To Love a Gungan: An Apology For Jar-Jar Binks
Today I tread where only fools dare to travel, for I intended to present a defense of Star Wars most infamous character, that polarizing Gungan, Jar-Jar Binks.
Okie-day?
Cease your childish pouts and cruel anger set aside as I present the case for Mr. Binks. Grant me an open mind, and judge for yourself if there is merit to Lucas' despised Gungan from The Phantom Menace. First, while I find the "Darth Jar-Jar" theory intriguing and fun, I will deal with this character only as we find him revealed in the prequels. I do believe Lucas had more in mind for Binks when he began but he was quite obviously by public outrage swayed from his original design.
In all of Star Wars only two relevant characters are presented with no flaws to conquer*. By flaws here, I intend the moral or personal traits within the movies, not the production quality. Even such men of virtue as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Master Yoda and Luke Skywalker have weakness and errors. Obi-Wan is jealous of Anakin, subject to pride (per Yoda's remark in Episode II) and loyal to the Jedi Code and council for their own sakes. Yoda struggles with the former problem too, as do all the Jedi. I could list the imperfections of every character (excluding the aforementioned two) but I will not for time's sake.
Who are these two then? First, Qui-Gon Jinn. Qui-Gon is literally the best Jedi or Force User in the entire saga, because he does not seek to master the Force but rather be mastered by the Force. He understands the Force, and lives with Calvinistic assurance in the will and power of the Force. He is the embodiment of patience, and he is not the least ambitious, as seen in his willingness to confront and disobey the council to the detriment of his advancement. Even his defiance of the Jedi Council is driven by a sincere belief in the will of the Force overriding their decision and not by any stubborn vanity. As the story progresses, we move from Qui-Gon and his green lightsaber to the blue of Obi-Wan and Anakin. We do not return to another prominent and central figure wielding green again until Return of the Jedi. Luke overcomes the Dark Side and the Emperor because he learns the lesson of Qui-Gon, to trust in the will of the Force and do what's right no matter what.
The other character though is Jar-Jar Binks. Seriously, think about it. What is Jar-Jar's moral flaw? What weakness must he overcome? None. And I believe that is precisely why fans reacted so negatively against Jar-Jar. In today's society, there are two cardinal sins, hypocrisy and innocence. Hypocrisy is considered worse than the actual deed committed (hence why the same people who pounce on wayward Christian leaders remain mute when non-Christians engage in the exact same sins).
But why is innocence so hated? In terms of Christian thought, I believe the sin nature reacts against echoes of Eden and that would include innocence. This is why our society is anti-child (incidentally, notice the other hated figure of The Phantom Menace is Jake Lloyd's Anakin, a child; for that matter, Luke in Episode IV is annoying to many) and Christianity has taught that children are a blessing, and are in fact people. Jar-Jar and Little Ani are the children of Episode I, the one's who are both saved by Qui-Gon Jinn and taken in as it were (Remember Obi-Wan's remark, "Why do I sense we've picked up another pathetic life form?"). Both Jar-Jar and Ani want to help others and both are loyal and loving in their own ways.
What happens though? Anakin falls as his compassion leads him to form strong attachments to his mother and eventually Padme, and when fear convinces him Padme will die he trades compassion for greed (greed for the power to save her, no matter the cost to the Galaxy). Jar-Jar too is driven by compassion for his friends, and is the one who calls on the senate to grant the Chancellor emergency powers. In so doing, he hopes the Clone Army will save his friends. Both are deceived by Palpatine, but whereas Anakin seeks power to save because he only trusts himself, Jar-Jar seeks to give others that power because trusts them.
Jar-Jar is Anakin's foil, a mirror of the compassionate child who slowly fades into the background as Anakin moves toward the Dark Side. We don't even see him in Episode III Revenge of the Sith until the very end when we see Padme's funeral procession. A silent shadow of the good in Anakin, Jar-Jar Binks never speaks again. And coincidentally, when Anakin awakens from the darkness in Episode VI Return of the Jedi, we meet the Ewoks who are rather Jar-Jar-esque, being simple and child-like.
And again, there are fans who hate the Ewoks. Go figure.
Now, we live in a fallen world and we must have experience and knowledge. But we must be careful not to equate innocence with naivety. It is possible to be both wise and innocent, which is what Luke strives for in the original trilogy (failing somewhat at the end of Episode V, symbolized by the loss of his hand). We must avoid the extreme of blocking out external evil while ignoring that it also lurks within, which is the mistake that Obi-Wan and the Jedi Council makes by hiding the Dark-Side from Anakin. On the other end of the spectrum though, we must not assume exposure is an antidote sinful tendencies. Knowledge and wisdom, clothed in trust/ innocence and compassion, are the goal (i.e. Qui-Gon Jinn).
Frankly, the reaction of fans to Jar-Jar (myself included) is more condemning of us than George Lucas. Jar-Jar is shredded for his stupidity by the same people who love C3PO. It's not his comical use, it's his simpleness that we react to. George Lucas created a clever metaphor for Anakin within the movie itself and instead of noting this storytelling device, the fandom became angry that this buffoon had dared to ruin the sacred memory of their first Star Wars experience. In so doing, we become like Darth Vader who rejects the trust and compassion that Jar-Jar embodies.
* R2D2 could count as a third but he's droid so yeah
