When Luke needs to train to become a Jedi Knight, he goes to train under the Jedi Master Yoda, who lays out many different trials for Luke to overcome. One of these in particular represents Luke's temptation to join the Dark Side. Yoda sets up a simulation for Luke in which he is battling with Darth Vader using light sabers. Luke puts up an excellent fight and is even able to cut off Vader's head, claiming victory. However, when Luke pulls off Vader's mask, he sees his own face looking back at him. Luke is struck with the realization that joining the Dark Side is a scary and very real possibility, and the temptation to join is shown here. However, he resists and is "reborn" again to be able to train for the Force.
Luke is tempted by the Dark Side once again in Return of the Jedi when he is faced with the Emperor and Darth Vader aboard the Empire's space station. For a moment, it seems that his only two options are to die himself, or to kill the Emperor and Vader, effectively succumbing to the Dark Side. Both of these options, as Luke quickly realizes will have detrimental results for the Rebel Alliance, and the temptation here become very real. This even seems to audiences like it may be the easier option for Luke. As Pfeiffer points out, "the story begins with the rebel forces fighting a losing battle against the overwhelming armies of the Empire" (Pfeiffer 108). However, he is able to resist the Dark Side by a strange twist of events in which Darth Vader shows his own struggle with the Dark Side.
When Darth Vader has to watch his son being killed by the Emperor's electrical charge, he shows his ultimate struggle with the Dark Side. He comes into conflict with the Dark Side that he has believed in for so many years because Luke represents his only hope to be able to leave the Dark Side and rejoin the Force. When Vader sees his son being killed along with his hopes of ever rejoining the Force, he succumbs to the power of the Force, saving his son and killing the Emperor.
While the Dark Side has attractions that the Force seemingly can not offer, both Luke and Vader must use their internal Force to overcome it and help the Rebel Alliance.
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ReplyDeleteVery well written analysis. I also wrote about the simulated fight against Darth Vader on Dagobah represented Luke’s attraction to the Dark Side. When Luke pulls off the mask of Vader and sees his own face, I felt that this was foreshadowing the fact that Luke is actually Lord Vader’s son. While we don’t know this until the end of the movie, I felt that George Lucas did a good job at hinting toward their possible relation. Again, in the Return of the Jedi, Luke almost succumbs to the Dark Side while aboard the Empire’s space station. Specifically, Luke nearly gives in to the Dark Side when he attempts to use the Force to retrieve his light saber from the Emperor. However, Darth Vader prevents this from happening, which ultimately helps Luke to gather his thoughts. Had Luke given in to his thoughts of anger, he would have fallen victim to the Dark Side. In a sense, Lord Vader helps his son in this scene by preventing him from angrily attempting to slay the Emperor. I felt that Lord Vader’s actions in this scene foreshadowed his true feelings for the well being of his son as well as his appreciation for the good side of the Force.
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