Why did Obiwan watch over Luke and not Leia? Why didn't Yoda watch over one?

In the wanning moments of ROTS, one has to wonder Obiwan Kenobi's and Yoda's actions. First spliting the twins up sending Leia with Bail makes sense. Luke to tatooine is stupid, dangerous place and Anakin lived there and they let him keep the skywalker name, why?

also, why did Obiwan watch over luke and not leia? Alderaan is safer than than Tatooine of course, but these are the two children your putting the death of the empire on and only one is being watched over? Why is Yoda by himself on Dagobah? Shouldn't he watch over Leia? How much help is Obiwan going to be to Luke anyway, I mean he lived in a hut far away he couldn't follow him around everywhere. Or if Yoda gets to go off by himself shouldn't Obiwan? Not spending half of his life watching over luke would allow him more time with the force. If anyone has got answers, lets here them.

 

there is no good in universe answer to this, we're "reaching" when we try to come up with one.

it's really because episode 4 was writen before episode 3, and it established every one of these details so lucas was sorta stuck with em.

till he refilms ANH that is.....

 

Leia had Bail. He's not a Jedi, but he's quite a capable man, with a lot of resources to keep her safe. The Lars' are good people too, but a little less adept at Galactic politics/combat than Obi-Wan, if it ever came to that. They perhaps also think that the son will have a more powerful impact on Vader than the daughter, so he should be watched over especially. Like father, like son? And Obi-Wan lived close enough that he'd be able to come pretty quickly if anything happened, he may have even had a slight Force connection with Luke. As for the Skywalker name, it might not have seemed out of place because that was Shmi and Anakin's last name. That's the best explaination I can come up with.

Yoda wouldn't have gone to either Tatooine or Alderaan because he's extremely recognizable and can't easily hide his appearance. Obi-Wan can surely disguise himself as an ordinary person far more easily. So Yoda goes to a desolate planet to be alone, commune with the Force, and wait for a sign.

 

Yoda had no experience with breast feeding.

 

Why did Obiwan watch over Luke and not Leia?

Because Bail volunteered to take Leia first.

Why didn't Yoda watch over one?

Because Yoda suggested they be taken to family. Obi-Wan then volunteered to watch over Luke. Yoda, the frog-pig, wouldnt have lasted long on hot, dry Tatoonine.

 

Nobody was looking for anyone named Skywalker after ROTS, so that's not a problem . Splitting up the Twins makes sense also, The Jedi Favor males so they focus on Luke and have OWK watch him , with Leia safely anonymous . theres no conflict here.

 

Since when is it that the Jedi favor males?

 

That was meant to be sarcasm. but an argument could be made . I mean they never even consider Leia until Luke Runs off to face Vader in ESB. obviously they favored the Male Twin. that is who they focused on.

 

Alderaan is safe because it has everything that Tatooine does not. So Obi-wan chose to stay on Tatooine to watch the Lars and Luke. Yoda went to Dagobah instead of Alderaan because he stands out. Obi-wan can blend in on Tatooine. Yoda cannot.

Luke gets first shot because he is not a prisoner of Lord Vader, which Leia becomes not once, but twice. And because Obi-wan died, they had to get Luke to Yoda and have Yoda teach him first, before teaching Leia. Remember, one Master to one Padawan.

 

I kind of thought that the way that they presented the line with Obi-wan and yoda worked well. "To his family...blah blah." "I will take the Boy and watch over him." Yoda may have been able to hide on Alderran....but he was trusting in the force to ensure Leia and Luke were safe. I think that Obi-wan had some reservations about this "New way of thinking" that Yoda was bringing up. "What? We have Anakin's children and we're giving them away to a politican and a farmer? What's wrong with you Yoda?" Obi-wan had yet to commune with Qui-Gon and probably was confused as to why they were not training them immediately.

Carnage

 

That was an interesting point you made, Carnage.

Both twins were very strong in the Force, even Vader acknowledges this of Leia.
By not training them they aren't becoming any stronger than necessary, thus they can go undetected and grow up in "peace". Both Alderaan and Tatooine are quite far away from The Core, so tend to be relatively safe planets. Training them wouldn't have been a sensible idea.

I also can't imagine Vader stopping by on Tatooine for obvious reasons.

