star wars - Why Didn't Qui-Gon Free Shmi Skywalker?

Qui-Gon has shown that he could easily use the Force to influence a game of chance. Even though Watto is not susceptible to "Jedi mind tricks," he doesn't detect when Qui-Gon influences his chance cubes to create the outcome he wants.

While the original deal was to free only Anakin, why didn't Qui-Gon try to go for double-or-nothing and free Shmi Skywalker as well? (Or try any other tactic to free her?)

Answer

I don't thing the answer is spelled out in canon, BUT:

He had 2 missions: Ensure the safety of Queen Amidala, and (self-imposed) deliver the possible Chosen One to the Jedi Council.

Messing with Watto to free Anakin was OK since it was in service of the second mission.

Messing with Watto to free Shmi was NOT OK, since it could have interfered with both missions. Since Watto was greatly opposed to freeing BOTH, he may have gotten pushed over the line and interfered if Shmi went free as well.

He was a follower of the "Living Force". He may have tried to free Shmi out of general decency/goodness as part of the bargain, but if the Force was not pushing him towards it, he wouldn't fight that (and, being how Midichlorians aimed to create Anakin as the "end of Sith" as per the recent question, the sneaky little bastard bacteria wouldn't want Shmi interfering with his life's design)

Comments

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