Hero Journey: Jonah and Hero Journey: Jonah and Anakin SkywalkerAnakin Skywalker

By BermudaBy Bermuda

ThesisThesis

• Jonah, a biblical character, and Jonah, a biblical character, and Anakin Skywalker, a light saber Anakin Skywalker, a light saber wielding warrior, seem like two wielding warrior, seem like two unlikely characters to be compared unlikely characters to be compared but I have taken on the task of but I have taken on the task of relating their quite similar journey’s; relating their quite similar journey’s; the journey’s that made them the journey’s that made them heroes.heroes.

JonahJonah• Biblical character (old testament)Biblical character (old testament)

Jonah’s JourneyJonah’s Journey• Call from God to go to NinevehCall from God to go to Nineveh

• Finds the evil, sinful people of Nineveh unworthy of Finds the evil, sinful people of Nineveh unworthy of savingsaving

• Tries to run away-flee to Tarshish by boatTries to run away-flee to Tarshish by boat

• Encountered a storm to test his faithEncountered a storm to test his faith

• Thrown in to sea, subsequently swallowed by fishThrown in to sea, subsequently swallowed by fish

• Realizes his mistake and cries out to GodRealizes his mistake and cries out to God

• Returns to the call (goes to Nineveh & proclaims Returns to the call (goes to Nineveh & proclaims message of God)message of God)

• Returns home angry at God for saving “unworthy” Returns home angry at God for saving “unworthy” people.people.

Anakin Anakin SkywalkerSkywalker

Anakin’s JourneyAnakin’s Journey

• Won by Qui-Gon Gin on home planet of TatooineWon by Qui-Gon Gin on home planet of Tatooine

• Trained to be a Jedi-the chosenTrained to be a Jedi-the chosen

• Obi-Wan’s Padawan learner-becomes Jedi KnightObi-Wan’s Padawan learner-becomes Jedi Knight

• Kills Tusken Raiders for killing his momKills Tusken Raiders for killing his mom

• Kills Count Dooku on Palpatine’s ordersKills Count Dooku on Palpatine’s orders

• Told that dark side holds key to save PadmeTold that dark side holds key to save Padme

• Kills everyone in Jedi templeKills everyone in Jedi temple

• Padme tries to stop him-fights w/Obi-WanPadme tries to stop him-fights w/Obi-Wan

• Ends up being burned-turned into Darth VaderEnds up being burned-turned into Darth Vader

• Rules Empire/dark sideRules Empire/dark side

• Discovers Luke and removes his helmet as he turns backDiscovers Luke and removes his helmet as he turns back

• Dies but is remembered as Anakin in Luke’s eyesDies but is remembered as Anakin in Luke’s eyes

5 Points of Comparison5 Points of Comparison

• The “chosen one” for their callThe “chosen one” for their call

• Ran away/fled from the call at some point Ran away/fled from the call at some point in their journeyin their journey

• Hurt people in the process of turning from Hurt people in the process of turning from the path of the callthe path of the call

• Realized their mistake and turned back to Realized their mistake and turned back to their destined paththeir destined path

• Saved people by turning backSaved people by turning back

The Chosen OneThe Chosen One

• Jonah was specifically chosen by God Jonah was specifically chosen by God to save the people of Ninevehto save the people of Nineveh

• Anakin was the most powerful Jedi in Anakin was the most powerful Jedi in existence-at first considered too old existence-at first considered too old to be trainedto be trained

Fled From The CallFled From The Call

• Jonah took a boat to TarshishJonah took a boat to Tarshish

• Anakin began turning evil when he Anakin began turning evil when he killed the entire camp of Tusken killed the entire camp of Tusken Raiders followed years later by killing Raiders followed years later by killing everyone in the Jedi temple and everyone in the Jedi temple and continuing to kill people while he continuing to kill people while he ruled the Empire.ruled the Empire.

Consequences Of Turning Consequences Of Turning AwayAway• Anakin nearly kills Padme who was Anakin nearly kills Padme who was

pregnant at the timepregnant at the time

• Also fights Obi-Wan, the man he owes Also fights Obi-Wan, the man he owes his training tohis training to

• Jonah could have caused the death of Jonah could have caused the death of many people on board the boat that many people on board the boat that he fled onhe fled on

Realizing The MistakeRealizing The Mistake

• Jonah spent 3 days in a fish…finally Jonah spent 3 days in a fish…finally cried out to God to save himcried out to God to save him

• Anakin met his son who tried to Anakin met his son who tried to defeat him and told him the defeat him and told him the legendary phrase “Luke, I am your legendary phrase “Luke, I am your father”father”

Turning BackTurning Back

• Jonah was spit out of the fish and Jonah was spit out of the fish and headed to Tarshishheaded to Tarshish

• Anakin let Luke take him over and Anakin let Luke take him over and removed his helmet-which was his removed his helmet-which was his life sourcelife source

SummarySummary

• Although it may not seem like these Although it may not seem like these two would have much in common, it two would have much in common, it turns out that Anakin Skywalker and turns out that Anakin Skywalker and Jonah’s journey’s at least have a good Jonah’s journey’s at least have a good bit that can be compared. From the bit that can be compared. From the past and the future, real and fiction, but past and the future, real and fiction, but both heroes to many. Despite their both heroes to many. Despite their unwillingness to stick to their intended unwillingness to stick to their intended plan, in the end they are both true plan, in the end they are both true heroes.heroes.

ReferencesReferences

• http://images.art.com/images/PRODUCTS/large/10083000/10083864.jphttp://images.art.com/images/PRODUCTS/large/10083000/10083864.jpgg

• http://paipera.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/jonah-and-whale.jpghttp://paipera.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/jonah-and-whale.jpg• The BibleThe Bible• Wookiepedia-the Wikipedia of Star WarsWookiepedia-the Wikipedia of Star Wars• http://media.photobucket.com/image/anakin%20skywalker/souljaboy42http://media.photobucket.com/image/anakin%20skywalker/souljaboy42

/saberwiki_swcreators_anakin_skywalk.jpg/saberwiki_swcreators_anakin_skywalk.jpg• http://www.mrgadget.com.au/catalog/images/anakin_skywalker_1024.jhttp://www.mrgadget.com.au/catalog/images/anakin_skywalker_1024.j

pgpg• http://www.guanabara.info/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/darth-vader-http://www.guanabara.info/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/darth-vader-

face.jpgface.jpg• http://hunternuttall.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/darth-http://hunternuttall.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/darth-

vader.jpgvader.jpg• http://soupytrumpet.com/uploads/2008/01/unmasked3.jpghttp://soupytrumpet.com/uploads/2008/01/unmasked3.jpg• http://www.deferguson.com/images/Jonah.jpghttp://www.deferguson.com/images/Jonah.jpg• http://www.lifeasmyth.com/jonah.jpghttp://www.lifeasmyth.com/jonah.jpg• http://www.hattoncoc.org/kids/jonah.jpghttp://www.hattoncoc.org/kids/jonah.jpg