A Comparative Analysis of The Endless Myth and Star Wars
A Story Bound by Myth vs. a Galactic Saga That Rewrites Myth
The novel The Endless Myth and George Lucas’s legendary film series Star Wars both place mythological structures at the core of their narratives. However, they differ fundamentally in how they relate to myth—and in why their stories continue.
This article compares The Endless Myth and Star Wars by examining their worldviews, protagonists, concepts of fate and free will, and narrative structures.
Worldbuilding: A World Ruled by Myth vs. A Galaxy That Borrows Myth
The world of The Endless Myth is a closed system in which myth and faith function directly as social order. Myth is not merely a story; it is an institution. People live according to meanings and roles imposed by myth, and questioning it threatens the foundation of the world itself.
In contrast, the Star Wars universe is an expansive galaxy that uses myth as a narrative device rather than a governing system. Concepts such as the Force, prophecy, and the Chosen One exist, but they do not rigidly define reality. Their meanings shift depending on how characters interpret and respond to them.
Why the Stories Never End
The Endless Myth cannot truly end because losing myth would mean losing meaning itself. Myth is constantly rewritten and reinterpreted in order to survive. An ending would not bring salvation—it would create a void.
Star Wars continues because galactic history is passed down through generations. Even when one story concludes, new generations, conflicts, and interpretations emerge. What endures is not a single myth, but the continuous reuse and reimagining of myth.
Protagonists Compared: A Symbol Bound by Meaning vs. Heroes Who Choose Their Fate
The protagonist of The Endless Myth, the Messiah, is a figure fixed as a symbol. His personal emotions and choices are overwritten by his mythological role. Being “chosen” is not a blessing—it is a loss of freedom.
The heroes of Star Wars—Luke, Anakin, Rey, and others—may be “chosen,” but they are defined by how they respond to that destiny. The Force may guide them, but the final decision is always theirs.
The Messiah: A being burdened with imposed meaning
Star Wars heroes: Individuals who reinterpret and redefine meaning
Fate and Free Will
In The Endless Myth, fate is embedded in the mythological structure itself. Free will exists, but only within the boundaries of myth. One may choose, but one cannot escape one’s role.
In Star Wars, prophecy and destiny are present, yet constantly challenged. Characters may fall or resist, submit or rebel. Fate is never fully fixed—it remains unstable and contested.
Philosophical Focus
The Endless Myth asks deeply introspective questions:
Why do humans need myth?
Is a life bound by meaning truly just?
Is salvation necessary—or oppressive?
Star Wars, by contrast, presents a modernized myth that emphasizes:
Moral choice between good and evil
The temptation of power
Hope as something passed down through generations
Conclusion: A Story Trapped in Myth vs. A Story That Keeps Using Myth
Although both works are mythic in nature, they move in opposite directions:
A myth that cannot end because it cannot lose meaning
A saga that continues by constantly rewriting myth
One remains enclosed within myth; the other endlessly reshapes it. This contrast offers a powerful insight into what myth means in the modern age—and why stories continue to be told.






