Life debt
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. In real life, the concept of life debts is found in some non-European cultures.
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 also discovers that Professor Snape owed a life debt to his father, James Potter, after James stops him from being attacked by Lupin while he was transformed. In Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Snape attempts to repay this debt to his son by saving Harry from a jinxed broom.
- Also in the Harry Potter series, Harry forbids Professor Lupin and Sirius from killing Peter Pettigrew. When Pettigrew escapes, Albus Dumbledore states Harry created a life debt, for which he may be glad later. Indeed, in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pettigrew tries to stop Harry and Ron escaping from the cellar of the Malfoys' mansion. Pettigrew attempts to choke Harry, but Harry reminds him of the debt he owes and Pettigrew releases him. When he does, Pettigrew is choked to death by his silver hand.
- In Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Wookiee Zaalbar swears a life debt to the player in the sewers of Taris.
- In the second episode of Beast Wars, Optimus Primal saves Dinobot's life by pushing him out of the way of the other Predacons' weapons, only to be repaid by Dinobot during another Predacon attack.
- 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 video game Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King it is revealed that the playable character and former bandit Yangus owes a life debt to the unnamed Hero, explaining why Yangus travels with the party and has a deep loyalty to the Hero.
- In the film Kangaroo Jack, Charlie owes a life debt to Louis for saving his life when they were children. Charlie had been tricked into running out into the ocean by a man named Frankie Lombardo and started to drown. When no one noticed, Louis ran out and saved him. At the end of the film, Charlie repays Louis by saving him from falling over a cliff. Louis thinks this will end their friendship, as this debt, he believes, was what held it together. The two remain friends, however.
- 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, which he repays by saving his life at the end of the film.
- In Shrek 2, after a failed attack, Puss In Boots begged for mercy from Shrek and Donkey. He is spared and swears a life debt to Shrek to thank him.
- In I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry, Chuck owes Larry for saving his life in a fire, and Larry calls in that favor when civic red tape prevents him from naming his own two kids as his life insurance beneficiaries.
- In The Brady Bunch, Peter Brady saves Greg Brady's life after he nearly falls from a ladder and is forced into Peter's servitude until their parents put a stop to it.
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