The Tragedy of Darth Vader/Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Parallel

One aspect in life I find by being a Lit. person is finding the similarities between real life and the arts. I think many of you remember literature class in high school, where you would look for the author's inspiration or compare a character to a real person.  Due to recent events, I found myself comparing Dzhokhar Tsarnaev life to Darth Vader's. Has anyone else noticed the parallels?  I think the idea started when I thought of this wavy-haired boy being a killer.  I kept thinking, "He's just a baby!"  And I began to think about another young man in a tale that took place a long, long time ago. 

Look at the two: 

• Vader (then known as Anakin Skywalker) was born into slavery, then freed and brought to a new world when he was about 9 years-old.  Hmmm . . . Jahar's (as I'll refer to him as it's easier to spell) family left their homeland due to persecution and came to America when he was 9 years-old.
• Anakin became a Jedi apprentice;  Protector to the Republic.  Jahar was a lifeguard and I thought I heard that he was thinking about pursuing medicine.
• Anakin's mentor and friend, Palpatine, influences him to go down a darker path.  Jahar's brother plots against the U.S. due to wars in the Middle East.  He influences his brother.
• Vader leads the attack on the Jedi temple.  He kills Jedi younglings (children.)  Jahar helps his brother place bombs at the Boston Marathon.  His bomb was responsible for killing a child and injuring many other people.   
• Both betray the democracy that offered them a better way of life.
• Both end up seriously injured shortly after the attacks.  Both are taken away on a medical gurney and require oxygen.  Vader is burned after a duel with his former Jedi master.  He's left scarred and requires a life-preserving suit.  Jahar has multiple injuries due to engaging with law enforcement.  What is interesting is Jahar has an injury to his throat and is unable to speak at this time.  Who knows if he permanently damaged his vocal cords.  I wonder if he still requires oxygen?  I don't think his respirator would be quite as pronounced as Vader's, but the similarities are almost eerie.   

Here the parallel ends.  Vader redeemed himself by helping to destroy the Empire that he helped create.  I don't know if there's any way that Jahar could ever redeem himself.  Unlike the 9/11 terrorists, Jahar is able to see the results of his actions.  And will be held accountable for them.

George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars, when discussing his character of Darth Vader claimed that no one who is evil thinks of themselves as evil.  They think they are doing the right thing.  He must have done his research.  I think he must have studied the Nazi's judging from the scripts that he wrote.  I think it very well applies to the Jihad extremists/terrorists.

Even though Star Wars is science fiction, it really has to do with the human spirit.  Under all that CGI and alien worlds, it's really about ourselves.  I'll leave you with a quote from Yoda but it's really George Lucas' words,

"Fear leads to anger.  Anger leads to hate.  Hate leads to suffering."

How very true it is.

Veronica

Edited to add:  Discussing Vader and his breathing reminded me of the teaser trailer for Ep. 3.  That breathing (:47) still gives me goose bumps!  Star Wars Ep. 3 Teaser

Life Finds A Way

A baby boom in Boston in approximately 38 weeks due to Friday's lock down.  Life finds a way. 

This was my tweet/FB post this morning.  I have to admit that it was my husband who thought of it.  He said to me yesterday afternoon while we were watching the news coverage, "I bet they are going to have a baby boom in January."  So, it got me thinking.  The plan of the terrorists was to kill Americans, not make more of them!  And I'm sure that's what happened with Friday's lock down.  Stuck in the house together all day.  What to do???  What to do???  So, thanks to the younger brother trying to elude law enforcement most of the day on Friday, the chances are favorable for a baby boom come mid-January in Boston.  Imagine after all that planning to take life, they inadvertently created more!  Oh, the irony of it!  Granted, nothing can replace the lives that were lost, but this goes to show that we will prevail.

I followed the manhunt through most of the day yesterday through the media.  I couldn't remember ever seeing a whole city shut down for most of the day.  I have to explain a little about me so you don't take it the wrong way about what I'm going to write.  I consider myself to be an empathic person.  Seeing someone else cry can make me cry.  I can't watch mourners at a funeral because of this.  I think my empathy aids me in writing because I can put myself in another's position.  This comes in handy with writing in third person.  As a reader/writer, I like to look for redeeming qualities in the villain.  As I watched the standoff last night, I started to feel a little sorry for the perpetrator.  Now, don't throw stones!  I haven't forgotten about what he's done!  I haven't forgotten about Martian Richard nor the rest of his victims.  I just started to think how he hit the ultimate low.  There he was, hiding in a boat, wounded and bleeding,  surrounded by an army of law enforcement.  His brother was dead, he probably hadn't eaten anything all day, he probably hadn't slept in days.  Maybe the guilt was starting to wear on him?  If his brother had convinced him to take part in the plot and now he was the only one remaining to take the full responsibility for the terror they inflicted on others.  I was relieved to see him taken alive into custody, so his family didn't have to lose a second member that day.  My hope is that everyone finds the answers that they are seeking and will eventually find closure.

It was wonderful to see the residents of Boston back out on the streets last night.  And to watch them cheer the members of law enforcement and emergency services as they left the scene.  We have to remember there are more good people out there than the bad.

My thoughts and prayers are with Texas as well during this trying week. 

Have a safe weekend!

