Obi-Wan Kenobiwas instrumental toLuke Skywalker’s success in destroying the Death Star inStar Wars, so why couldn’t he help Luke battleDarth VaderinThe Empire Strikes Back? After Obi-Wan’s death, he becomes one with the Force, able to coach Luke through his mission. With his master’s help, Luke remembers his training and uses the Force to deliver the killing blow to theGalactic Empire’s ultimate weapon. Obi-Wan’s mentorship was instrumental in Luke’s training, but when Luke was at his most vulnerable, Obi-Wan insisted that Luke had to fight Darth Vader on his own.
When Luke chooses to leave his training with Yoda to rescue Leia and Han from Vader, he is encouraged by both Yoda and theForce ghostof Obi-Wan to stay and train. The Jedi Masters knew that despite his new skills, he wasn’t yet ready to take on the Sith Lord on his own. For some reason, this situation seems completely different from the destruction of the Death Star. Luke continues on his mission, and it’s during that fateful duel that Luke finally learns the truth about his father. Why is it that Obi-Wan couldn’t help Luke during this duel?
Obi-Wan & Yoda Both Thought It Was Part Of Luke’s Destiny
He Was His Father’s Counterpart
Yoda and Obi-Wan were both well aware of Luke’s true relationship to the Sith Lord and this changed the way they believed the fight between them should go down. They knew he was too powerful for Luke to completely defeat on his own, yet they still believed it was something he needed to do by himself. Having witnessedAnakin’s fall to the dark side, they knew that Vader’s son would carry some weight in the Force. Luke and Vader represented two very different sides of the Force that needed reckoning.
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Anakin’s significance to the Jedi was clarified in the prequel trilogy.He was believed to be the subject of a prophecy that foretold he would bring balance to the Force. Though the true meaning of this Jedi prophecy was unclear, Anakin’s time as a Jedi certainly didn’t bring balance. Though they don’t discuss this with Luke, their insistence that he fight his father alone might be influenced by the idea that Anakin’s bloodline would undo the damage he did.
Obi-Wan Didn’t Want To Intervene In The Supposed Will Of The Force
You Can’t Fight Fate
The belief that it was meant to be Luke who brought Vader down kept Obi-Wan from interfering. Obi-Wan had spent the better part of his exile on Tatooine meditating and reconnecting with the Force. He understood that things happened for a reason and that it can be dangerous to meddle with the will of the Force. After all, trying to outsmart the future is what spiraled Anakin down the path to the dark side, and Obi-Wan wasn’t about to make the same mistake. He simply did what he could to prepare Luke for what he believed was inevitable.
Obi-Wan had already dueled Vader three times by this point, andObi-Wan had come to terms with the idea that he wasn’t going to be able to defeat or redeem his former apprentice. As Luke’s skills grew, things seemed to become clear to Obi-Wan. Anakin’s pure-hearted son would be the perfect counter for the Sith Lord that had devoured Obi-Wan’s friend - and Obi-Wan was right, from a certain point of view. The Force had other plans for Darth Vader, though Luke was in fact instrumental in Vader’s destruction.
Obi-Wan Was Wrong, Because Vader Was Still Redeemable
Luke Reached A Part Of Vader Obi-Wan Couldn’t See
Obi-Wan’s belief that Anakin had been destroyed by the dark side proved to be wrong.The events ofObi-Wan Kenobiexplore Obi-Wan’s discovery of what Anakin had truly become, from his new broken and mechanical body to his intense contempt for innocent lives. After their few interactions during the series, Obi-Wan truly believed that he would never see his friend again. Thus, he thought that Luke’s destiny was to be the one who finally killed Anakin.
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Obi-Wan might have been wrong to lose faith in Anakin’s capacity to return to the light, but he was right about Luke’s ability to impact him. Luke didn’t defeat Vader by fighting him, but by fightingforhim. Armed with the knowledge that Vader was his father, Luke reminded Vader of what it was like to care for someone. When Luke finally breaks through Vader’s defenses,Star Warsis completely redefined by his redemption, even if it happens after his initial fight with Vader inThe Empire Strikes Back.
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back
Cast
The Empire Strikes Back is the second installment in the original Star Wars trilogy, directed by Irvin Kershner. Released in 1980, it follows Luke Skywalker as he trains under Jedi Master Yoda, while Princess Leia, Han Solo, and the Rebel Alliance face ongoing threats from the Galactic Empire and Darth Vader.
