The Prequel Feminism
her alienated halves together and finally become Padme Amidala. With her divided mind healed, she likewise unites the Naboo and the Gungans, continuing the idea of symbiotic relationships and two becoming one. This likewise evokes what James Joyce once said about women, noting they acted as "the link between."
Following this is a final showdown between the expanded Outsider's Society and the Trade Federation. Darth Sidious falls victim to his own stereotyping, earlier on dismissing Amidala as "young and naive," and then is surprised by her move to take back the palace of Theed, saying, "It's too aggressive." Yet Amidala just refuses to stay in one set category. A great conflict takes place between the Gungans and the battle droids as a diversionary tactic - though it is also symbolic of an indigenous culture trying to survive the ultimate consumer take-over.
For her part, Amidala sneaks into Theed to capture the viceroy, Nute Gunray. When confronted by battle droids, she goes out on a ledge to get up to the throne room, now really thinking outside the box. Using grappling hooks, she literally and metaphorically ascends to a new plane, then blasts through a window from the outside and enters.
Mythologically speaking, she is that "shakti" energy that is piercing the veil of "maya," no longer impeded by polar thinking, free to move between opposites. When she is taken to the throne room to confront the Neimodians, they are bamboozled by a handmaiden, believing she is the real queen. "Look, this one's a decoy," Gunray exclaims, pointing at Amidala. Still trapped in his dualistic mindset of divide and conquer, he sends a group of battle droids chasing after the handmaiden. This enables Amidala to reclaim her throne and rid her planet of its usurpers.
While this is not the end of her problems with the Trade Federation, Amidala does enjoy a temporary victory, and all of Naboo is united in triumph. She competently progresses to the next stage of her hero's journey, and is such a beloved queen, her people long to amend the constitution to allow her to be elected for yet another term.
However, her fate lies along a much different path.
*Part two is now available! Click on next article.
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