Even after the revelation that she is his daughter, Leah organ Never fully considered a member of the Skywalker family Star Wars. It’s easy to imagine Leia’s shock Return of the JediWhen she learns that Luke Skywalker is her brother. She insisted she would always know on some level, but realistically, it looks more like a coping strategy – because she shared a kiss with Luke in The empire strikes back.
The Skywalker family tree would continue down through Leia and Han’s line, with her son Ben almost hero-worshipping his grandfather, Darth Vader. The striking thing about Leia, however, is that She never changed her name to Skywalker – Not even after her parents became public knowledge. Why not?
Leia never really found peace with Anakin Skywalker
He would always be Darth Vader to her
Luke raised his father, initially believing that Anakin Skywalker was a Clone Wars hero who was betrayed by Darth Vader. Obi-Wan’s white lie ironically sets Luke up to understand the tragedy of Anakin’s fallBecause he believed that his father was a good man who fell to the dark side and could be redeemed. Leo, however, lacked the same perspective; Her memories of Darth Vader are the stuff of nightmares.
Leia would always remember Darth Vader for the destruction of Alderaan, and the Sith Lord was personally responsible for torturing her on the Death Star earlier. Her last interaction with Darth Vader was his cruel encasing of Han in carbonite, as he promised to do the same to Luke. Darth Vader had cost her too much, hurt her too deeply, for her to be able to look past it all.
Obi-Wan Kenobi revealed that Leia wondered about the identity of her birth parents and that Bail and Breha Organa did not discourage her from assuming the best of them. The truth must have been devastating. Darth Vader inflicted terrible things on the Rebels, and on Leia herself. The thought that someone with such contempt for life could be her father filled her with horror and rage, and she held onto those feelings for years after the original trilogy.
Leia defines herself by her Alderaan history, not as a Skywalker
The past she knew
Leia grew up knowing she was adopted, but she considered Organas her true family and Alderaan her home. Her story as a young politician is known in Star WarsHowever Obi-Wan Kenobi Brought her childhood to life. Young Leia yearns for adventure, but never wants to be freed from her ties to Alderaan. She pursued politics to ensure the best for her people, following in her adoptive father’s footsteps. As she grew up, she became more involved in the rebellion. She was only 19 when Bail Organa trusted her to lead the Rebels’ mission to deliver the Death Star plans.
She considered the Organas her true family and Alderaan her home.
When Darth Vader destroyed Alderaan right in front of Leia in Star WarsHe created a wound that could never heal. Despite the similarities between Anakin and Leia, forgiveness would feel impossible. In fact, it is the very traits that she shares with Anakin are the very ones that prevent her from overlooking his crimes. After all, it wasn’t until his death that Anakin forgave himself for his actions, using his self-hatred to fuel his power as a Sith Lord. Unfortunately, forgiveness did not come to Anakin, and he passed this trait on to his daughter.
Forgiveness and redemption are difficult topics Star WarsBut not every character is able to completely overlook the past. Leia can come to terms with who her father really is, but she can’t bring herself to truly embrace her connection to him. remained Leah organ is her way of very publicly choosing which father she will emulate.