The Fate of Ben Solo

Spoiler: Rebels

 

Exactly this. Rey is the ultimate redeemer.
Balance was restored but Vader's shadow lived on.
The Empire became the FO.
The Emperor became Snoke.
Vader became Kylo Ren.
Rey needs to find a way to truly, as you say, heal the wound.

And when you look at Rey, when you see how she has turned out despite having such an awful life,
it becomes apparent that she is perfect for the job. If she can find it in herself to not be bitter about her life,
retain hope and forgive the people that left her (which she shows she does by patiently waiting for them to return),
then I am betting that she is the perfect choice to reconcile the galaxy as a whole...and of course help Ben Solo.

 

We're also yet to know Snoke's motivation. If he isn't Plagueis (*sobs*) then it could make sense that he was, in some way, created by the actions of our heroes/the Resistance. I'm not saying this puts Snoke in the right of course, but just as you point out, suggesting that by fighting they may resurrected the Dark Side themselves.

 

Excelent food. Had the Resistance never of started attacking the FO, the FO will never of had an excuse 4 the SKB.

 

This is why I like the speculations that Finn will start an uprising among the FO. It fits with this theme, which they have been exploring in the new EU. And, it fits with the character of Finn himself: his defection to the Resistance proves that the FO rank-and-file aren't uniformly just one-dimensional bad guys.

 

Rey symbols the core themes of SW. The ability of let go the past and forgiveness.
Ben binds himself to the past so far even if he has identified the problem itself:"Let the past die". Also Luke and Leia have their troubles to let "the past die".

Rey is the kickstarter for starting the forgivness- process.

 

Great points @FN-3263827, @master_shaitan, @oldbert.

The galaxy is in a state of total chaos. There is hurt, misery and loss on both sides. Now more than ever, kindness needs to be risked to overcome injury otherwise the cycle of destruction will continue.

Someone must risk returning injury with kindness,
or hostility will never turn to goodwill.
So the wise always give without expecting gratitude.
One with true virtue always seeks a way to give.
One who lacks true virtue always seeks a way to get.
To the giver comes the fullness of life:
to the taker, just an empty hand. (Tao Te Ching, v .79)​

To me, the greatest moment when the Force flowed its strongest was back when Luke confronted Vader in the Emperor's throne room. When the core themes you guys mentioned were present. When the powers of reconciliation, healing, forgiveness and letting go of the past were present. Back when the power of virtue triumphed the power of the Force. But that message has been lost. The one downside of Vader's death is the chaos the galaxy is now in. In his last moments, Vader was a changed man and I believe he would've helped retain the balance of the Force. Its something I think Luke must've wished for - the guidance of his father. Would Kylo Ren have risen had Vader still lived? Vader began his redemption but never got to fully finish it. Because of that, the chaos ensues. This is why I believe killing Kylo Ren no matter what doesn't automatically solve the bigger problem of the galaxy.

It seems that Snoke's injuries were caused by the Resistance (going by Serkis' comments) and that fuels his motivation. However, maybe a twist is that Snoke suffered much more from emotional damage rather than physical damage. Maybe he lost those that he cared for. In the same way Kylo uses the Dark Side to hide his emotional pain, maybe Snoke exemplifies that to an even greater degree:

"The thing about Snoke is that he is extremely strong with the Force, the dark side of the Force. He’s terribly powerful, of course. But he is also a very vulnerable and wounded character. He has suffered and he has suffered injury. The way that his malevolence comes out is in reaction to that. His hatred of the Resistance is fuelled by what’s happened to him personally."​

I think one of Luke's biggest fears is the resurrection of Vader. Part of the reason why Snoke may have targeted Ben is because Luke's nephew would embody that fear in the worst possible way.