What does "Return of the Jedi" really mean?

I always thought it meant Luke towards the end now im starting to believe it was meant for Vader/Anakin please reply your opinions

 

I've always thought of it like this:
Luke becomes a Jedi after the last of the old Jedi (Yoda) dies.
Also, Anakin returns to the light sie of the force before dying, so it could also be seen as the return of the jedi (Anakin).

 

I think it's a clever title in that it can be taken in a number of different ways, none of which is the single "correct" interpretation. It could refer to Luke's return to face Vader again. It could refer to the return of the Jedi order through Luke. Or it could refer to the return of Anakin from the Dark Side. But none of those answers is "wrong".

 

Return of the Jedi refers to Anakin's return to the light side.

 

a part of it (but not the main part) could be yoda's words to luke, "pass on what you have learned." You get a sence that he will soon start the new jedi school and the jedi tratition will return in full force. Its a return of the jedi in general starting with luke.

 

I always thought it referred to Luke, but I think it means almost all of the ideas above. it doesn't ONLY refer to Anakin's return to light side.

 

I think it mostly refers to Anakin.

 

I always figured that it meant the return of goodness, peace, and order to the galaxy after the defeat of evil and darkness. It can mean Luke restoring the Jedi order, Anakin's return to the light side of the Force, or any combination of the foregoing since they are all interrelated.

All of the other replies are correct. There is no right answer, unless Lucas himself issues some form of canon on the subject. Thus, the title is ambiguous and strictly a matter of interpretation that will mean different things to each person.

 

I think it refers to 3 things: 1) Luke becomming a Jedi, 2) Anakin returning to the light side and becomming a Jedi (I don't think he ever reaches Jedi status before he turns), and 3) a new beginning of the Jedi Order w/ Luke.

 

Looking at it from the perspective that Star Wars is about the rise, fall and redemption of Anakin, it would seem to refer firstly to Anakin's return, and not only that, but by balancing the force, the return of the jedi order itself, through Luke. If anything, it refers to Luke the least, since he never really left--ironic since it was obviously meant to be in reference to Luke back in 1983.

 

I think it means since Luke is now a Jedi Knight he will defeat the darkside and deliver a Jedi from the darkside and at the same time of returning Anakin he will start the return of the Jedi in the galaxy and even if you do not like EU you have to admit that would be Luke's next step to start a Jedi Academy/Order.

 

I don't think it refers to the Jedi order in general, since Yoda does tell Luke he's going to be the last of the Jedi. The duty of the Jedi was to promote peace and justice, so after the fall of the Sith, there wouldn't have been any further need for Jedi to counteract them. RotJ was the beginning of the end for the Jedi.

 

In Episode III whe're going to witness the "end" of the Jedi, as an order or group or "religion".
I guess the "Return of the Jedi" title is not refering to a particular person (Luke/Anakin) but the return of the Jedi overall.

 

I think it refers to Luke reaching Jedi status, and Anakin's redemption. Also it heralded a "return" of the Jedi order to the galaxy.

 

Based on what I know, it means Luke is a symbol of the entire Jedi Order returning to the "public eye" I guess you could say, because the only 2 jedi left were in hiding for 20 years. That is based on the fact that Lucas origionally had it titled, REVENGE OF THE JEDI. The Anakin thing was respeculated after the renaming.

 

That is based on the fact that Lucas origionally had it titled, REVENGE OF THE JEDI.

Awww. I was just gonna bring up this point, and thus I agree with the last post.

 

I think the Jedi in "Return of the Jedi" refers to Luke. My only reasoning is that the track on the CD titled "The Return of the Jedi" is the music from the sequence where Luke escapes the Sarlaac and rescues his friends.

Plus, I don't think GL had that broad a perspective to see Anakin as the Returning Jedi. He wasn't even sure if he was ever going to make the PT (which really makes this whole saga about Anakin), so I doubt he would've planned that far in advance to make such an overall profound title.

 

It means that Anakin was once a Jedi. Then he was a Sith lord.

Luke came and redeemed his Father. So, Anakin was a Jedi again.

Hence "Return of the Jedi".

 

However, the original title was Revenge of the Jedi. Could it possibly mean that it is both Luke and Anakin uprising to defeat the Sith?

And, you must remember, Jedi is both singular and plural. Perhaps Return of the Jedi referrs to a new age for the Jedi...



You Rebel Scum!
~Bôba Fe++

 

The title symbolizes both the return of Anakin to the light side and the return of the jedi order with Luke as the first jedi.