Why wasn't Leia trained in the ways of the force?

You know, I just started thinking about this.

Why did Obi-Wan and Yoda only focus on Luke to train in the ways of the Jedi, and not Leia? Sure, she was the last hope if something was to happen to luke, but to me it seems pretty odd that they would put all their effort into one sibling, and not the other.

Also, try to give a In-Universe explanation.


Thoughts? Opinions?

 

I think it's just the way things worked out. Luke brought R2 and the message to Obi-Wan, who, naturally, started to train him. Yoda just completed that training that was already started. Had Leia successfully reached Obi-Wan first, without Luke, he probably would have trained her, then. That, and a female action-hero Jedi wouldn't have been received as well in the 1970s/1980s as it would be today.

 

In-universe answer.......One of them was given to a Jedi to watch. The other wasn't.

 

I guess it was assumed that Luke would train her in the ways of the Jedi after ROTJ, and he sorta did. The EU managed to frak that up big time. She was on the right track in The Thrawn trilogy, and the Dark Empire series, but it seemed that every other author after those works bounced back and forth on her Jediness until a few years ago. I guess the authors thought that she couldn't be the chancellor of the galaxy and a Jedi at the same time, so Leia(or the authors writing her), chose to neglect her Jedi skills.

 

I agree with heathdaniel, it was somewhat of a race of the force. If Leia had never got intercepted by Darth Vader and she made it to Obi Wan first, she might have been trained.

Also, it was just standard that the man was the hero and the woman was the damsel in distress back then. Thats just how things were written.

 

We hear in Epsiode III Kenobi saying that he would watch over Luke and Senator Organa saying that he would take the girl and adopt her. Unless there was a Jedi on Alderran somewhere, then the likelihood of Leia being trained was very slim. Luke had Obi-Wan watching over him from the time he was born.

 

Well, I think it was for the same reason why both were not trained in the Force from a very young age. If both of them had been trained, with the same Force potential as Anakin, the Sith would have sensed them miles away. As it was, Obi-Wan did not start training Luke until much later in his life, when A New Hope begins. Not to mention that Obi-Wan and Yoda had to keep themselves hidden from Jedi hunters, and I think they did not want to train more old guard Jedi -- like the Younglings of the Old Republic. As for Leia, she was already surrounded by the guardianship of an entire planetary government, and politics. Training her would have made her a lot more noticeable a target for the Imperial regime. Force-sensitivity is one thing, but focussed and trained Force-sensitivity is something else entirely. This is assuming, of course, that the Jedi themselves did not know how to cloak their presences with the Force.

And later, she was very much involved in politics to pursue the path of the Jedi. Of course, I also agree with the idea that she really should have been trained, and that the writers should have developed that in some way. In the end, it did happen, but still ... I do also see that Leia had another destiny apart from that of her brother. It's kind of like asking why Luke was not trained in politics. Different paths. I am glad though that Leia has learned to tap into her Force potential.

 

Luke had expressed interest in becoming a Jedi, while Leia had been a diplomatic representative who had never actually known Ob-Wan or Yoda.

 

Leia was the adopted daughter of a very high-profile senator, who would have been very much under the Emperor's eye. Training her in childhood was clearly impossible. By the time she was an adult, she was a senator herself and very much under surveillance - as her capture in the opening scenes of Episode IV attest.

One twin was given something like the upbringing she would have had as her mother's daughter. The other was raised by his father's stepbrother, in the same general environment that produced Anakin, if in different circumstances.

Obi-Wan had the opportunity to observe Luke as he grew, albeit from a distance. Luke's exploits as a bush-pilot were well known in his part of Tatooine. His dedication to his family would be both a point in his favor and a warning sign of Anakin-like attachments.

So Obi-Wan decided to begin Luke's training as soon as events required. Leia by this point was beyond his immediate reach.

 

The Jedi order was completely discredited at the end of episode 3. They became outlaws. If Leia had been trained in the force she would have drawn the attention of the emperor through normal channels--people snitching.

