The scientist

I watched Episode IV for the first time in a couple of years. Of the six films in the Star Wars saga, it's got the simplest plot, and might rival Episode I as the most boring. In past viewings I've noticed that nothing really happens until the cantina scene, but now, knowing what we know from Episode III, I've taken special interest in the interpretation/lie Ben tells Luke about Anakin.

But that's not the purpose of this entry. Just as I suggested the character of Obi-Wan Kenobi was the greatest of all Jedi here, I would like to pose a theory about Han Solo. Where most of the other characters represent philosophy, religion, or politics, Han Solo is the saga's resident scientist. Think about it.

"Look, Your Worshipfulness, let's get one thing straight. I take orders from just one person: me."

His belief system is simple. He is alone in this galaxy, connected only by those who serve a life debt (Chewbacca, presumably) and those to whom he owes a debt (Jabba, dangerously). He gets involved with the Rebels tangentially, and only because Obi-Wan hires him to smuggle them to Alderaan. His motivation is the money he'll get for the job, and the confidence he has from his past experience with Imperial chasers.

"She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid. I've made a lot of special modifications myself."

He's a mechanic. Much of the turmoil in Episode V concerns his difficulty in getting the hyperdrive to work, and his attempts to work around that problem. Also note that when his ship is parked inside the space slug, he's the one who ascertains the danger from what he logically can determine from the circumstances (humidity, unstable ground, mynocks).

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."

Look, he's been from one end of the galaxy to the other. He knows from experience and trusts only empirical data (pardon the pun). The Force is outside his knowledge and therefore beyond his understanding. It's telling that he's never around to bear eyewitness to the supernatural things Luke and Leia do. If pressed during a hypothetical exit interview after Episode VI, he might say that he's willing to accept the possibility of the Force, but only because he believes in Leia.

"Bring 'em on. I prefer a straight fight to all this sneaking around."