Luke, I'm your father

I was 9 years old when I went to see Return of the Jedi (1983) in the theater. At the time, the special effects and the world of the movie fascinated me more than anything else. Especially because in a theater packed with kids yelling, reacting to the scenes, some proudly shouting spoilers after watching it for the hundredth time, others stuffing their faces with candy — it was hard to actually focus on the story.

But then came the scene that left me confused — even though I was trying my best to follow everything — and it got me thinking. Luke was facing off against Darth Vader in a life-or-death duel. In my naïve mind, after seeing how much the Rebellion had suffered, my reaction was: “Just kill this guy already, for God’s sake!” and “So what if he’s your father? He’s a jerk.” I didn’t get why the Emperor cared so much about this happening, or why Luke would be drawn to the dark side if he took revenge — if he did exactly what everyone wanted: kill the enemy.

So I have to admit — that question stuck with me for a long time. Actually, until pretty recently. Why couldn’t Luke kill Darth? Just because he was his father? Obviously, the answer was way deeper. But I need to give some context about what was happening outside the movie theater. For those who don’t know, I’m Chilean and lived in Chile until I was 10. In 1983, the military regime was still strong and showed no signs of ending. The dictatorship had taken my father, relatives, and many loved ones. Those who stayed behind could never forget. Even though I was only 9, I was politically aware — actually, all kids were back then. In my class, I clearly remember how we’d talk all the time about what was going on in our country and around the world (which was still under the Cold War), even if we saw it all through a romantic and innocent lens. It was us against the Empire. So maybe that’s why I had this black-and-white view of solving the problem with the same force that surrounded all of us at the time.

Years passed, I moved to Brazil. More years passed, and that doubt about that one scene lingered. But this time, I decided to dig deeper, and something became clear: the hate Luke feels toward the Empire is exactly what pulls him closer to the dark side. But is it the same hate? That’s when the first clue — the most obvious and overlooked — hits me: the fact that Darth is his father means their stories are intertwined. Their shared humanity is the point — two mortals struggling with emotions, burdens, and the challenge of dealing with the Force. So what is the Force, then? Just a power split in two, used differently by each side for the same end? The story tells us otherwise.

It would be too easy to reduce Luke’s hate to just a thirst for revenge or some surface-level sense of justice (since killing Darth Vader wouldn’t actually destroy evil). But that’s exactly what the Emperor is counting on. Imagine someone raised in a bubble, fed a fantasy — the idea of being the chosen one, the ultimate Jedi, the savior of the universe in some glorious final battle. The fantasy of a happy ending. Now break that illusion, and leave him face-to-face with the realization that nothing humanly possible can protect him from failure. That’s when the Emperor makes his move: in a cold, calculated strategy, he tries to twist that shattered dream into another fantasy — one that won’t break. He offers rage as the path forward. Not just as an emotional outburst, but as a commitment. That rage would turn Luke into the very thing he’s been fighting all along.

And that’s where the truly hard human journey begins. Because no matter how many years or galaxies away Star Wars may be, it’s about feelings. About the construction of identity. About the moment you realize your role in building society — whatever kind of society that may be. Luke’s humanity is what’s at stake here. Not because he’s weak, but because the story he was promised doesn’t deliver. That’s where his childish, simplistic view of his path starts to collapse.

So all the Emperor’s efforts are focused on pushing him to reject life itself — symbolized in Darth Vader, who by that point is no longer truly human (he’s the illusion). And in a final twist, just when the dark side’s promised power is about to take over, Luke understands: becoming his father would lead to the same tragic ending.

Stay strong, Luke. Starting a revolution was never easy.