Sleep deprivation makes you think the weirdest things...

[lyore]

I was thinking about Star Wars AUs tonight, specifically those where Luke is raised by Vader. It occurred to me that, in this situation, I could see a lot of similarities in parenting style between Vader and John Winchester (apart from the Vader-being-evil thing, of course). No, hear me out.

Both are characters whose defining moment is the loss of their wife. This loss is the single most powerful driving force - no pun intended - in their lives. Both are devoted to destroying those who have hurt their family. Both have little tolerance of physical weakness. Neither encourage disagreement. Both appear isolated from 'normal' society. Both tend to be rather black-and-white in their views, especially of good & evil. John clearly impressed his moral universe - demons bad, humans good - on his children early. Vader tried to do the same, the first time he was face to face with Luke. Both want their children to carry on in their footsteps. And, arguably, both think they are acting for the greater good.

Before I get slaughtered by the John Winchester fen, let me be clear that I am not equating John with Vader, nor do I think he was an OMGEVOL!parent. I just think that, in this situation, parent!Vader could be a little like parent!John, amped up to the max.

OK, I'm extrapolating a bit here, and some of these points are debatable depending on your view of the characters, but still. Not a complete stretch?

And now I really, really need to go to bed. Stupid Olympics.

(deirdre_c, I think I need your Supernatural/Star Wars icon!)

Comments

[moonshayde.livejournal.com]

I think you could argue that Vader is an example of what a person like John could have become if he hadn't been grounded. Not that John was the ideal parent - and I sort of like that about him - and he was extremely obsessed to the point where it was a huge character flaw, but maybe if Vader had something to ground him, he wouldn't have become Vader. John had his children. Vader had nothing.

It was only in the end when Vader was forced with the possible death of his son at the hands of Palpatine that he could redeem himself.

Somethign to think about, for sure.

[lyore.livejournal.com]

John had his children. Vader had nothing.

I guess that is the really big difference between them, and yeah, I do see Dean and Sam as acting as some sort of stabilising influence on John.

[fialleril.livejournal.com]

I don't know anything about Supernatural, but your take on parent!Vader sounds very plausible to me. Especially his idea that he's acting for the greater good.

And a Luke (or Leia) raised in that environment would be very interesting. I don't think they'd be "dark" in the sense that people usually tend to write them, but more like the Knights Templar - people who are absolutely convinced that they're fighting for what's right, and therefore their actions are justified. It would make a very interesting AU...

[lyore.livejournal.com]

You should write it ... :P

[fialleril.livejournal.com]

But...it would probably turn into a novel-length AU. *sighs* All the best ideas do. And then I never have time for them...

[lyore.livejournal.com]

But I like novel-length AUs! At least when someone else has to write them...

[fialleril.livejournal.com]

At least when someone else has to write them...

:D Yeah, me too.