Why Didn’t Padme Buy Schmi Skywalker Out of Slavery?

Padmé Amidala, Queen of Naboo and later Senator, was a woman known for her compassion, strong principles, and determination to help those in need.

She was also deeply affected by her encounter with young Anakin Skywalker, a slave on Tatooine, and his mother, Shmi Skywalker.

After Anakin’s pivotal role in saving Naboo, one might wonder: why didn’t Padmé buy Shmi Skywalker out of slavery?

Let’s break down the reasons, both practical and speculative, using insights from the Star Wars lore.

1. Padmé Tried, But Shmi Had Already Been Freed

After the events of The Phantom Menace, Padmé didn’t forget about Shmi Skywalker. In fact, she took action.

She sent her handmaiden, Sabé, to Tatooine with the mission to purchase Shmi’s freedom.

But by the time Sabé arrived, Shmi had already been freed by Cliegg Lars, a moisture farmer who had purchased and later married her.

Shmi was no longer a slave, but was living as part of the Lars family on the outskirts of Tatooine.

So, while Padmé did make an effort to free her, the timing wasn’t right.

This detail is confirmed in the Darth Vader comics and the novel Queen’s Shadow, which ties this part of the story together.

Essentially, Padmé’s heart was in the right place, but Shmi’s freedom had already been secured by other means.

2. The Complications of Currency: Republic Credits Weren’t Accepted on Tatooine

One practical obstacle to freeing Shmi was the currency issue.

In The Phantom Menace, Watto, the Toydarian junk dealer, makes it clear that Republic credits were “no good out here” on Tatooine.

The Outer Rim, where Tatooine is located, was far removed from the control and influence of the Galactic Republic, meaning its currency had no value in those territories.

For Padmé or anyone from the Republic, this would have made buying Shmi quite difficult unless they had access to the local currency or bartering goods that someone like Watto would accept.

While it’s true that Republic officials could have potentially exchanged goods or arranged some other form of payment, it would have been far from straightforward.

3. The Lars Family Might Have Freed Anakin Too If Qui-Gon Hadn’t Intervened

Another “what if” scenario revolves around what might have happened if Qui-Gon Jinn hadn’t interfered in Anakin’s life.

Qui-Gon, recognizing Anakin’s extraordinary potential, wagered with Watto to secure the boy’s freedom after the Boonta Eve podrace.

However, if this hadn’t happened, some speculate that the Lars family, who later bought and freed Shmi, might have eventually bought Anakin’s freedom as well.

It’s plausible that, after suffering financial losses, Watto could have been pressured into selling Anakin too, just as he did with Shmi.

Had Anakin stayed on Tatooine, his story might have been very different, perhaps even growing up as a local hero rather than becoming Darth Vader.

However, this remains purely speculative and wasn’t explored in any official Star Wars material.

4. Why Didn’t Padmé Act Sooner?

Some point out that Padmé could have acted sooner to free Shmi, perhaps during or right after the events of The Phantom Menace.

However, there were likely more pressing issues at hand for Padmé at the time.

After all, she had just dealt with an invasion of her homeworld, a massive political crisis, and the beginning of her role in the Galactic Senate.

It’s reasonable to assume that Shmi’s plight was not at the forefront of her mind amid these larger galactic events.

As a young queen and later senator, Padmé had numerous responsibilities, and freeing one individual, especially one in the lawless Outer Rim, might not have seemed like a priority compared to her other duties.

While Shmi’s freedom was already secured, Padmé’s mission to Tatooine wasn’t a complete failure.

Sabé, while unable to find Shmi, did manage to free other slaves on Tatooine, including Anakin’s old friends Kitster and Wald.

This shows that Padmé’s compassion extended beyond Shmi and that her efforts, though not directly impacting Shmi’s fate, did improve the lives of others still trapped in slavery.

Why Didn’t Padmé Tell Anakin That His Mother Was Free?

One interesting critique fans often bring up is why no one informed Anakin that his mother was no longer a slave after he left Tatooine.

While it’s likely that Anakin and Padmé had no contact between The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, some argue that knowing his mother had been freed might have given Anakin a sense of relief.

Unfortunately, this information never reached him, which had serious consequences.

Anakin’s unresolved attachment to his mother, and his inability to free her, haunted him throughout his life. This emotional turmoil was a key factor in his eventual fall to the dark side.

Final Thoughts

In the end, while Padmé didn’t directly buy Shmi’s freedom, the reasons behind it are far more complex than they may first appear.

Shmi’s freedom was ultimately secured by Cliegg Lars, and by the time Padmé acted, it was already too late.

Additionally, practical issues such as the Republic’s lack of influence in the Outer Rim and currency complications played a significant role in why Padmé’s efforts didn’t pan out the way some fans might have hoped.

However, this doesn’t diminish Padmé’s compassion or her intentions.

She did take steps to help free Shmi and other slaves, and her actions, though imperfect, were consistent with the strong, empathetic character we’ve come to know.