What does 'Return Of The Jedi' refer to?

Question

Is it the return of Luke Skywalker as a Jedi Knight after his training, or is it the return of Anakin Skywalker to the good side from being Darth Vader?

One would assume that it refers to Anakin, but being as the first title of the film was 'Revenge of the Jedi' that would move us back to Luke.

It could also refer to the final destruction of the Sith at the end of the film, being the Jedi return.

Thoughts from other Star Wars connisseurs would be appreciated.

Answer 1

I think it means the return of Luke, facing Darth Vader once more after he was 'defeated' in The Empire Strikes Back.

Answer 2

First of all, fromwhat I understand, the reason the title was changed was because Lucas figured revenge was contradictory to the Jedi way of things.

Anakin Skywalker is supposed to be the one that brings balance to the force - he does exactly that. The prophesy in the prequels doesn't specify if balance would be a good thing or not - simply that it would be balance.

Before Anakin, there was a mis balance in favor of the light side, but after Anakin in episode III, there is Yoda, Obi-Won, Palpatine and Vader - a balance.

Later in episode VI, Obi-Won is dead, Yoda is dead and there again is a mis balance but this time in favor of the dark side. Anakin/Vader's final act is to balance things out again by killing the emperor. For there to be balance, the destruction of the Jedi requires the destruction of the Sith as well.

At the end of episode VI, there is only two Sith - Luke isn't a Jedi yet - Yoda said that Luke won't be a Jedi until he defeats Vader. When Vader kills the emperor (Luke's presence compels a compassionate and selfless act thus defeating the dark side or 'Vader' in him), Luke becomes a Jedi (Return of the Jedi as in Jedi Order of Knights) and Vader is redeemed with the same act (Return of the Jedi as in a single knight's return to the Order)

My take on the whole thing - The Return of the Jedi refers to both the Jedi Order and to Vader's redemption. The entire story (all six movies) are about Vader. Luke is more of a supporting (but necessary) character than anything else in my opinion.

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

I would go with the final destruction of the Sith at the end of the film, being the return of the Jedi. Addtionally, Luke then re-establishes the Jedi order in the books after the movie

Answer 4

It is the Return of the Jedi class all together through the introduction of Luke Skywalker as a Jedi. It also showed the end of the sith by the hands of Skywalker. You know that he will teach future jedi later. Kenobi was a jedi but did not flaunt it. Skywalker flaunted.

Answer 5

Luke is the first to become a Jedi in over twenty years, and his ascendence marks the return of the Jedi Order, as Luke begins to train new Jedi, reestablishing the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. However the Emperor is not dead. Vader killed the Emperor, but only his body died. His spirit fled to a secret world where hundreds of Clone Emperors waited in stasis. Unlike the clone troopers these Clone Emperors have no minds - until one of them is possessed by Palpatines spirit. This effectively makes him immortal, able to return in a new body anytime he is "killed".
He captures Luke and finally turns Luke to the Dark Side, but Leia, herself a trained Jedi by this point, rescues Luke and brings him back from the Dark Side. Together they annihilate the Emperor's spirit after Han is instrumental in destroying all the clones. This is the true meaning of the Prophecy, as Luke is a balanced vessel for the Force now, with Light and Dark Sides in harmonius balance within him. He can now train Jedi to use the power of the Dark Side tempered by the control of the Light Side. He ends up marrying Mara Jade, a Force trained assassin who was known as the "Emperor's Hand" - after he rehabilitates her. Read "Dark Empire" and "Dark Empire II" for the full story.

Answer 6

darth vader and the emperor wiped out the jedi order(mostly). In return of the jedi Luke completes his training and becomes a jedi and fights the dark side. Hence the Jedi return to the fight.

Answer 7

What it means is that Luke Skywalker is the last of the Jedi, and that he is returning the Jedi order to prominence. Have you ever heard of the books called "The New Jedi Order"? These are stories (in books) after the story of Return of the Jedi, and it is all about re-establishing the Jedi order to the galaxy....oh, WTF?....who cares....I do know that he ends up marrying Toby Jugs Kenobi

Answer 8

it refers to Anakin returning and destroying the sith as was prophesied in the ancient Jedi texts. according to the prequels. however bear in mind that at that point there were no Jedi left in existence as Yoda dies in that episode and so then Luke becomes a Jedi only when he faces Palpatine and Vader and destroys them. So ok he doesn't actually kill Palpatine but he manages to resurrect his father from the ashes of Vader and thus get his dad to do the dirty work in killing the final sith lord. so in conclusion i believe it was to do with Anakin returning. Revenge of the Jedi was the original name for the episode but was scrapped as it was thought of as too violent.

Answer 9

Return of the Jedi refers to the return of the Jedi order which was destroied in Eppisode 3. Luke is just the instrument of the return.

Answer 10

It refers The Jedi (plural) returning. As Luke has by that time had training with Yoda then The Jedi are returning - with Luke being the 1st, and all the other Jedi are dead.

Answer 11

The literal return of Luke from the Dagoba system to confront Vader and the overall return of the 'Jedi' side of the force to the universe having defeated the dark side.