So, for how long did Luke train...??

[Polux]

I just watched the original trilogy after many, many years, and boy! Do I love these movies!! Also, my girlfriend has never seen the originals, so it was the perfect opportunity; one question lingers tho; for how long did Luke train?? In ESB Luke spends what it seems no more than a few days with Yoda before facing Vader, and then at the beginning of RoTJ he's already a Jedi; I always assumed that he went back to Yoda to finish his training in between movies, my girl thinks he never went back, can anyone shed any light on it....??

Thanx

Polux.

[Gianakin_]

If you take the EU into account, he never went back (as shown in Shadows of the Empire).

[Polux]

So he just trained for like 15 minutes and became a Jedi knight?? That's some intensive training Yoda gave'im...I have to admit, it kinda ruins it for me a little bit...


Polux

[Blitzkrieg Bop]

Well, according to Yoda, Luke wouldn't become a full Jedi until he conquered Vader and his Emperor. Now, of course Luke basically cheated by giving in to anger which is how he beat Darth, but he did come to his senses and stopped himself from killing his father and stood up against the Emperor in peace. That made him a Jedi.

I think Luke trained for some days on Dagobah in TESB and then went back to continue his training before the events of ROTJ for however long.

[ThePhantasm]

Luke's statement in ROTJ "I have a promise to keep... to an old friend" could be interpreted two ways. 1) He is referring to his promise in ESB to go back and continue his training, which means he didn't go back prior to ROTJ. 2) He refers to Yoda as an "old friend," implying that they had more training sessions.

You can interpret it as you will. There's no doubt, however, that Luke is more powerful at the start of ROTJ than he is at the end of ESB. That implies progression.

[Gianakin_]

In a RotJ cut scene it is implied that he trained by himself in Obi's old hut after ESB. And I'm inclined to believe he didn't return to Dagobah post-ESB, because in RotJ he asks Yoda if Vader is really his father. You'd think if he had gone back that question would've been asked in one year.

It's 100% certain that he did train, though. RotJ is far more powerful than ESB Luke.

[ThePhantasm]

You mean the lightsaber construction scene?

[Gianakin_]

Yes. Also, I edited my post with some more ideas why he might not have returned.

[Bim]

Originally Posted by ThePhantasm

Luke's statement in ROTJ "I have a promise to keep... to an old friend" could be interpreted two ways. 1) He is referring to his promise in ESB to go back and continue his training, which means he didn't go back prior to ROTJ. 2) He refers to Yoda as an "old friend," implying that they had more training sessions.

That's my interpretation of it. He never went back to Yoda after he left in ESB until ROTJ.

I speculate that he continued with what Yoda taught him on his own, because he does seem more mature and in control when we see him in ROTJ.

[BenKenobi]

Originally Posted by Polux

So he just trained for like 15 minutes and became a Jedi knight?? That's some intensive training Yoda gave'im...I have to admit, it kinda ruins it for me a little bit...


Polux

Being a Jedi wasn't so much about "training" and all that until the prequels. In the originals it was more a metaphor for becoming and adult, your full self. Luke wasn't ready to face Vader because he wasn't mature enough to face the dark reality of the world and accept the fact that his parents weren't perfect and in the end he'd be on his own, he was like a kid with the mindset they are invincible and everything works out. It was about discipline and knowing the dangers of taking the easy way out.

He lost his right hand in the fight symbolizing a loss of what he relies on most, the form of the status quo and the truths he hold to. The idea is that in the time between the two films he was able to rapidly mature and balance his feelings allowing him to take all of what he learned seriously. If you watch Empire and Jedi again you'll notice right away Luke has an entirely different personality in the final film.