Life debt

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A life debt is a cultural phenomenon in which someone whose life is saved or spared by another becomes indebted or in some way connected to their savior. A life debt sometimes involves servitude, possibly until the indebted can return the favor. It may involve some spiritual or mystical connection between the two. Life debts are frequently used in fictional writing, often attributed to "deep magic."^{[citation needed]} In real life, the concept of life debts is found in some non-European cultures.

[edit] Life debts in fiction

In Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, the Wookiee Chewbacca owes a life debt to Han Solo. Although it is not addressed in the movie, later Star Wars literature shows that life debts are an important part of the Wookiee culture.
In Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Qui-Gon Jinn saves Jar Jar Binks from a trade federation troop carrier, after which Jar Jar follows the party. His life debt is later respected by his fellow Gungans and provides a convenient excuse for him to leave the Gungan city.
In the Harry Potter series, Harry forbids Professor Lupin and Sirius from killing Peter Pettigrew. When Peter escapes, Dumbledore states Harry created a life debt, which he may be glad for later. This particular plot element is expected to come into play in the seventh Harry Potter book.
In Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Wookiee Zaalbar swears a life debt to the player in the sewers of Taris.
In Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II, Wookiee bounty hunter Hanharr owes a life debt to Mira, who saved him after a trap he laid for her backfired on him. However due to his psychotic nature he felt that this made him weak, and he has twisted the life debt into something quite the opposite, believing that killing Mira will free him of his life debt.
In the 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Azeem (played by Morgan Freeman) swears a life debt to Robin (Kevin Costner), after Robin saves him from a death sentence during the Crusades.