Star Wars - Characters & Cast

Initially driven by a desire to escape his mundane life, his motivation shifts after the murder of his aunt and uncle. He becomes committed to the Rebellion, learning the ways of the Force to honor his father's legacy and fight for a greater good.

Luke begins as an impatient farm boy on a desolate planet, dreaming of adventure. His arc follows the classic hero's journey: the call to adventure, the meeting with a mentor, and the first steps into a larger world. He transforms from a naive youth into a courageous pilot and fledgling Jedi who accepts his destiny and becomes a hero of the Rebellion.

His primary motivation is financial gain to pay off his debt to the gangster Jabba the Hutt. He explicitly states he is not in the fight for any revolution, only for the money.

Han Solo starts as a cynical, self-interested smuggler who cares only about money. Through his adventures with Luke and Leia, he reluctantly becomes involved in the Rebellion. His arc is about moving from selfishness to selflessness, culminating in his decision to return and help Luke in the final battle, proving he cares about more than just his reward.

Leia is driven by an unwavering commitment to the Rebel Alliance and the restoration of freedom to the galaxy. She is willing to sacrifice everything, including her own life and her home planet, for the cause.

While initially appearing as a damsel in distress who needs rescuing, Leia quickly subverts this trope. She is a determined, resourceful, and sharp-tongued leader of the Rebellion. Her arc in the film is less about personal change and more about steadfastly resisting the Empire, even under torture, and inspiring those around her to fight.

His motivation is to protect Luke, train him in the ways of the Force, and ensure that the hope for the Jedi and the galaxy survives. He is driven by his past failures with Anakin Skywalker and his duty to the Force.

Obi-Wan is the wise old mentor who guides the hero on his journey. His arc involves coming out of exile to fulfill one last duty: setting Luke on his path to becoming a Jedi. He sacrifices himself in a duel with Darth Vader, completing his arc by transforming into a more powerful presence in the Force to guide Luke spiritually.

Vader is motivated by a desire to crush the Rebellion and retrieve the Death Star plans to maintain the Empire's order and control over the galaxy. He also seeks to eliminate the last remnants of the Jedi, as shown in his confrontation with Obi-Wan.

Darth Vader is presented as the menacing, powerful enforcer of the Empire's will. His arc in this film is static; he is the embodiment of the dark side and the primary antagonist. He relentlessly hunts the Rebels and the stolen plans, representing the inescapable and terrifying power of the Empire.