Luke Skywalker - a Modern Mythological Hero

In the words of Christopher Reeve, “A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles” ("Brainy Quote", 2014). All throughout history we have seen individuals of a certain quality that were set apart and looked to as a hero, as an example for others to live by. Heroes are found in books, movies, mythology and in our everyday lives. There is one very popular hero today that has resonated with people across multiple generations and nationalities, Luke Skywalker.

A modern mythological hero has characteristics of a classical heroes of Greek hero traditions. The hero may or may not have superpowers but they will have weaknesses that put them more along the lines of normal people. The individual becomes a hero not just because of what action he takes but also because of how he grows emotionally and mentally. According to Indick (2004), "The modern hero must not only face powerful villains against incredible odds, he must also overcome his personal doubts, fears and anxieties about himself and his atypical identity.” (para. 3). Our hero Luke Skywalker fulfills both of these aspects on the many quests he is presented with during the course of his life.

Luke starts as a young man dreaming of adventure and escape. He is propelled by a strong sense of duty and a desire to be a part of something larger than himself. Luke learns to master his own feelings and gains a deeper insight to the feelings of others, he becomes the confident Jedi Knight. He has many quests in his life, the first being his most significant. The purpose of his first quest was twofold. Outwardly it was to return R2D2 to those leading the rebellion so that they could read the plans for the Death Star and defeat the Emperor. Inwardly he was to discover who his real father and to learn the ways of the force. In the end he helped defeat the Galactic Empire and helped found the New Republic, as well as the New Jedi Order. The second half of his quest was a long journey that spanned