 

Isn't this topic already covered in multiple threads?

 

There were a group of former Jedi that had formed a community on Alderaan. The reason the Empire had never spotted them was that Alderaanians had never allowed any of their Force-talented children to be taken by the Jedi during the Old Republic.

 

I always thought it was because Leia (in my eyes) was much more like Anakin than Luke. Her personality leans towards Anakin, Luke's leans towards Padmé.

Cheers_Cazza

 

Why wasn't Leia trained in the ways of the force?

I think its the same way Luke didnt. It was dangerous and people using the Force had a greater probability of being detected by the Empire. Later on, she did have some training, but also more important duties, like being the New republic Chief of State.

 

And to add to that, here comes Jedi Leia walking by Palpatine, and he feels it........off with her head

 

And add to that, would Yoda like a Princess/Senator trudging all over his swamp in Dagobah ?

 

1. To protect her true powers.

2. There was no way for her to learn on Alderaan.

 

It was really just fate. I think Leia might have ended up with Luke, but Bail jumped right in there because the opportunity presented itself, wanted a child, and they were out of ideas. Bail had to leave ASAP to not garner attention, and the Jedi couldn't really linger. What would they say? No? They didn't exactly have custody themselves, and he saved their lives. Leia had a good life. Better than Luke and harder than Luke's in some ways. It wasn't because her mother was a senator. It was because she grew up with politics and it was a natural progression.

 

I think the possibilities of Leia growing up with Luke on Tatooine was very slim. It was just common sense that if they lived together they're presence would be too strong and the Emporer or Darth Vader would sense it. Bail wanted a daughter, and decided he'd take Leia instead of her just being left at some doorstep. But there was no way in hell that Yoda or Obi Wan could allow both of the twins to grow up together.

Leia wasn't trained in the force until after Endor because the force willed it so. If she HAD made it to Obi Wan and the Tantive IV wasn't attacked, she would probably be the one to be trained.

 

If she had made it to Obi Wan on Tatooine, then both of them would have been trained, imo.

 

But then they would have been easier to detect as well.

 

But they'd already be on their way to becoming Jedi. By the time the Emporer/Vader sensed them and started to move a fleet to Tatooine they'd be off to Alderaan anyway. I don't think Ben would've trained both of them them. IMO, If Leia made it to Tatooine with no problems, Ben would've trained her. Because Darth Vader and Tarkin captured her ship and she sent R2 to find Obi Wan, that was the force willing Luke to become the Jedi.

Kinda like a race of the force.

 

Leia was kept hidden from Vader as Luke was but she would grow up into politics and under the watchful eye of Bail Organa. While it was not Jedi training I will say that being trained as a politician would definitely help you when you started Jedi training because you have to be patient and diplomatic and aware. I sort of figure she was the backup in case Luke failed hence Yoda saying that there was a another. Who knows maybe the last two members of the Jedi Council felt it was a "man's" duty.

 

With the backstory of the PT now I think it's more that they found that Darth Vader would feel more of a connection and respect towards his son. Luke resembles Anakin in more than just looks. Vader would be able to feel the forgiveness from Luke and the unconditional love he had. Although Leia would make just as good of a Jedi as Luke, I think it would be harder for Vader for battling Leia. It would pretty much be looking straight at Padme, which could further enrage him or throw him back in the self pity pool where he could never start to forgive himself.

That's just an IU thought though, and connection of the Saga.

 

It was the circumstance, as mentioned above, of them being separated with Obi-Wan watching over Luke. Obi-Wan had a chance to explain (somewhat) to Luke the situation regarding the Jedi Order, had gained a commitment from Luke to become a Jedi, and had begun training him. He never had a chance to talk to Leia before he sacrificed himself on the Death Star. It would have seemed pretty silly if he had appeared in a vision to Leia in ESB and told her to go to Dagobah and be trained by Yoda.

Plus, she was their ace in the hole if anything bad happened to Luke.