Veronica

The Temptation Of Your Touch

I recently read the latest novel by Teresa Medeiros called "The Temptation Of Your Touch."  It is the second book in the Burke Brothers series and I have to say I enjoyed it more than the first book.  It could have something to do with the setting in Cornwall, England over the desert setting in the first.  It could also do with the eldest brother being tall, dark, handsome and brooding.  There is also mystery and a taste of the paranormal in this tale.  I love Ms. Medeiros' descriptive writing and I find her storytelling to be quite clever.  In fact, her B&B inspired book, "The Bride and the Beast," influenced me to start writing again.

As far as my own writing, I have most of the crucial parts of my WIP written.  Now it's time for descriptive writing.  I think that is what truly builds a story and fills in the pages.

I am now on Twitter:  VRWinters Twitter Page .  I haven't been very active with tweeting yet, but I do enjoy getting updates on some of my favorite celebs.

Even though the calendar says it's spring, it sure doesn't feel like it!

Veronica

Some Good Advice

Candice Accola who plays Caroline in The Vampire Diaries, shared some advice that her father always told her:

"No doesn't mean never, it means not now."

Ian Somerhalder (also from VD) shared his experience auditioning for the part of Damon.  You can watch his story on Hulu:  Ian Somerhalder's Audition  It just goes to show that people do get second chances and a little determination can take you a long way.  It's advice that writer's can take to heart as well.  Or anyone, for that matter.

Veronica

Classic Tale Part 2

I just finished reading the deluxe edition of Beastly, which includes Lindy's Diary.  Lindy is the heroine in the tale, so the second book is written in her POV.  After reading the novel, I have to say I liked the book over the movie.  I liked how Kyle/Adrian was really a beast in the book.  With the movie having him bald and tattooed, it just didn't seem right to me.  Maybe that's why I put off seeing it?  In the book, I liked how he give Lindy a real Christmas and how he took her to a house up in the mountains rather than a summer lake house.  In the movie, it seemed like they were at the lake house for about 5 seconds.  That's what happens when they take a 300 page book and condense it into a feature length movie.

Speaking of movies, I finally got to see Chasing Mavericks, which came out on DVD on Tuesday.  It was quite an emotional film; not all about surfing, but examining emotions.  There's no stereotypical "surfer dudes" in this movie.  It's actually based on a true story.  I didn't think the trailers did it justice.  I recommend it.  Have Kleenex handy.

I'd love to sneak off to a writer's retreat for a week.  I told my hubby there's too many distractions here.  He suggested a writing room upstairs.  Yeah right, they'd still be able to find me!

Veronica 

A Modern Adaptation of a Classic Fairy Tale

I hope you are all staying well during this nasty cold/flu season.  I was under the weather myself last month.  Remember to take your vitamins.  I am and I'm feeling much better!

I recently saw the movie Beastly.  When I saw the previews, it didn't really strike my fancy, since "the Beast" was bald and tattooed.  I caught a clip of it one day, and decided I wanted to see it.  I enjoyed it.  It stayed true to the original tale for the most part.  One plus to watching the DVD was the alternative ending.  I predicted the movie was going to end that way, if it were to follow the classic tale.  I can't say I was crazy about the theatrical ending, since I felt that it left some loose ends.  There were aspects to both endings that I liked.  I do recommend this film for Beauty and the Beast fans; but make sure to watch the alternative ending, as well.

After seeing the movie, I decided to read the novel, which I'm about halfway through.  In the book, he really is a beast.  He's hairy with claws and fangs.  One thing I loved about the movie that the book didn't have was the tree tattoo on his wrist, which changed with the seasons.  So far in the book, he hasn't had much interaction with Beauty.  The plot will thicken when she is brought back in to the story, which means I will read faster.

They say writers should always be reading, as well.  It seems I'm always able to find inspiration from reading.

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!

Veronica

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  Sorry it's been a while since I last posted.  The holidays kept me quite busy as usual.

Santa brought me a Kindle Fire this year.  Though the new toy is fun and easier to read an eBook on than a laptop, I still find that I enjoy reading an actual book.  It could be because the kids wear the battery down playing apps, so when I'm ready to read, the battery is low.  I find my eyes tire easily also.

One of my new purchases for the Kindle was a Phantom novel.  I've been having a hard time keeping with it.  The first book I read by this self-published author was Phantom inspired, so she came up with her own characters and setting.  I feel that this author has really grown as a writer, especially since she made this story into her own. 

That brings me to today's discussion.  I've never really understood copyright.  My understanding was that a writer should create their own characters and if they dare use someone else's characters, it was copyright infringement if they didn't have special permission.  In recent years, I learned it was okay to use another's characters if the original author has been deceased for 100 years.  I can understand that, but now there's fan fiction.  How does that play into the whole copyright scheme of things?

When I was a child, I used to make up stories in my head using TV or movie characters.  I still do it, but it's in my head.  When the concept of my novel began to form in my mind, I was afraid to write anything down on paper because the characters were not my own.  I pondered how I would get the permission I needed to be able to write my story.  Time passed with no solution to my dilemma.  Finally, one day it dawned on me.  I had enough to make my own story!  To create my own characters.  To make my own setting.  To this day, it still baffles me how a little inspiration has brought me to where I am today with writing.  I still ask myself how I got from there to here.  And I wonder if readers will be able to determine what inspired me.  I feel that I chose the right path for me.  Sometimes, I wish others would go the extra distance to create their own characters.  It can open up whole new worlds and the possibilities are unlimited.

Veronica