s fall.
Yet another bizarre aspect of the sequels has always been Anakin Skywalker’s absence as a Force Ghost.Kylo Ren is effectively praying to Darth Vader, promising to finish what he started, but Anakin wouldn’t want that following his redemption. Why, then, does Anakin not appear to Kylo Ren and tell him he is on the wrong path?
If Anakin must act in accordance with the Force as a Force Ghost, though, this begins to make more sense. In that case, it may even come down to the Force not wanting anyone to intercede, as Rey and Kylo Ren needed to work out the complexities oftheir Force Dyadbetween themselves.
Balance Means Growth & Healing
Anakin’s Force Ghost In Particular Suggests The Importance Of This
A key element of this theory about Force Ghosts is that they must work to achieve balance. Balance has always been a bit of a thorny, difficult-to-define issue inStar Wars. Viathe Chosen One prophecy, Anakin Skywalker was said to be destined to bring balance to the Force, yet the precise meaning of that wasn’t really explained.
The Jedi interpreted this to mean destroying the Sith, but notably, the prophecy didn’t actually include those words. Personally, I strongly prefer the sequel trilogy’s description of the light rising and the dark in turn rising to meet it. Balance, outside ofStar Wars, implies two or more things being maintained in equal measure.
It therefore follows that true balance in the Force would require a coming together of both the light and the dark.This notion makes Anakin Skywalker’s Force Ghost particularly interesting. InAhsoka, Anakin’s Force Ghost was shockingly revealed to contain both his dark side and his light side—completely changing what we know about Force Ghosts inStar Wars.
True balance in the Force would require a coming together of both the light and the dark.
This aligns with the realpurpose of Force Ghosts inStar Wars, which is all about balance. As balance is ultimately about fostering growth and life, it would make sense for this to be the function of Force Ghosts within theStar Warsgalaxy. Anakin’s Force Ghost is simply one example of how that may be more complicated than expected.
The Sith DO Know About Force Ghosts
Darth Vader’s Line In Return Of The Jedi Heavily Implies This
Another layer to Force Ghosts inStar Warsthat has only relatively recently been elucidated is the fact thatthe Sith likely knew about Force Ghosts. This has long been a question (although it does seemthe Sith could trap Force Ghosts), but the answer subtly came in a change to oneReturn of the Jediline to Luke Skywalker.
Specifically, one of Darth Vader’s most iconic lines inReturn of the Jediis telling Luke"Obi-Wan has taught you well.“This suggests Vader’s awareness of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s Force Ghost, though, as he had referred to Luke as being untrained inStar Wars (2015) #3, written by Jason Aaron.
Vader had likewise mocked Obi-Wan’s ‘failure’ to train Luke, from Vader’s perspective, inStar Wars (2015) #2, also written by Jason Aaron.This switch-up between the comics andReturn of the Jediimplies that Vader knew Luke’s training under Obi-Wan continued even after Obi-Wan’s death, which would require an awareness of Force Ghosts.
Thus, in all likelihood, the Sith did know Jedi could gain the ability to become Force Ghosts, adding yet another layer to what we have somewhat recently learned about Force Ghosts inStar Wars.
