I think sometimes it’s easy to forget that this was a really important part of the story. That it wasn’t just that Luke easily turned away from the temptations of the dark side, but that he genuinely had to struggle with it.
That he genuinely gave in to it for awhile.
That the impact and meaning and weight of Luke throwing away his saber isn’t about how it was easy, how he’s pure and never was tempted. But instead that he’s throwing away his anger, he’s refusing to give in to it.
It has all the meaning in the galaxy because it was a choice–and Star Wars is all about choice–to turn away from the dark side.
And it’s not a one time choice. It’s a lifelong struggle to keep making the right choices. This is why, as much as my heart wishes for more of Badass Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, it is very much in keeping with his character to show that sometimes he stumbles, sometimes he trips, and has to work to get back up. That’s been baked into the character just as much as it’s baked into him that he keeps getting back up, keeps finding himself again, keeps turning back to the light, keeps turning away from his anger and fear and hate. Sometimes it takes longer than others, but he does it.
And that is the brilliance of who Luke Skywalker is, that is the brilliance of Jedi Master Luke Skywalker.
Star Wars in 100 Scenes by Jason Fry & Judy Caley (2014)
Diary's Blog 