Jedi Celibacy and Marriage
I always thought they were. Celibate, I mean. They aren’t allowed emotional attachments, but wouldn’t having sex with someone you aren’t emotionally involved with be a DS act?
I also know that they’re allowed to have feelings, but they aren’t supposed to act on them. I think. Or at least, feelings shouldn’t motivate their actions, such as striking out at someone in anger.
***possible spoilers***
In Jedi Apprentice #15: The Death of Hope, Qui-Gon and Tahl, who were best friends as students, “acknowedge that their bond has grown beyond friendship and into love” (Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice Series). Now, if they don’t act on these feelings, then it would be OK. Right?
However, they make an honor vow to each other or something like that–I don’t have this book or I’d quote from it. It sounded very much like a wedding vow to me, and I’m not sure what it really meant. For the characters, I mean.
Now, 4000 years before that, Jedi did marry and had lovers. According to Star Wars: The New Essential Chronology, Nomi Sunrider, before she becomes a Jedi, was married to another Jedi–Andur. After Andur died (I’m sure it was after a “reasonable” amount of time :p) Ulic Qel-Droma (who in some ways reflects Quinlan Vos) and Nomi fall in love.
However, while Ulic worked as an undercover Jedi infiltrating the Krath, Aleema, a Sith and one of the Krath leaders, “intended to keep Ulic as a lover” (17) . Though the Chronology doesn’t specifically state that they were, in fact, lovers, it’s heavily implied. Ulic didn’t want to blow his cover, after all.
According to Star Wars: The New Essential Guide to Characters, Ki-Adi-Mundi of the planet Cerea, has two wives (though in Prelude to Rebellion I believe he has seven) (91). This was allowed because only one in 20 newborns are male (Strnad, et al.). Interestingly, Wallace states that the Cereans–not the Council–”allowed [him] to receive a special exemption from the Jedi edict that discouraged marriage” (91). I would think that the Council would have to approve it rather than the Cereans themselves.
Further, what is meant by “the Jedi edict that discouraged marriage”? Does that mean that Qui-Gon and Tahl, albeit without a ceremony, were married? In one of the books in the Jedi Apprentice series, Qui-Gon reflects that Obi-Wan is the closest he’ll come to having a son, which implies that Jedi aren’t allowed to have children (except in Ki’s case). Yet again, 4000 years prior, Nomi and Andur Sunrider had a daughter, Vima, who becomes a great Jedi.
I wonder, then, when the Council set this edict? During the New Republic era, Luke and other Jedi marry and have kids, but that’s to help restore the Order.
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Works Cited
Wallace Daniel, Kevin J. Anderson, et al. Star Wars: The New Essential Chronology. New York: Ballantine, 2005.
Star Wars: Jedi Apprentice Series. 2003. 23 Aug. 2004
Strnad, Jan, et al. Prelude to Rebellion. Milwaukie, OR: Dark Horse Comics, 1998.
Wallace, Daniel and Michael Sutfiin. Star Wars: The New Essential Guide to Characters. New York: Ballantine, 2002.
Star Wars
I loved the Tahl/Qui Gon arch but I never really knew how they would figure it out. The only explanation I could figure was that since they were both mature and seasoned Jedi knights they would be allowed to at least have a type of marriage ceremony if they could prove that when they were on missions personal feelings wouldn’t get in the way-but then with Qui Gon’s past it may be hard to convince the council
August 24, 2004 7:22 am
Hey, CR! ^^ Anyway. My thoughts on the subject:
I, too, have seen that bit about Qui-Gon and Tahl, and while I never actually read that book, it sounded to me like a wedding vow of sorts as well. I’ve heard, though I can’t confirm this, that the Jedi were allowed to marry and the like up until the war with Exar Kun. It was after that war that the Jedi decided that having another scism like Kun’s would pit husbands and wives against each other at times, weakening their abilities to fight for the Light, or something along those lines.
I think the New Republic Jedi have realized that love isn’t a force to be avoided, as it can often be the redeeming power that turns many lost Jedi, or keeps those who have had their entire lives shaken from slipping into the shadows. (Like RevanxCarth, or RevanxBastila.) And because of this, I seriously doubt that the NJO will re-establish the edict. At least, I hope not.
I want Jaina and Jag to have kids. ^^
August 24, 2004 11:56 am
firedancersoul,Right–Qui-Gon doesn’t always leave emotions out of his actions–which is why he sought revenge after she died, remember? If something really bad happened to her but she didn’t die, he would probably still try to exact revenge. Maybe not kill whoever did it, but hurt them in some way. That Qui-Gon–very mercurial.
Ceremony or no ceremony, an actual marriage between Tahl and Qui-Gon could only lead to trouble. Knowing how Qui-Gon is so fond of Obi-Wan, he would probably want to have children of his own, which, to his thinking, wouldn’t jeopardize his relationship with Obi-Wan. On the other hand, in the TPM novelization, wasn’t it hinted that Obi-Wan was a little jealous of Anakin at first? I can’t remember.
Anyway, being a Jedi means that Qui-Gon wouldn’t be able to spend as much time at home as he would like with his own family because he would be off on so many “business trips.”
I don’t think he’d like being away so much.
Lady Revan, LR!!!! Thanks for paying a visit. Kick back, stay awhile.
It makes sense what you say about the Jedi marriage edict post-Exar Kun. It’s exactly what happened to Jolee and his wife, right? Though she wasn’t officially a Jedi.
The farthest into the EU that I’ve read is Union, the comic book mini-series in which Luke and Mara Jade get married, so I can’t really say what the NJO think about love and marriage. Haven’t got that far yet, but I’m getting there.
I can’t post the pic in the comments section, but click on the above link–check out the Skywalkers’ wedding pic. Luke is in dire need of a haircut. He needs to pay a visit to Quin’s and Carth’s stylists. Or if I were Mara Jade, I’d Force cut-and-style it myself. :p
August 25, 2004 9:13 am