Keeper_of_Swords posted:I take it that Luke almost smiles because he feels a certain pride that he's better than a person who would join the dark side. I think he really didn't think about dying or surviving - he was more like "I don't care what happens to me as long as I don't fall to the dark side"
Darth_Davi posted:If Luke had the ability to foresee his survival jumping, and be able to control his fall using the Force, despite the pain of losing his hand, then he is far stronger in the Force at that point than I previously gave him credit for. I suspect he jumps as an act of defiance, a way of saying death is preferable to the Dark side. I don't believe that he knew for certain he would live, rather that he just placed his faith in the Force, and that faith was rewarded.
major987 posted:In The Empire Strikes Back when Darth Vader tells Luke that the emperor has foreseen that Luke will destroy him, Luke almost smiles and his attitude changes, he starts to get ready to jump because he knew that what vader had said was true and that if he jumps he will live to destroy the emperor......I always thought he just jumped to his death but i think George had more in site then that.
DarthLassic007 posted:He thought that he was going to die in the SE. He was screaming.
_Sublime_Skywalker_ posted:Yeah, Luke trusted the will of the force. If this was his place to die, he'd die. If he was to redeem Vader and help destroy the Emporer, he'd live. That simple.
KratosSky posted:Disagree, he absolutely did not know that he would live, and probaly expected to die. Having a destiny doesn't matter, Yoda and Obi already established that should Luke fail, Leia would be their last hope. Nor do i think he trusted in the force, when he was hanging by the antenna, he had a lot of problems getting trough his sister by the force, that should tell you more then enough on how weakend he was at that time. And Ben also warned Luke that he wouldn't help him. He took the plunge, expecting to die, this is also the turning point i believe for Vader, on the commentary Lucas states that Vader wanted to use his son, he sees his son as another way(tool) to take the throne from Sidious. When Luke jumps, making it clear that he would never join Vader, and would rather die then join him in the darkside, it perhaps started to make Vader think on how far he has fallen, you can see that he never expected Luke to do that, he even states holding out his hand, that this is the only way. Luke for his part, was very brave and took a large step in his jedi training, i love that look of acceptence on his face before he lets go.