Although the Jedi Order in theStar Warsfranchise is often compared to Samurai warriors, Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) states that the Jedi are intended to be “keepers of the peace, not warriors.” One of the greatest tragedies of theStar Warsprequel trilogy is that the Jedi were forced to become leaders within the Grand Army of the Republic, which onlystrayed them from their original goalsof bringing peace to the galaxy. Despite going down a dark path,Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen)was able to restore balance to the force when he sacrificed himself to save his son, Luke (Mark Hamill), at the very end ofStar Wars: Episode VI- Return of the Jedi. Although he faced his own period of self-doubt,Luke ended up learning the most important lessonfrom his father inStar Wars: The Last Jediby choosing non-violence.
Luke Skywalker Follows Anakin’s Path in ‘The Last Jedi’
One of the most important lessons Yoda (Frank Oz) implores upon Luke inStar Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Backis that failure is an important teacher and that a true Jedi can only move forward by learning from their mistakes. One of the most significant mistakes that Luke makes in the film is his decision to enter the cave on Dagobah with his lightsaber in hand; it is there thathe experiences a haunting nightmarethat suggests he could become a dark side force user like his father is he kept holding on to his hate and fear. However,Anakin eventually shows Luke that it is never too late to be redeemedwhen he sacrifices himself to take down Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) on the bridge of theDeath Star II. At this point, Anakin has let go of his fear and understands that the most important thing he can do is ensure his children’s safety.
Luke experiences a similar period of self-doubt inThe Last Jedi, ashe sees his own failures as justificationfor ending the entire Jedi Order. Like his father, Luke acted callously out of fear; due to his concerns that Ben Solo (Adam Driver) would become too powerful to control, he ended up committing the ultimate act of betrayal. However,Luke is able to sacrifice himself through nonviolent meansby projecting a vision of himself in front of Ben. His intention was never to kill his nephew, as he understands that, like Anakin, Ben may be capable of redeeming himself; this is eventually proven true by the end ofStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.Luke’s most important goal is to preserve the future of the Resistance; it is not a coincidence that in the aftermath of his sacrifice, Rey (Daisy Ridley) is most closely aligned with the force.
Mark Hamill Had a Part You May Not Recognize in ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’
Mark Hamill is more than just Luke Skywalker in ‘The Last Jedi.’
Self-Sacrifice Is Essential to the Jedi Path
One of Yoda’s most famous lines is that “wars not make one great,” a message that has deep resonance for both Anakin and Luke. Although Anakin is hailed as “The Hero With No Fear” due to his heroism in fighting against the Separatists in the Clone Wars, he still has not learned the importance of patience and compassion thatare essential to becoming a Jedi.Similarly, Luke sees his inability to prevent the rise of Snoke (Andy Serkis) as proof that he was not a strong enough Jedi.Both Anakin and Luke are humbled before their finest moments, as their actions are intended purely to save others. Although it takes a considerable amount of strength for Luke to clash with someone he loves as much as Ben, he ultimately becomes one with the force in a moment of peace and serenity.
The mostimportant virtue a Jedi has is hope, as they understand that the goodness of the light side will continue beyond their mortal lives. Each of the Jedi leaders that sacrifice themselves do so with the knowledge that someone else will pick up the mantle from where they left off and continue working towards balance. In the final moments ofThe Last Jedi,Luke understands why his father chose to spare his life, which directs him to do the same thing for both Rey and Ben.
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi
The Star Wars saga continues as new heroes and galactic legends go on an epic adventure, unlocking mysteries of the Force and shocking revelations of the past.
Star Wars: The Last Jediis streaming on Disney+ in the U.S.
Watch on Disney+
