The Epic Hero Cycle in Star Wars

The Imperial Forces -- under orders from cruel Darth Vader (David Prowse) -- hold Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) hostage, in their efforts to quell the rebellion against the Galactic Empire. Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford), captain of the Millennium Falcon, work together with the companionable droid duo R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) and C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) to rescue the beautiful princess, help the Rebel Alliance, and restore freedom and justice to the Galaxy. (Synopsis from Google https://g.co/kgs/iHk0m6 )

The Characters

Hero

Luke Skywalker starts in the normal world of the farm on Tatooine. He dreams of fighting in the war, but he is stuck on the planet. He possesses a supernatural ability to access the force and is a great pilot. He is also being raised by step-parents because something has happened to his parents, but he does not know the secrets of his past.

Mentor

Luke goes in search ofObi Wan Kenobi after he discovers a message on the droid he buys. Obi Wan tells Luke secrets about his past. He urges him to leave Tatooine, but Luke is hesitant until he discovers that his aunt and uncle have been killed. Obi Wan trains him in the ways of the force as they leave on the quest.

Shadow

Darth Vader is Luke's nemesis and embodies the Dark Side of the Force. We actually meet him before we meet Luke. We find out from Obi Wan that Darth Vader killed Luke's father.

Threshold

Guardian

The aliens in the Mos Eisley spaceport threaten to end the journey before it even begins. They question Luke's right to be there. Obi Wan steps in to establish Luke's credentials and cut off the arm of an alien.

Herald

After escaping the opening battle, R2-D2 brings Princess Leia's message to Luke, though his actual intent was to get the restraining bolt removed. The message prompts Luke to seek out "Old Ben Kenobi." You could argue that Leia is the herald as well since it was her message.

Shapeshifter

Han (Shot First) Solo starts off as a rogue, a smuggler out to make a quick buck by getting Obi Wan and Luke off the planet. He repeatedly states that he is only looking out for himself, but in the end he comes through for his new found friends and helps save the day.

Trickster

R2-D2 and C-3PO are modeled after Laurel and Hary, and as such provide much comic relief. Chewbacca, Han's co-pilot, also provides some laughs. This is probably why they did not give him a medal at the end.

The Story

Hero in his natural environment

Luke Skywalker starts off in the ordinary world of Tatooine. He is living as a farmer, and while he has hopes of leaving, he has no idea of the battles going on and the role he will play in them. All of the opening scenes are about his life on the farm and how his uncle needs him to stay.

The call and refusal and Meeting Mentor

Luke's ordinary life is connected to the star wars with the arrival of the droids, R2-D2 and C-3PO, who have just escaped the opening battle. Luke gets the call when R2 activates the message that Princess Leia recorded just before she was captured by Darth Vader. He only follows it as far as Obi Wan Kenobi's home on Tatooine. When Obi Wan asks him to continue the quest, Luke refuses saying that he has to stay for the harvest.

Luke's meets with Obi Wan after he has been attacked by the Sand People, a band of criminals native to Tatooine. Obi Wan fills him in on some of the secrets of his past and shows him his father's light saber, a "magical" sword used by the Jedi. The Jedi are a pseudo religious order that master the use of the Force.

Acceptance

After his aunt and uncle are killed by the Empire, Luke decides to go on the quest.

Meeting of Allies and Enemies

Luke meets R2-D2 and C3-PO earlier, but at the cantina he meets his allies Han Solo and Chewbacca. Once he gets to the Death Star he also meets Princess Leia. As the Millenium Falcon is leaving Tatooine Luke and his allies must fight with the Stormtroopers.

Training

Luke is trained in the use of the light saber and the Force. His training is tested during the rescue of the princess on the Death Star where he uses his wit, blaster skills, and rope swinging. During the extended rescue of the princess and escape from the Death Star, Luke repeatedly proves his worthiness.

Training - Discard the old self - Restoring order -

The last three elements happen in rapid succession and almost simultaneously.

Grand trial - The rebels, now in posession of the plans for the Death Star, decide to attack. Luke apparently has good enough piloting skills to immediately join Red Squadron. With the help of the Force, Luke is able to make the "impossible" shot and destroy the Death Star.

The grand trial begins, and Luke is relying on his piloting skills and targeting computer, but as he appears to be defeated by Darth Vader he hears Obi Wan's voice tell him to "use the Force." Luke turns off his targeting computer and does as he was directed.

Han and Luke receive medals from Princess Leia. For some reason Chewbacca gets to walk up with them, but does not get a medal, and the droids are just shoved to the side.

Analysis

There is a reason that I chose this as the sample. George Lucas has admitted in interviews to using Joseph Campbell's mono-myth as an outline for Star Wars. Unlike many of the examples you will use for your projects, it contains every element.

After watching it again for this class, I felt that the training was short changed. We get a short scene on the Millenium Falcon with the training drone, but that is it. Then, when the fate of the universe falls upon him, Luke is able to access the Force and save the day. Normally, we would get a training montage. The montage is a cliche, but it makes the acquisition of skills more believable.

Though the movie starts with a lengthy introduction to catch the viewers attention and establish the parameters of the setting "long ago in a galaxy far, far away."

Obviously, each of the character archetypes have been filled with iconic characters that have become part of the American mythology. Star Wars fulfills the audiences desire for a complete heroic epic. Luke allows the reader to feel as if any of us can become the hero. It is not until the later films that we find out that Luke is descended from royalty. He does however have several of the other hallmarks of being a hero; being raised by foster parents, knowing little of his past, possessing supernatural powers, etc.

Han, the shapeshifter, is a lot like Enkidu in the Epic of Gilgamesh in that he starts off as a challenger of the hero, but eventually turns out to be the hero's most trusted friend. The trickster provide plenty of comedic relief (Let the Wookie win). While R2 is part of the Laurel and Hardy droid team he also serves as the herald that sets the plot in motion.

Finally, there is Obi Wan Kenobi, the mentor. We get very little time with Obi Wan because of the shortened training sequence, but his mastery of the Force is obvious. Without his guidance, Luke would not have been able to destroy the Death Star.

George Lucas' use of the the mono-myth helped him create a classic of American cinema despite some suspect acting, awkward dialogue, and annoying wipes.

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