In his essay, Brown discusses the problem of evil, and its relation to the Star Wars universe.
The section titled “Something Wicked this Way Comes. But From Whence Does It Come?” discusses the Platonic system of creation in which a divine creator fashioned the world from preexisting matter, limiting him (the creator) to only build the world as good as was possible from material that was already flawed and evil. Plato believed in the inherent evil of physicality, and the inherent goodness of the spirit. Excesses of the body were believed to be the impediments to pursuits of the spirit, charity, noble deeds, prayer, reflection, that bring about good, and they so they are evil. Brown links this idea to Star Wars with the idea that those who follow the dark side, evil, seek power over the physical just as the Empire builds the Death Star that can kill, or Anakin says that some day he will have power over death. Followers of the light side, good, however, seek separation from the physical for greater power over the spirit as Obi-Wan does when he allows Vader to Slay him, and Yoda when he tells Luke “Luminous being are we… not this crude matter.”
Brown goes on to discuss the Manchees’ view that maybe God is not all powerful, and that there is also a god of evil in the section “One All-Powerful Force Controlling Everything”. The Star Wars version of this sect is Han Solo who says the quote that entitles the section. The Manchees argue that there must be some all evil force that corrupts. St. Augustine argues that man chooses evil, and that God is all powerful, and in his omnipotence created only what is good.
“If Once You Start Down the Dark Path…” further discusses St. Augustine’s philosophy that there is no ultimate evil, or evil incarnate who is in this world to undo what good God has done, but rather that evil comes from man’s decision to do evil. Star Wars even implies this point because how could there be one initial all evil being who began corruption is all was good to begin with? Star Wars says that you chose the dark side, not the other way around.
Finally, Brown talks about the final victory of good over evil in the section “The Fate of Evil after the Overthrow of the Empire”. In Star Wars, not even Yoda is sure of the lights side’s power over the dark side. The celebratory ending indicates a final triumph of good over evil. St. Augustine would say that this is why people do good at all. There must be some eventual triumph of good over evil for it to be worth fighting an eternal battle between the two. The end result of good is the reward of Life after death with God.