Title: The Journey of Luke Skywalker: An Analysis of Modern Myth and Symbol
Author: Steven A. Galipeau
ISBN: 0-8126-9432-5
Publisher: Open Court
Copyright: 2001
Reviewed by Reihla.
C. G. Jung, the noted psychologist who revolutionized self-analysis, believed that all myths could help mankind understand subconscious and unconscious layers of the human psyche. In other words, a solid appreciation of mythology can help us in our never-ending quest to learn more about ourselves.
In The Journey of Luke Skywalker, Steven Galipeau applies that same Jungian analysis to the mythological aspects of Luke Skywalker’s heroic journey. In this book, he offers one perspective on just how much the young hero accomplished between his introduction as an ingenuous boy on the desert planet of Tatooine and our final glimpse of him as a Jedi Knight at the end of Return of the Jedi.
On the surface, a detailed psychological analysis of all three original trilogy films might seem a bit daunting to the run-of-the-mill Star Wars fan. In reading Journey, I found that readers do not need any particular understanding of Jungian psychology to enjoy this book. The author has an easy, conversational style of writing and includes a glossary of commonly used terms for those uninitiated in Jungian concepts.
Galipeau, a confessed Star Wars fan, fulfills the goal he states in the book’s introduction -- to explore what the Star Wars story and its symbolism can teach us. He begins his study in part one, with a recap of the opening scene in A New Hope. Galipeau shows us a simple symbolic principle -- the battle between masculine and feminine, and how the black-clad villain Darth Vader and the whitely garbed heroine Princess Leia personify this conflict. From that elementary beginning, the author carefully outlines the entire original trilogy. His is a scene-by-scene analysis that explores not only the central figure of Luke Skywalker, but also the other characters who contribute to his development as a mythic hero.
Galipeau’s Jungian analysis runs the gamut from simple looks at the symbolic meaning of desert, ice and jungle planets, to more challenging theories like a comparison of Ewoks and their resistance on Endor to humanity’s constant struggle for freedom from oppression. By the time part three concludes, the reader can easily understand a far more complex explanation of the deeper themes surrounding Luke’s redemption of his father.
Following the conclusion of the book, the author offers a bonus chapter, an epilogue that gives a brief glimpse into The Phantom Menace. Galipeau touches on the child Anakin as well as the childlike symbolism behind the character of Jar Jar Binks.
Overall, The Journey of Luke Skywalker will find a satisfied audience in students of psychology and popular culture. By the same token, the majority of hard-core Star Wars fans will find Galipeau’s analytical recap of the beloved original trilogy enjoyable and enlightening.