Like father like son. Like mother like daughter. Leia became a great politician and Jedi training to Luke was like mother's milk. Perhaps Yoda was a lot smarter than we think when making these decisions.

 

1. Yoda had to go deep into hiding.

2. He had no experience raising children.

3. It would look very suspicious.

 

I thought the ending was very moving, the choices made regarding the twins were all out of love. Bail Organa asked for Leia because he and his wife were childless and always wanted a daughter. He promised to love her as his own. Yoda then decided to send Luke to Tatooine, to Anakin's family who would also love him as their own. But Obi-wan feared that Tatooine was a dangerous place and, out of love (and perhaps guilt) for his former friend, offered to spend the rest of his days watching over Anakin's son.

There's nothing awkward, or phoney about any of this. It's perfect.

 

having read the thread to this point i stand by my original thought, that to find a reason within the story we really have to stretch and reach.

i would like to know what EU story Vader mentions leia is strong in the force because this did not happen in the OT.

 

"Sister...so..you have a twin sister...your feelings have betrayed her too...Obi Wan was wise to hide her from me...but now his failure is complete...If you will not turn to the dark side, then perhaps she will!"

 

I think the poster's quote above me and directly below you is what he was refering too. It is implied Vader thinks Leia is strong in the force as he sees her as a subsitute for Luke.

 

i see that he's willing to explore the possibility, and definately he's using it to bait luke.

i think if you stop time at that moment and ask vader, "excuse me do you mean that you believe leia is powerful with the force" the answer would probably "she should be, she's my offspring" so yes i can see this.

it's not like it was ever a plan of his, nor is it the same as luke where he out right said the force was strong with him in ANH.

he didn't even know leia existed as his daughter till that duel and i think he died without realizing he had met his daughter.

 

I agree with most of what's been posted. Tatooine was not as safe as Alderaan, but I don't think they had any other choice. Naboo would have been suicide. And perhaps the fact that Tatooine was more risky is why Obi-Wan stayed close to protect Luke. I think it also came down to the fact that the Jedi trusted Bail much more than Owen and Beru, so Yoda didn't need to keep an eye on him (Bail). Also, Yoda would probably stand out too much to go with Leia. And Alderaan would be a way to public place for a former famous Jedi Master to hide.

Kind of off topic, but when I watched the scenes on the Tantive with Bail, Yoda and Obi-Wan (among my favorite parts of the movie), I was reminded that none of the three people that saved the twins and allowed the Empire to be defeated was alive in the end when it happened. Kinda sad when you think about it.

 

Well at least Yoda and Obi-Wan saw Anakin redeemed even if they were ghosts...

 

Maybe he just couldn't stand kids unless it was in a classroom setting. Or he hated changing diapers.

 

I think it also came down to the fact that the Jedi trusted Bail much more than Owen and Beru, so Yoda didn't need to keep an eye on him (Bail).

At that point, Owen and Beru were an unknown. Neither Yoda or Obi-Wan had met them. The saga would have been more interesting if they never knew about Owen or Beru.



YODA: Split up, they should be.

BAIL ORGANA: My wife and I will take the girl. We've always talked of adopting a baby girl. She will be loved with us.

OBI-WAN: And what of the boy?

YODA: To Tatooine. To his family, err, junk dealer Watto send him.

OBI-WAN: I will take the child and watch over him. Wattos place is close to many canteenas.

 

The Jedi knew that Anakin had family on Tatooine. They knew he left Naboo with Padme because his mother was dying, and that he found extended family there. Anakin just didn't tell them about killing the Tuskens.

 

I guess that like some of you said, Yoda wanted the children to be with family... Organa volunteered right away so it seemed like the most rational decision and I think Yoda sensed that Luke was more Force sensitive that Leia so it would be better for Luke to be hidden more than Leia... right?

Rachel Rose

 

You don't need to make excuses for the film. Luke was watched over by Obi-Wan because the hero needed a mentor. Leia wasn't being watched over because he wasn't planning on making them related at the time. That's all there is to it.

 

Yes, we know that. We're looking at the completed Saga as in universe, not outside looking in. Anyway, Vader knew that Leia would be as powerful as Luke because all Force users who have children that are almost always as powerful as the parent. Or in this case, being a twin, she would have the same power levels as Luke. Thus Leia was just as likely a good choice to make a Sith as Luke.