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Luke Skywalker is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the original film trilogy of the Star Wars franchise created by George Lucas. Skywalker, portrayed by Mark Hamill, is a pivotal figure in the Rebel Alliance's struggle against the Galactic Empire. He is the twin brother of Rebellion leader Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan, a friend and brother-in-law of smuggler Han Solo, an apprentice to Jedi Masters Obi-Wan "Ben" Kenobi and Yoda, the son of fallen Jedi Anakin Skywalker (Darth Vader) and Queen of Naboo/Republic Senator Padmé Amidala and maternal uncle of Ben Solo / Kylo Ren. Luke also serves as a mentor to the protagonist of the new Star Wars trilogy, Rey. The now non-canon Star Wars Legends depicts him as a powerful Jedi Master, husband of Mara Jade, the father of Ben Skywalker and maternal uncle of Jaina, Jacen and Anakin Solo.

Appearances
Luke Skywalker appears in Episode IV, Episode V, Episode VI, Episode VII, Episode VIII, and briefly Episode III briefly as an infant (portrayed by Aidan Barton.) Mark Hamil is slated to reprise his role as Skywalker in the upcoming Star Wars film, which is supposed to be premiere in the United States on December 20, 2019.

Psychoanalytic
Luke Skywalker ultimately symbolizes Jospeh Campbell's "Hero" archetype in Campbell 's "Hero's Journey," meaning that Skywalker encounters the basic struggle between good and evil as other heroic characters such as Harry Potter, Bilbo Baggins, and Jesus Christ. Like most protagonists emerging from this storytelling formula, Luke is not raised by his biological parents. The Force is also relatively aligned with Sigmund Freud's Life Force. As so, Skywalker is a formulaic, relatable protagonist. Luke's central dilemma is the ongoing war between good and evil, both in his galaxy and internally. Luke also represents the hero in the Hero's Journey, and each of the Star Wars characters emulates one of Campbell's archetypes.

==== Luke Skywalker's Hero's Journey ====


 * Ordinary World: Luke lives on Tatooine with Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru
 * Call to Adventure: Luke finds the message in R2-D2 from Princess Leia that says "Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope."
 * Refusal to Call: Luke insists that he has work to do on Tatooine.
 * Meeting the Mentor: Luke meets Jedi master Obi-Wan and accepts his journey.
 * Crossing the Threshold: Luke leaves Tatooine.
 * Tests, Allies, Enemies: Luke meets Han Solo and Chewbacca.
 * Approach To The Inmost Cave: Luke approaches Alderaan, finding it to be destroyed.
 * Ordeal: Luke rescues Leia
 * Reward: Luke officially joins the rebels.
 * The Road Back: Luke must choose between what is best for him and what is best for the galaxy.
 * Resurrection: Luke destroys the Death Star and starts the process of becoming a Jedi.
 * Return with Elixir: Luke returns from his journey having found himself and with a greater sense of identity that he had had before on Tatooine.

==== Luke Skywalker and the "Hero's Journey Archetypes" ====


 * The Hero: Luke Skywalker
 * The hero is often the protagonist in the story. The hero is often in search of their identity and finds it eventually through a series of obstacles and triumphs.
 * The Mentor: Obi-Wan
 * Mentors are the Hero’s teachers and protectors. They offer the tools, motivation and advice necessary to help the Hero succeed in his or her quest.
 * The Ally: C3-P0, R2-D2
 * Allies function as the Hero’s companions. They may serve as co-travelers, conversationalists or even characters that help introduce the audience to the world of the story.
 * The Herald: R2-D2, Princess Leia
 * The Herald sets the hero on their path. As R2-D2 shows Luke Skywalker the message from Leia pleading to Obi-Wan for help.
 * The Shapeshifter: Lando Calrissian
 * Lando, a friend of Han Solo, serves as a Shapeshifter. Shapeshifters are the the characters that change constantly in appearance or attitude and serve to fill a story with doubt and suspense. They often go from friends of the protagonists to traitors and occasionally show repressed qualities of the hero.
 * The Trickster: Han Solo
 * Tricksters are the comic relief of the journey. They call to mind the absurdity of the hero's journey.
 * The Threshold Guardian: Stormtroopers
 * The Threshold Guardian represents whatever may be preventing the main character from reaching their goal. In Skywalker's case, that would be finding and defeating Darth Vader in order to benefit the galaxy.
 * The Shadow: Darth Vader
 * The Shadow is the Hero's primary objective. The Shadow also serves as a dark contrast to the Hero.

Religious
Some argue that Luke mirrors fundamental values of Christianity and Abrahamic religion.The journey of Skywalker is also often compared to that of Jesus Christ. Scholars argue that Luke is a Christ-like figure, while Yoda represents a god and Darth Vader represents the temptations of evil. His struggle between good and evil is contrasted with his father's in a way that represents the story of the Prodigal Son.

Cultural Impact
40 years after his first onscreen appearance, Skywalker remains to be an American icon. In fact, Luke Skywalker is often still used by child psychotherapists to help children to project their thoughts and state of being in a way that is understandable to both the child and their therapist. Another way that therapists utilize Star Wars in sessions is to teach their patients that The Force represents the self-understanding that they achieve in therapy. Children are taught that they are Luke and their therapist is Obi-Wan as eventually, as Luke no longer needed his mentor, patients will one day no longer need their therapist.

Star Wars has been related back to cultural events of its time, such as The Cold War and Nixon-era politics. The severing of Luke's hand and Darth Vader's bionic presence supposedly, according to space.com, symbolize the unity of military and amputees.

Pastor Clayton Keenan talks about how Star Wars has been a unifying force worldwide for people of all religion, color, and creed, "Obviously, the spirituality of 'Star Wars' has to do with the Force. It's depicted as an impersonal — it's obviously something supernatural within this universe, but it's not the same thing as a personal god that Christians or Jews or Muslims might believe in. It's this impersonal force that is in some ways this neutral, impersonal energy that is out there to be used for good or for evil."