I love Padmé Amidala. She’s brave, passionate, and compassionate. She’s an amazing public speaker and a crack shot who’s not afraid to put her life on the line for her ideals. She’s a literal queen who ended a centuries-old conflict between her people and the Gungans, saved her planet, and looked amazing doing it. It would be pretty easy to imagine she’s perfect, especially in comparison to her human disaster of a husband. She isn’t though and her flaws are an essential piece of her character. They are what make her so compelling and so relatable. So, what are they?
- Privilege. Padmé comes from a place of incredible privilege, especially in contrast to characters like Anakin. She grew up on a prosperous Mid Rim world in a wealthy, if not aristocratic, family which owned at least two homes, one of which was a huge lake-side villa. As queen and later senator, she has power to effect the fates of billions (and more), as well as servants, bodyguards, fabulous clothes, and a private ship. This woman has benefited mightily from the GFFA’s political and economic system. In TPM she is frustrated by system’s inability to address her needs in a timely manner, but she never feels victimized or betrayed by it. Padmé sympathizes with the plight of the oppressed, but she never really takes the time to question the structures which cause their suffering or her role within those systems.
- Hubris. Padmé freed her planet from invaders at age 14 and saw herself as a savior from that point on. Throughout the films and the Clone Wars series, she puts herself in danger convinced that only she (and occasionally her friends) can save that person, negotiate that treaty, right that wrong. Sometimes she’s right and it works, but just as often someone ends up dead.
- Rose Colored Glasses. Padmé tries so hard to see the best in everyone she often overlooks things that are actually problems. Anakin and Palpitine are the most obvious examples, but there are several more from the Clone Wars series. She also does this with the Republic as a whole, right up until it all goes to hell.