By: Nicole Marie
The Star Wars fandom captures many variations of relationships. Motherly relationships have a special place in Star Wars.
Han Solo is famous for saying, "Never tell me the odds." Three resounding Star Women overcame the odds. This is a look into three remarkable women: Padmé Amidala, Breha Organa and Leia Organa Skywalker Solo. Each of these women are strong and in their own unique way, a Rebel at heart. They each used their voices to stand up for their convictions and what they felt was morally right. Two mothers with a love for a daughter. A daughter that would become a princess, a general and a mother herself. Jump into your favorite podracer and let's begin our adventure into the lives of these three amazing women of Star Wars.
Padmé Amidala
"I've learned to trust in myself, and you will, too." - Padmè Amidala, The Clone Wars
Padmé Amidala was born to Jobal and Ruwee Naberrie. At a young age Padmé faithfully devoted herself to public service. She became a queen at the young age of 14 years old.
Padmé bloomed into a woman of honor. She was compassionate and had a sense of duty to her planet of Naboo. In Queen's Shadow by E.K. Johnston, as a young Senator, Padmé Amidala meets Senator Bail Organa who later meets his wife, Queen Breha of Alderaan. We get an opportunity to see the early roots of the future happenings in the Star Wars Saga. Padmé secretly marries Anakin Skywalker and later becomes pregnant with twins. She tells him "Something wonderful has happened. Ani, I'm pregnant." Her pregnancy was left in secret as she continued to strive for peace in the Republic. Before the tragic ending of her life, Padmé gave birth to twins, Luke and Leia. In Queen's Shadow, we got a glimpse of the kind of mom Padmé would've been. This is when she meets her niece, Ryoo. In these short moments we see love, kindness, and gentleness. Her legacy would live on in her twins, and our heroes, Luke and Leia.
Breha Organa
"I'm a daughter of Alderaan. My mother raised me to cherish peace, as I am trying to raise you." Breha Organa to Leia Organa - Star Wars: Leia, Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray.
Breha Organa is Queen of Alderaan and wife to Senator Bail Organa. Before marriage and motherhood, a sixteen-year-old Breha underwent her Day of Demand. She suffered bad injuries and nearly killed herself during one of the challenges, Challenge of the Body. She overcame the odds. Breha would go on to become Queen and a mentor.
With the approval from Master Yoda and Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, Senator Bail Organa and his wife adopted Leia when Padmé Amidala passed away. "My wife and I will take the girl. We've always talked of adopting a baby girl. She will be loved with us." And so, the baby girl became Princess Leia Organa.
A very special moment came when Breha welcomed her daughter, Leia, into the palace gardens when the young toddler escaped her attendant droid, WA-2V. Leia had pointed to a statue of her biological mother, Padmè Amidala. Breha embraced this moment. She shared the harrowing story of Padmé to Leia, instilling lessons into her young daughter and letting Leia know that she had a spark of hope just like her biological mom.
Breha continued to make sure Leia was loved, educated, and taught from a young age about politics and community.
Leia Skywalker Organa Solo
"My parents. My friends. My world. These are the things the Empire can never take away." - Star Wars: Leia, Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray
Princess. Senator. General. At heart a daughter, friend, wife, mentor, and mother to Ben Solo.
Leia, like her biological mother, Padmé Amidala, as well as her adopted mom, Queen Breha Organa, had a sense of duty to the galaxy. She believed in peace. She had a passion for fairness and democracy like the women before her. She was also a rebel.
Like her adopted mother, Leia had her own Day of Demand, a day she declared her intentions to take the throne of Alderaan. In Leia, Princess of Alderaan by Claudia Gray, we witness a teenage Leia accomplish three challenges like Breha: body, heart and mind. It is during these challenges Leia discovers her parents, Bail and Breha are organizing a rebellion against the Empire. Leia decides to prove to her parents that she is an important asset and regardless of risk wants to stand up for her convictions. After completing her three challenges, Princess Leia was crowned.
In time Leia would take her father's place in the Imperial Senate, becoming a senator like her biological mom, Padmé. Leia stayed true to herself and her ideals despite other senators and the media trying to reduce her to the label of a princess. Leia was a humanitarian and had excellent leadership skills.
During the Galactic Civil War, Leia would face the devastation of her home, Alderaan, being blown up. Like the women before her, she would overcome the odds. She would go on to meet her twin brother, Luke Skywalker, and her future husband, Han Solo. Together they would have their son, Ben.
Being a mom to Ben Solo wasn't easy for Leia. Ben was a Force-user, and his emotions and the depth of his powers was uncertain. Although as a youngling he loved his Uncle Chewie, Ben Solo would train with his real uncle, Luke Skywalker. Ben then tragically turned down the path to the dark side and renamed himself, Kylo Ren.
Leia might have felt like a failure at times and dealt with her own struggles, but she did not give up hope that Ben would one day turn back to the light side. “There’s still good in him.” Leia never did see her son as Kylo Ren. She always saw him as Ben Solo.
"Hope is not lost today. It is found." -Leia
Two women. One daughter. Padmé and Breha both demonstrated love for Leia. Leia was their legacy. These three women of Star Wars are courageous. They stood their ground even when others were against them and overcoming the odds. They are amazing role models for us to be inspired by. Choose to be like Padmé, Breha or Leia - they were humanitarians. When others would not stand up and pay attention, they were Rebels in their own fashion. Have hope, be a Rebel, and May the Force be with you.
