In Star Wars, characters come and go. But some, some leave a lasting impression on us. They’re inspirational. And those few are the ones that not only enhance the characters around them but the story as well. Characters like, Princess Leia. She has always been and will continue to be the bright light in the center of that galaxy far, far away. Her strength and inspiration will burn on, always.
And here are five factors that make Leia one of Star Wars’ most inspiring characters.
- She is hopeful.
Hope is central to the Star Wars saga, and in many ways, it starts with Leia. It’s her entire motivation, her quest. No matter how bleak the moment, somehow, Leia’s deep conviction for hope pushes her forward.
In Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Leia is presented with the Death Star Plans as her ship nearly escapes the evil clutches of the Empire’s Iron Fist, Darth Vader. In the midst of their escape and the many lives lost during the battle of Scarif, Leia finds the courage to smile. In doing so, Leia gives her courageous crew a reason to hold onto hope.
2. She is trustful.
Leia’s strong belief in hope allows her to trust in others. We see this early on in the opening scenes of Star Wars: A New Hope. As her ship undergoes an attack and is eventually boarded by Darth Vader and an Imperial squad of Stormtroopers, Leia risks her own life by safely securing the Death Star Plans in R2-D2, an Astromech droid. Leia’s deep conviction for hope is what enables her to invest her trust in the R2 unit. Not to mention, Leia pushes the stakes to the limit by recording a private message to accompany the stolen data tapes. After all, who would suspect a little droid to be carrying such vital information as the Death Star Plans?
- She is courageous.
As Leia’s role in the Rebellion grows so does her devotion to its cause, to her friends, and especially for Han Solo. Now, her devotion for Han Solo doesn’t come with ease. But, her unwavering faithfulness and heartening courage push her forward. We see this time-and-time again in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.
One of the most obvious of these moments is right after Han steers them out of an asteroid field. As they flee a group of Imperial TIE fighters and safely come out of the asteroid field, Leia rewards Han with a kiss on the cheek. It takes a lot of moxie to let your guard down like that. Han knew it too. But, small victories sometimes come with a hefty price to pay.
Leia’s acts of affection for Han places her in a state of vulnerability. We see this when they reach Bespin and look for help from Han’s old gambling buddy, Lando Calrissian. Leia wants to believe in Han’s so-called friend, but her intuition is telling her otherwise. She doesn’t trust Lando. And rightfully so. Still, she stays the course. She remains fearless and never wavers. She gives Lando the benefit of the doubt, but in the end, her hunch was right.
Still, Leia never gives up. She carries on, and her continuous strength and courage are what drives her to prevail. In fact, it is Leia’s bold fearlessness that guides Chewbacca and Lando to follow Leia’s lead when she demands that they go back and rescue Luke.
- She is honorable.
Leia has so many inspirational qualities. One, in particular, is that she is honorable. Star Wars: Return of the Jedi exemplifies this attribute on many occasions. The Ewoks are one example of this. For starters, Leia is never reluctant when meeting Wicket for the first time. She not only trusts him wholeheartedly, but she honors who he is, and what he, and his people represent. She does this without question. In other words, Leia places her faith in a stranger and trusts that everything will work out as it should.
Of course, this is a never-ending notion with Leia. We see it all come to a head when Luke reveals that they are the children of Darth Vader. And Luke is right. It isn’t easy for her to hear. But Leia’s always been strong. And that fervent perseverance mixed with her high-minded notions gives Leia that incredible fortitude to carry on. So much so, she honors Luke’s own hope that he can save Darth Vader, their father.
5. She is compassionate.
Throughout the original trilogy, Leia has not only inspired us by her ability to stay kind-hearted no matter what situation she may be in, but by maintaining it as well. And by the time of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, she not only maintains it, but she protects it. She will fight for it, and by all means, she will do what she must to save it.
While her ideals of duty have stayed the same, Leia, has not. It’s no longer just a cause. A fight between the light and the dark. No, it’s so much bigger. It has flesh and blood. Hers. Her only son, Ben Solo.
Yes, Leia thought she could shield him, and sway him from the dark side, and Snoke’s influence. But even though she was wrong, she hasn’t given up. She can’t and she won’t. It’s not her nature. No, Leia still believes that there is good him. No, she knows it.
Everything considered, Leia is not only one of Star Wars most inspiring characters, but she is also one of the most relatable as well. As her character grows and evolves, so do her amazing attributes. Each role she takes on fashions a new sense of hope, trust, courage, honor, and compassion. She leads a life of great significance. What an incredible mantle to behold.
Truly, Leia is indeed, as they say, every woman. She is a princess, a senator, a rebel, a sister, a daughter, a wife, a mother, a leader, an encourager, a nurturer, and she is every woman. She is everything she needs to be and never gives up. Leia knows what it means to lead a balanced life and not let life balance her. Her resolve has given her that and she, in turn, has given the galaxy a reason to have hope. Leia is the balance, a symbol of hope, and a force of destiny.
