Although both Han Solo and Luke Skywalker represent a unique type of hero, Luke is the clear representation of the Campbell hero. The departure of Luke signifies the beginning of Campbell's prototype of where a hero's journey begins. Campbell states that the hero is often someone who is lonely, orphaned, and searching for something deeper in life. Luke begins in the first film as a young naive kid who wants to leave the farm and join the Rebel Alliance. Luke is also lonely and orphaned which is symbolized by the small hut he lives in.
"The Call to Adventure" is defined as the part of the movie that signifies that destiny has summoned the hero and transferred his spiritual center of gravity from within the pale of his society to a zone unknown (Phieifer 58). The point at which Obi-Wan calls for Luke to come to Alderaan represent's what Campbell was referring to earlier. Luke "rejected" the call as he should have. He has just recently met "Ben" and from what Uncle Owen says he his crazy. So when he rejects the call he reacts in a rational manner. Han also rejects his call tho. When Han is asked by Luke and Liea to help take down the Death Star he leaves for personal reasons. Luke at this point is still remaining to be the Civic Hero because he stays to help the rebellion.
Campbell states that the Hero will gain help from an outside source to help him defeat the evil opposition that he faces. In Return of the Jedi while Darth Vader and Luke fight, Luke gains the advantage and has the chance to kill his father. He refuses and for this is attacked by The Emperor. Darth Vader intervenes and helps his son. Luke also receives outside help when he is blowing up the Death Star from Han.
While Both Luke and Han are respectable heroes, it's clear that Luke is the Civil Hero and Campbell's true hero of the film. Han is more of an Contemporary hero.
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