With No Doubt: An Analytical Response

Do With No Doubt: An Analytical Response
Screenwriters write thousands of words throughout their careers. Most of a screenwriter’s words go in one ear and out the other to the common listener, but occasionally a line is written that has greater meaning to a great deal of people. These lines tend to be referenced in daily conversation, used as captions on social media post, and are sometimes used as writing prompts for essays. One line that most moviegoers know was written by Lawrence Kasdan and Leigh Beckett and delivered by Yoda in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, “Do or do not; there is no try.” This quote means that if someone has no doubt toward what he/she wants to do, he/she will be able to accomplish their goal; even if the odds are against them. This meaning can be related to a numerous situations, from historical people to the average person.
Plenty of people in history have been able to achieve success against the odds by not doubting themselves.
Helen Keller is an excellent example of this proposal. Helen lost her ability to see and hear before the age of two; she did not learn to communicate with others nor read before losing two of her five senses. Despite this major setback, Helen Keller set her mind toward becoming an educated individual. Over the course of many years, Helen learned the ability to read and write. Determined to succeed, Helen Keller attended university and became the first blind and deaf person to earn a bachelor’s degree. She did not stop here and went to become an activist for women’s rights; this put her education to use and she made a difference in the world she lived in. Helen accomplished many great things in her life; these accomplishments may have not been achieved if she had doubted herself along the way. Helen Keller did not “try” to become an educated woman; she went against all odds and “did”. Helen was able to accomplish great things because she did not doubt
herself.
In regards to Yoda, the speaker of this quote, these words have a the same meaning but in a negative manner. In the original Star Wars films, Yoda trained Luke Skywalker to fight against the Galactic Empire. Luke’s training is brought to a standstill when he finds his X-Wing Fighter submerged in a swamp. Luke proclaims, “We’ll never get it out now!” in anger. After a bit of dialog Yoda replies, “Do or do not; there is no try.” Yoda knows that if Luke does not get his ship out of the swamp, he will never complete his jedi training. In Luke’s case, he either frees the ship from the swamp and lives, or he will not get the ship out of the swamp and he will be stuck on Dagobah for the rest of his life. Luke attempts to get the X-Wing out; he raises his hand and the ship begins to rise from the swamp. Unfortunately, Luke loses it and the ship sinks again; he makes the excuse, “I can’t, it’s too big.” This doubt caused Luke to lose the progress he had made. Luke was able to get the ship out; he showed he had the ability as he had the ship moving in the right direction. The problem Luke had was that he doubted his abilities; this kept him from achieving his goal. Luckily for Luke, Yoda believed in his potential and used the force to get the X-Wing out of the swamp. After seeing this, Luke utters, “I don’t believe it.”
Yoda responds, “That is why you fail.” Yoda says this because he understands the meaning of his words. He knows that if one believes in his/herself and overcomes all doubt, he/she will be able to succeed.
A majority of athletes have experienced “tryouts”. The name “tryout” implies that one will attempt to make the team. Athletes need to have no doubt that they will make the team in order to accomplish their goals. One who is going against the odds with no doubt will succeed; one who doubts his/herself will fail. An athlete must do or do not; doubting, or “trying” will only bring failure. A positive mindset and confidence in one’s abilities will set one up for success.
According to dictionary.com, doubt means: to be uncertain about; consider questionable or unlikely; hesitate to believe. To plenty of individuals, doubt has a different meaning: something that keeps one from accomplishing his/her goals. Helen Keller, Luke Skywalker, and athletes around the world have proven that if someone has no doubt toward what he/she wants to do, he/she will be able to accomplish their goal; even if the odds are against them. Yoda’s quote, “Do or do not; there is no try.” can be valuable advice in numerous situations. Once one learns to believe in his/herself and dispose of all doubt, he/she will be able to accomplish great things.