Summary
During the events ofStar Wars: The Force Awakens,Chewbaccabroke a sacred Wookiee rule that even his original iteration fromStar WarsLegendsdid not. TheStar WarsLegends continuity introduced an obscure tradition in Wookiee culture involving their powerful and retractable claws. In Wookiee culture,their claws are never to be used as weapons, but rather as tools for peaceful uses, such as climbing. Wookiees who weaponize their claws are known as “madclaws” and become pariahs for violating this tradition.
In theStar WarsLegends timeline, Chewbacca fights in numerous wars throughout his life.Chewbacca tragically diesat 225 years old, as shown in R. A. Salvatore’s 1999 novelThe New Jedi Order: Vector Prime, and is honored as a hero of not only the Rebellion and New Republic, but also his homeworld of Kashyyyk. Whilethe original iteration of Chewbacca never became a madclaw, the modern canon has him break this storied Wookiee rule in a moment of anguish.
TheJedi Master Kelnaccamay have gone into exile after unwillingly becoming a madclaw, as shown in The Acolyte.
Star Wars: How Old Chewbacca Is In Each Movie
Chewbacca is one of the key characters across the original Star Wars trilogy and returns in the sequels (and prequels), but how old is the Wookiee?
Chewbacca Used His Claws To Kill After Han Solo’s Death
Upon witnessing Han Solo’s brutal murder at the hands of his son, Kylo Ren, Chewbacca furiously blasts theKnight of Renand severalFirst Orderstormtroopers in retaliation. One moment not seen in the film version ofStar Wars:The Force Awakens, however, is included in Michael Kogge’sStar Wars: The Force Awakens: A Junior Novel. The novel reveals thatChewbacca also kills at least one First Order stormtrooper with his claws, breaking the Wookiee Honor Code.
How Chewbacca Justifies His Breach Of The Wookiee Honor Code
Chewbacca felt his actions were justified sinceKylo Ren’s murder of his own father rendered him and the First Order without honor. Yet Chewbacca’s actions still may be considered questionable. Chewbacca has fought in numerous wars, battling the likes of Trandoshan slavers and theGalactic Empire, who have each committed comparably heinous acts, yet Chewbacca never broke the honor code while fighting them. Losing as close of a friend as Han Solo, however, drove Chewbacca to abandon one of the most sacred rules in Wookiee culture.
Losing as close of a friend as Han Solo, however, drove Chewbacca to abandon one of the most sacred rules in Wookiee culture.
To make matters worse, it was Ben Solo, of all people, who committed an act so dishonorable that it led Chewbacca to ignore his own code of honor. TheStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalkernovelization noted that ayoung Ben Solo saw Chewbacca as an uncle, and it is safe to assume that Chewbacca also treated Solo like a family member. The shock of Kylo Ren’s betrayal inStar Wars: The Force Awakensthus had an impact profound enough to affect Chewbacca’s adherence to his own traditions.
Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens
Cast
Star Wars: The Force Awakens takes place 30 years after the fall of the Galactic Empire. It follows Han Solo and new allies, including Finn and Rey, as they confront the rising threat of Kylo Ren and his army of Stormtroopers while seeking the elusive Luke Skywalker.
