Tools of Characterization

Characterization in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back

Actions

We all know that actions speak louder than words, but that goes double when those actions are performed using magical, superhero-like powers.

Just look at Vader, for example. In the film, we see him telepathically choke out his subordinates over Skype not once, but twice. This gives us the sense that it's something Vader does a lot—after all, we saw him do it in the first film as well. Vader's willingness to murder the people who are on his side emphasizes that this is one Sith Lord you don't want to mess with.

Contrast that with Yoda. Yoda has all of the same superhero powers as Vader, but he uses them for a much different purpose: teaching. In all honesty, Yoda gets so annoyed with Luke that he probably wouldn't mind Force-choking the kid every once in a while, but he instead uses his abilities to better Luke, like when he lifts his ship out of the swamp to prove a point about his lack of faith. They might have similar powers, but the difference between Yoda and Vader is like night and day.

Location

With its emphasis on distinct, fantastical settings, Star Wars tells us a lot about its characters through the places they call home.

Yoda's MTV-ready crib on Dagobah is a great example. This is the perfect planet to find a powerful Jedi master: Its swampy environment, creepy ambiance, and distance from any known civilization give it a decidedly mystical feel. This is further emphasized when we enter the magical cave where Luke battles the knock-off Vader, which gives us the sense that there are even deeper mysteries to be explored on this planet.

Vader, on the other hand, is almost always found in technologically advanced settings. Most of the time we find him in his custom-built Super Star Destroyer, which really nails the whole fascist military vibe. Additionally, Luke's duel with Vader takes place in another technologically advanced setting: the bowels of Cloud City. Both of these locations highlight the conflict between man/technology that is a key component of Vader's character—a conflict that will be explored further in Return of the Jedi.

Social Status

Interestingly, The Empire Strikes Back subverts common depictions of social status by arguing that it doesn't necessarily reflect the person on the inside.

Look at Han, for example. On the surface, he's a pretty low-class guy: a former smuggler and now political dissident with a price on his head. Not exactly the kind of guy you'd bring home to meet Mom. Regardless, Han proves himself to be an exceptionally good person throughout the movie, frequently putting himself at risk to protect others.

Now contrast that with Han's good buddy Lando Calrissian. Although he was once a smuggler like Han, Lando is on the up-and-up: He now runs a self-sufficient mining community on the planet Bespin. He's even a political leader. Despite the fact that Lando has a higher social status than Han—and maybe because of it—he ends up betraying Han and his fellow heroes. This show us that social status doesn't count for much in a universe as messed up as this one.