Luke in TLJ: A Microcosm of the Hero's Journey

Spot on. Great post!

 

Already made sense to me, but this was fun to read. Thank you.

 

I'm still hoping for the Orpheus' motif to return in episode IX. Death and resurrection has been a theme a star wars and a central one in Episodes III and VII. I hope there is a moment in IX where someone like Rey has to bring a loved one back from the death. But not through the darkside, as Anakin tried, but through the light, through an act of ultimate empathy.

 

Excellent, Excellent! Couldn't agree more. Some people just look at the pictures, others read the articles. You sir, read the articles. Well done.

 

Great post! I wish more people viewed Luke's arc like this and dug a little deeper into his development in TLJ instead of just attacking his characterization because he is not the same Luke we met in A New Hope.

 

Nicely outlined.
I would note that Luke's trials are that of fearing Rey as another Kylo, and his own self deception that he is avoiding interaction out of want for peace instead of his real motives of fear and shame.

Cheers,
Jayson

 

Great post and a fun read !

I really hope in time more people will come around and regard The Last Jedi as the great and layered piece of work it is. If TLJ is a template for Star Wars' future, then bring it on !

 

Yes!


He had to unlearn what he had learned.


I swear that anybody who didn't understand the film just deleted everything Yoda said since 1980. It's all there. There's a reason he shows up again.

 

Well done indeed! Some people didn't like that Luke was vulnerable, flawed and had moments of weakness. I've even heard some people say this version of Luke has "ruined their childhood" to which I reply "your childhood must have really sucked!" These people are missing the bigger picture. This movie, and in particular Luke's character, was a stroke of sheer brilliance. The Hero's Journey and the Power of Myth are alive and well in our beloved galaxy far, far away.

 

Luke talking about how the Jedi Order has been romantisized is remniscent of how Luke himself is romantisized by the fans. What makes Luke Skywalker so relatable and likeable is because he's imperfect, as well as the fact that he has many flaws, and it seems that some people have forgotten that.

 

I found Luke's ending pathetic to the point that it doesn't remind me of Campbell's view but of Romanticism. That is, he is caught in a state that is a weird conflict of isolationism and the opposite. The result is that he has to project himself to the enemy rather than confront him directly, and then fade away as if he is resigned to those conflicting views. What he said about Jedis to Rey and his conversation with Yoda only heightened that pathos.

 

My least favorite part of TLJ was how they handled luke, BUT the way you put it really makes it seem better. Though a fight scene wouldve been cool lol
Very well put and great analysis!

 

Posts like these are great, because it proves a point made by the movie. The problem is how these great concepts were executed in the movie.

 

Nice thread @JediMasterRobert .....Like ALWAYS...posting GREAT things about Star Wars and the great way you see things is Star Wars magic....Keep the GOOD work my friend.

 

Before he apologized for criticizing the latest film, the actor who played Luke argued that he did not accept the manner by which the character was portrayed by insisting that Jedis don't give up. At the very least, they would withdraw and then return, and that Luke would never say what he argued in the latest film.

FWIW, though, some argue that this is the hallmark of a character who has matured, and that his last act was one based on intelligence and guile rather than on "gung-ho optimism." The problem is that this view perfectly describes Luke the Everyman but not Luke the Jedi, which might explain why Luke is now "cool." This might also explain why the force has been disentangled from its religious atmosphere, thus creating an idea that is banal to the point that the very idea of being a Jedi has been rendered almost meaningless. But why expect otherwise from a movie that is essentially about the last Jedi?

 

Yoda says "Hi!".

 

I can respect the OP and the post, good analysis and some good thoughts for sure, but I still think the whole situation was off and out of character for a Luke with 25+ years of wisdom, knowledge and experience post RotJ. It might have made more sense if a situation like this had happened shortly after RotJ because Luke would've still been young, but after 25-30 years, Luke should've been a great and wise Jedi Master, this is not how he would've responded considering his assumed growth since RotJ. He had the darkside pretty much conquered by RotJ, let alone 25+ years later. Also, no way Ben or Rey could stand or last even 1 minute against a Luke 30 yrs post RotJ. Luke by the time of the ST should've been more powerful and wise than even Yoda. His academy shouldn't/wouldn't have been burned down or otherwise, and he certainly wouldn't have ever thought about killing his nephew, Leia and Han's kid no less, no way.