I had a Star Wars read-along book with a cassette tape when I was a young kid. When R2-D2 did his signature beep, that’s how you knew it was time to turn the page. I already knew how to read by the time somebody gave me the book (probably a distant relative who only had a vague idea of my age), so I knew when it was time to turn the page, with or without R2-D2. But no matter…I still have very fond memories of that book and of R2-D2.
Of all the Star Wars characters, over the years R2-D2 is among the most popular, at least judging by the amount of merchandise. Maybe it’s because R2-D2’s likeness is one of the simplest and easiest to recreate, and consists of an aesthetically pleasing combination of white, black, blue, and silver with a tiny bit of red. Or maybe it’s because R2-D2’s language of beeps transcends any language differences that non-English-speaking audiences might have difficulty with. But I think it’s most likely due to R2-D2’s pluckiness, loyalty, and sassy attitude in any situation. R2-D2 is the perfect combination of cat, dog, and human. As a droid, he has no gender but is typically referred to as he or him.
As a literary character, R2-D2 is not terribly interesting…he is the same droid through all of the Star Wars episodes, always brave, always loyal, always sassy. If he has a flaw it’s that he can sometimes be overconfident. For the most part, however, he is the perfect astromech and adapts to any situation he finds himself in. He might get himself into trouble now and then, but always finds his way out of it.
I like to think I’m like R2-D2 in some ways, but really I’m not much like him at all. I’m a man, flawed, petty, greedy, needy, sometimes fickle, often scared that my flaws will become known and everyone will know me only as the tiny child that exists inside my man-sized body.
At this point in my life, though, enough people love me that I feel pretty good about myself despite my many flaws. I know enough to know I can work on my flaws, and even though I’ll never be an R2-D2, my character is at least as interesting as Anakin Skywalker. I feel strongly that I’ll find redemption, hopefully more quickly and easily than Anakin found it.
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