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The second instance of amputation in A New Hope comes shortly after C-3PO's encounter with the Tusken Raiders. Obi-Wan's swift defence of Luke in the Cantina serves to establish the theme, and compound the motif, and gives us our first indication that lightsabers are going to play a big part in the future of our Star Wars experience and that we can expect arms and legs to start becoming detached from their owners on quite a regular basis.

What we see here is, I think, meant to be regarded as a proportional defence without anger or malice, or thought for personal needs or desires. It serves as a good counterpoint to the duel between Anakin and Dooku in Episode III. Obi-Wan is unconscious and his influence is neutralised, thus leaving Anakin to take over. Under the counter-influence of Palpatine, this amputation scene becomes infected with self-interest in the form of revenge and escalates into the decapitation of Count Dooku. It is through such parallels that Lucas provides us with a mechanism with which to evaluate the characters beyond their actions in the moment and within the greater picture of a Star Wars ethical framework.

As an aside, we have previously seen Mace Windu decapitate Jango Fett in the Geonosis arena in Episode II. There is a look that flashes across Windu's face immediately after which I read as him acknowledging that his use of such extreme force is a transgression from the Jedi way. Windu has gone too far in his haste to finish off Fett. This takes him on a parallel journey to Anakin with Anakin's decapitation of Dooku forming a counterpoint to this. So when the two confront each other over the prostrate figure of Palpatine in Revenge of the Sith we can see that unfortunately they are not that different from one another. Windu too is walking a fine line from trangressing Jedi core values and perhaps were the Sith to have had an interest in Windu he too could have been tipped over the edge.

By contrast, Obi-Wan's aversion towards extreme force is repeated in the duel scene with Anakin on Mustafar when in the final moments he gives Anakin fair warning of his disadvantage. Anakin's hubris leads him to suffer the ultimate and most drastic amputation as a kind of finale to all the other amputation scenes throughout the movies when his legs are sliced away from his torso and the flames from the lava consume him.

In this way Lucas inscribes Anakin's character flaws upon his body. He does this first in the initial Dooku duel in the Geonosian Hangar in AOTCs in which Anakin's first amputation from the elbow down inscribes his over confidence upon him, just as his subsequent and ultimate amputation inscribes his hubris upon him.

Other Articles on the Amputation Motif in the Star Wars Films

1) C-3PO and the Amputation Motif in the Star Wars Films

3) Chewbacca and the Subversion of the Amputation Motif in the Star Wars Films

4) General Grievous and the Amputation Motif in the Star Wars Films

Other Star Wars Amputations

Jango Fett: The decapitation of Jango Fett by Mace Windu

Mace Windu: Mace Windu loses his forearm in the duel in Palpatine's chambers.

Battle Droids : The battle droids are almost continually being chopped up by light sabres. These droids don’t seem quite sentient. They are very basic, not very intelligent and don’t seem to fulfil the criteria for sentient life forms. They can be chopped up by the Jedi with impunity.

Count Dooku: Dooku loses both his hands and his head in the final duel with Anakin

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All Star Wars action figures, vehicles, collectibles and Star Wars toys shown on this website are the 3.75 inch scale and from my own private Star Wars collection unless otherwise stated. Where possible original vintage accessories have been used but in some instances I have placed Kenner Star Wars figures with either reproduction weapons and accessories or for Hasbro figures close approximations have been used. This is mostly the case for modern Star Wars lightsabers where the correct item can be very difficult to identify on some ocassions. Vintage Star Wars action figures are shown with their original weapon or accessory when I have them. When a vintage Kenner action figure is shown with an accessory which is not original I have tried to point this out where possible.

All of the Star Wars action figures shown were purchased second hand, usually incomplete, and in bulk. They have been reunited with their original weapons and accessories where we could get hold of them.

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