Why can’t Obi-Wan Kenobi help Luke during his fight with Darth Vader?

Obi-Wan Kenobi was instrumental to Luke Skywalker’s success in destroying the Death Star in Star WarsSo why can’t he help Luke battle Darth Vader The empire strikes back? After Obi-Wan’s death, he becomes one with the Force, able to coach Luke through his mission. With his master’s help, Luke remembers his training and uses the Force to deliver the killing blow to the Galactic Empire’s ultimate weapon. Obi-Wan’s mentorship was instrumental in Luke’s training, but when Luke was at his most vulnerable, Obi-Wan insisted that Luke had to fight Darth Vader on his own.

When Luke chooses to abandon his training with Yoda to save Leia and Han from Vader, he is encouraged by both Yoda and the Force ghost of Obi-Wan to stay and train. The Jedi Masters knew that despite his new skills, he was still not ready to take on the Sith Lord on his own. For some reason, the situation seems completely different from the destruction of the Death Star. Luke continues on his mission, and it is during this fateful duel that Luke finally learns the truth about his father. Why is it that Obi-Wan can’t help Luke during the duel?

Obi-Wan and Yoda both thought it was part of Luke’s destiny

He was his father’s opposite

Yoda and Obi-Wan were both well aware of Luke’s true relationship to the Sith Lord and this changed the way they believed the fight between them should go down. They knew he was too strong for Luke to completely defeat on his own, but they still believed it was something he needed to do alone. Having witnessed Anakin’s fall to the dark side, they knew that Vader’s son would carry some weight in the Force. Luke and Vader represent two very different sides of the Force that need reckoning.

Anakin’s significance to the Jedi was clarified in the prequel trilogy. He was believed to be the subject of a prophecy that predicted he would bring balance to the force. Although the true meaning of the Jedi prophecy is unclear, Anakin’s time as a Jedi certainly does not bring balance. Although they do not discuss this with Luke, their insistence that he fight his father alone may be influenced by the idea that Anakin’s bloodline would undo the damage he did.

Obi-Wan did not want to interfere in the supposed will of the Force

You can’t fight fate

Believing that it was meant to be Luke who brought Vader down, Obi-Wan didn’t interfere. Obi-Wan spent the better part of his exile on Tatooine meditating and reconnecting with the Force. He understood that this happened for a reason and that it could be dangerous to interfere with the will of the powers that be. After all, trying to outsmart the future is what spiraled Anakin down the path to the dark side, and Obi-Wan wasn’t about to make the same mistake. He simply did what he could to prepare Luke for what he believed was inevitable.

Obi-Wan has had three times three times with Vader, and Obi-Wan was content with the thought that he would not be able to defeat or redeem his former apprentice.. As Luke’s skills grew, things became clear to Obi-Wan. Anakin’s pure-hearted son would be the perfect counter to the Sith Lord who had devoured Obi-Wan’s friend—and Obi-Wan was right, from a certain point of view. The Force had other plans for Darth Vader, though Luke was instrumental in Vader’s destruction.

Obi-Wan is wrong, because Vader is still redeemable

Luke reached for a part of Vader Obi-Wan couldn’t see

Obi-Wan’s belief that Anakin was destroyed by the dark side proved to be wrong. The events of Obi-Wan Kenobi Explore Obi-Wan’s discovery of what Anakin has truly become, from his new broken and mechanical body to his deep contempt for innocent life. After very few interactions during the series, Obi-Wan truly believed he would never see his friend again. So he thought that Lucas’ destiny was the one that finally killed him.

Obi-Wan may have been wrong to lose faith in Anakin’s ability to return to the light, but he was right about Luke’s ability to influence him. Luke didn’t defeat Vader by fighting him, but by fighting for Him. Armed with the knowledge that Vader is his father, Luke reminds Vader of what it’s like to care for someone. When Luke finally breaks through Vader’s defenses, Star Wars is completely redefined by his redemption, even if it happens after his initial fight with Vader in The empire strikes back.