Midi-chlorian

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Midi-chlorians (also spelled "midi-clorians" or "midichlorians") are a microorganism in the fictional Star Wars galaxy, first mentioned in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. They are microscopic life-forms that reside within the cells of almost all living things and communicate with the Force. Midi-chlorians compose a collective consciousness and intelligence, forming links between everything living and the Force. They are symbionts with all other living things; that is, without them, life could not exist. The Jedi have learned how to listen to and coordinate the midi-chlorians. If they quiet their minds, they can hear the midi-chlorians speaking to them, telling them the will of the Force. In order to be a Jedi or a Sith, one must have a high concentration of midi-chlorians in one's cells.[1]

The word "midi-chlorian" appears to be a portmanteau of "mitochondrion" and "chloroplast", two organelles found in real cells and thought to have evolved from bacteria as endosymbionts inside other cells, as purported in the endosymbiotic theory. Creator George Lucas has indeed stated that the midi-chlorians are based on the endosymbiotic theory (Rolling Stone, June 2005), and it appears that in the story of Anakin Skywalker, he wanted to create a more modern "virgin birth" in the Star Wars saga that was as much based in "science" (albeit fictional) as in philosophy and religion, with the mythic "givers of life" being microscopic life-forms, rather than gods.

[edit] Midi-chlorians and the Chosen One

An ancient prophecy foretold the appearance of a chosen one imbued with a high concentration of midi-chlorians, strong with the Force, and destined to alter it forever. Anakin Skywalker was thought to be the one. He had the highest concentration of midi-chlorians the Jedi Council had ever seen. He was possibly conceived by the midi-chlorians; Anakin was born without the assistance of a male.[1] Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (alias Darth Sidious) greatly influenced Anakin and converted him to the evil order of the Sith as Darth Vader. Anakin eventually fought his former friend and mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi. During this duel, Anakin's three intact limbs were cut off and his body was ignited by the heat of a molten lava river. To keep him alive, Anakin was fitted with a black suit that functioned as a life support system and completed his physical transformation into Darth Vader. When this happened, he lost some of his midi-chlorians. Lucas has said in interviews that Luke Skywalker had the same total midi-chlorian count that Anakin did at birth. Though this does not necessarily make him the Chosen one because Anakin did exactly what the prophecy foretold by coming back from the Dark Side and destroying Emperor Palpatine.

In Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Palpatine states that a Sith Lord, Darth Plagueis, had the ability to use the Dark Side to influence midi-chlorians to create life and to prevent people from dying. That statement creates the possibility that Darth Plagueis or Palpatine created Anakin Skywalker. That possibility is pure speculation, never addressed by the narrative. The official Star Wars website does state that creating life and preventing death arise from the same ability. Also, in early drafts of the script, Palpatine admits that he created Anakin, but Lucas decided to omit this fact in later drafts to 'make it more ambiguous.'[citation needed]

Plagueis's abilities create an interesting thematic development: the Sith attempt to gain immortality by unnaturally holding back death with the Dark Side and manipulating life, but the Jedi accept physical death as a natural part of life. Some Jedi, such as Qui-Gon Jinn, learn how to retain their consciousness and corporeal spirits in the greater netherworld of the Force. This Jedi ability can apparently be brought on at will, in which case the Jedi's physical body vanishes without a trace, or it can be brought on by death, as in the case of Qui-Gon Jinn and later Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, and Anakin Skywalker. Whereas the Sith can unnaturally sustain life, some Jedi achieve immortality in death, becoming one with the Force.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Brooks, Terry. Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. New York: The Ballantine Publishing Group, 1999.

[edit] External links
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