As a vegan Star Wars fan, I’m taking a comprehensive look at vegan-friendly themes. From Canto Bight and Jakku to Dagobah—you’ll be surprised!
SPOILER ALERT!!!
This article contains MINOR spoilers of details not related to the main plot of The Last Jedi.
If you’re reading on, I’m assuming you’ve seen the movie or don’t mind a few spoilers.
1. Chewbacca’s Vegan Epiphany
There’s a scene in The Last Jedi that provides comic relief for some viewers—and perhaps something more as well. Sitting by a campfire, the beloved and iconic Chewbacca is about to take his first bite of a whole, roasted porg when he makes uncomfortable eye contact with a living porg. Faced with the plaintive eyes of the porgs whimpering in front of him, he decides not to eat his meal. Others have likened this moment to a vegan epiphany.
2. Rose’s Fathier Liberation
The Canto Bight story arc in The Last Jedi is a significant one. It reminds us how often poverty and injustice occur just out of sight in industries that appear vibrant and tempting on the surface—a major theme in Star Wars. We also discover, as in real life, that disregard for the dignity of people exists together with cruelty to animals, inexorably linked.
Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran), at great risk to herself, liberates creatures called fathiers from their stables, rescuing them from a life of suffering in an industry that is equivalent to horse racing. Once the fathiers are free, what Rose says about her decision is powerful. I still tear up, just thinking about it.
3. The Stunning Vulptex
The Last Jedi also introduces us to a new and beautiful species, the vulptex. Vulptices, aka crystal foxes, make a stunning first impression. I won’t spoil too many details, but suffice to say that they play a pivotal and feel-good role.
Chewbacca and Rose both express empathy toward nonhuman animals. Arguably, The Last Jedi depicts animals through a lens of compassion.
I’m not the first to comment on the vegan-positive messaging in The Last Jedi. Mercy for Animals, VegNews, several discussion boards, and many of you, I’m sure, noticed the same things I did.
However, my goal here is to take a more comprehensive look at vegan-friendly themes in the Star Wars universe as a whole.
Tauntaun sacrifices and blue milk aside, I wondered if there were other vegan-curious elements in the long-running, well-loved Star Wars universe.
Unexpected, what I found was.
Yes, it is speculated that Yoda, Grand Master of the Jedi Order, is vegan.
4. Vegan Yoda?
When Luke meets him in Dagobah (Empire Strikes Back), Yoda is eating rootleaf stew. To our knowledge, we haven’t seen him eat animal products. His philosophy leads him to choose nonviolent means whenever possible. This is consistent with a vegan ethos and good enough for many of us vegan Star Wars fans!
5. Vegan Rey?
According to VegNews, Daisy Ridley, the star who portrays Rey, is vegan! Not to mention, those rations, aka “portions” on Jakku (The Force Awakens) look like they could be vegan-friendly.
Do you think Star Wars is vegan-friendly? What other Star Wars characters might be vegan? I’d love to hear your thoughts on a vegan Star Wars!
Also by Estella: 36 Hours In Berlin à la Vegan—Tofu Handbags, Eco Boutiques & Delish Curry Wurst
Related: Good News (And Bad News) for Vegan Game of Thrones Fans
5 Eye-Opening Vegan Documentaries That May Finally Convince Your BF To Go Veg
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Photo: Star Wars, CinemaBlend, Wookiepedia, Spreadshirt, warriorwoman531 via Flickr, Daisy Ridley via Instagram
