THE DEATH OF SHMI

FEB 27 Gumby wrote: "I would like to start a new topic of discussion that I've been wondering about.  This is the death of Shmi.  Shmi is obviously dead by the time of episode 4 and the question is, how did it happen?  As far as I know, noone has posted any rumors about her death happening in episode so the possibility remains that she is in the future episodes as well.  I personally, would LOVE a scene near the end of episode 3 where Anakin, in full Vader mode, visits Shmi on her death bed, and she sees what he has become.  This would truly be a heart-breaking scene.  However, I personally don't think that this is going to happen.  In fact, i think that it is very likely that she will die in episode 1.  Here are the reasons for this: first, I believe that in one of the early SW drafts a Sith lord kills Anakin's brother and then is fought of by a Jedi.  Many people have drawn attention to the similarity of this story to the French photograph of Qui-Gonn fighting Darth Maul.  However, as far as we know, and everyone seems pretty sure, Anakin doesn't have a brother.  I figure that Darth Maul will kill Shmi in this battle instead.  The question is, why does Shmi have to die in Episode 1 and not later?  One reason is that George Lucas needs a way of getting Anakin off of Tattoine.  Being orphaned and 'adopted" by Qui-Gon and Anakin (assuming that Qui-Gon survives episode 1, which I doubt, figuring he will die Obi-Wan-like in the battle on Naboo) would both get him off the planet and explain why he spends his youth hanging out with Jedi knights and not mom.  Finally, there is the fact that George Lucas has stated that many themes repeat through episode 1 and 4 (see the other discussion topic on this issue).  The death of Shmi would parallel the death of Owen and Beru in SW and serve the similar purpose of getting the protagonist off of Tattoine."

MAR 01 Gillespee wrote: "Gumby, why is it obvious that Shmi is dead?  Did it say anywhere that she was dead?  When Obi-Wan basically gives Luke his family history, right after Yoda's death in ROTJ, never anywhere did he mention Anakin's mother at all.  Personally, I think it likely that she dies before Episode 4, but not necessarily before episode 3 is over."

Sinead wrote: "I don't think that Shmi has to die for Anakin to to join the jedi band.  What about the rumors that Anakin and his mother are slaves?  If your boy was a slave and he suddenly had the opportunity to take off with the jedi (people you respect and trust, right?) then it seems entirely possible to me that Shmi would bid her boy a tearful goodbye and let him leave for a better life."