Recapping SW&CR: An Empathic Droid? (Ch. 14)

Chapter 14: Curse My Metal Body! How Empathy Changed a Protocol Droid’s Journey (Aaron M. Peterson & Jason A. Kaufman)

A common definition of empathy is the ability to walk in another’s shoes and see the world from someone else’s point of view. Such a definition does not scream “C-3PO.” On the contrary, C-3PO is often oblivious to relational dynamics, incapable of perceiving subtext, and unable to recognize his own limitations when it comes to taking the other’s perspective. C-3PO may be fluent in millions of forms of communication, but much of the comedy in the Star Wars story comes from showing how C-3PO’s ability to speak does not make him (emotionally) intelligent.

And yet C-3PO does evolve and change over the course of the saga. In their chapter, authors Aaron Peterson and Jason Kaufman chart the empathic growth of C-3PO, starting with his initial programming in the Prequel Era, before moving on to his increasing self- and other-awareness in the Original Era, and then finally arriving at the Sequel Era, where C-3PO achieves true empathy:

Having found the dagger of Ochi below the sands of Pasaana, our intrepid interpreter is asked to read the inscription on its blade. Alas, the inscription is written in the ancient language of the Sith, which C-3PO’s programming prohibits him from translating. C-3PO is once again faced with competing demands between his allies’ interests on the one hand and his own programming on the other. What is a droid to do?

Ultimately, as we know, C-3PO finally agrees to have his memory erased as a consequence of translating the inscription. His heroic sacrifice was made possible by his love and — importantly — his empathy for his friends.