What does The Force Want in Star Wars?

Star Wars is not the most simple world, but as many will say, it's not exactly sci-fi either. I typically consider Star Wars to be a fantastical story and lore in a sci-fi setting, because sci-fi tends to be built on the logic of its world and Star Wars is more focused on mystical powers of good and evil. In fact, when Star Wars did scientifically quantify the Force with its midi-chlorians in The Phantom Menace, it very much did not go over well. Star Wars has almost never even used the term "midi-chlorians" in its current canon, and has generally stayed focused on the fantastical elements of its world, but here we will understand just what the Force is. And hint: it's not midi-chlorians.

THE FORCE IS TWO

While the Force is very mysterious, there is something that has been explained in Star Wars a number of times, that there is the Living Force, and the Cosmic Force. The Living Force may be a bit easier to understand, as it is what interacts with the physical world directly. It's where things like Force telekinesis come from, where the Force interacts very directly with the physical world. It's the way in which Force users, like Jedi and Sith, get boosts of power when they need it to help in a fight.

It may be strange to consider, but this is essentially the midi-chlorian Force, it would seem. Much maligned, the midi-chlorians are not the Force itself, but rather tiny microscopic lifeforms that listen to the Force very closely and follow its will. It's possible that in the Star Wars galaxy, there is actually only the Cosmic Force, but the Living Force is something that seems distinct because of the midichlorians and their ability to physically exert the will of the Cosmic Force. As I said, it's a bit strange.

In practice, there are indeed two distinct meanings of "the Force" in Star Wars because of this, but really the part of the Force that has its own will is the Cosmic Force. But what exactly is the will of the Force? How does it make decisions, and what does it desire?

LIGHT AND DARK

It is commonly known in Star Wars fandom that the Force is made up of the light side and the dark side, which are seen almost as two opposing factions, but really are just two sides of one Force, hence them being "sides" of the Force. The frequent protagonists of Star Wars stories - the Jedi - seem to misrepresent this idea, however. They consider the will of the Force to be the light, and that darkness opposes it. In a sense this is true, but this concept fails to take into consideration that the Force is not only the cause of good in the world, but the cause of evil as well.

The Jedi see themselves as servants of the light and thus servants of the Force, but the Sith are servants of the Force as well. They harness the Force as a tool instead of following its will, yes, but when the Force is everywhere and everything, it cannot be good without being evil. Star Wars shows this repeatedly, as times of light are replaced with times of dark, villains are met with equal heroes who win only to fall, liberating forces give way to new evil. Good begets evil and evil begets good, that is the nature of the Star Wars universe. That's why it's Star Wars, because when something controls the galaxy and puts both good and evil in it to extreme degrees, Wars break out. Evil people take advantage of the good hearts out there, and good people fight to stop evil.

This gives us an idea of how the Force decides what comes next for the Star Wars galaxy, but is this really the will of the Force? It seems disheartening that the thing controlling everything would actually want endless conflict, but the evidence points there. There is but one way to break the cycle of light and dark.

BETWEEN AND BESIDE

Every issue has at least two sides, but this one has something in between, and something besides the light and the dark.

The gray is something that has gained popularity in Star Wars fandom, with the term "Gray Jedi" being remarkably popular despite never being used in Star Wars. This represents figures more like Qui-Gon Jinn, who truly serve the Force. He lived his life for good and died for evil. If Qui-Gon had lived, the galaxy may have been safer, but he knew it was his time because he followed only the Force, and the Force is more of an equalizing force that, if left to its own devices, may well result in a world in the middle. A world full of not goodness, but not evil either. Serenity.

While this is a noble cause, neutrality gives way to those who seek power, and those who seek power tend not to be good. This is an idea that would result in serenity and peace only if everyone followed it. If someone were evil, they would seize power and make everyone else suffer, if someone were truly good then they would suffer at the expense of everyone else.

BALANCE

When faced with either gray serenity or a battle between light and dark, the only way to balance the scales as much as possible is "the beside," as I'll call it. Rather than finding equality in a lack of goodness or evil or by allowing these things to play out in their natural path, the Force picks the option that someone like Revan followed, throughout The Knights of the Old Republic and its sequel, spinoff multiplayer game, and tie-in content. Revan would not walk the middle line, but he has walked as a most powerful Jedi and a most powerful Sith. He was light and dark. His way of finding neutrality was one which involved actions that shattered the galaxy as well as ones that saved it, he was one of few characters who did both and was remembered for both.

This is balance. Not removing any weight from both sides of the scales, but a heavy weight on both sides.

And isn't this the most sustainable option? Living in the gray means the scale can be tipped by a feather, but placing pressure on both sides, as the Cosmic Force does, means that while it is possible for evil to do well, it takes a lot more effort than a feather to beat good. The scales of balance may shift from side to side, but they never tip and they never stay on one side for long.

There are painful downs and soaring highs using this strategy, and it is by no means good, but it can just as easily be said that is by no means truly evil. The will of the Force is balance, and there it is in all the good and the bad of that world.