Was There a Reason Given for Why Luke Skywalker Did Not Train Other Younglings After Defeating Palpatine and Ending the War?

After The Force Awakens climactically ending the war against the Sith and defeating Darth Sidious, why did Luke Skywalker choose to isolate himself, leaving the training of younglings to fall to others? This article explores the reasons behind his decision, including:

Reasons for Not Training Younglings

Trauma

Luke Skywalker's trajectory towards becoming a renowned Jedi hero also led him to experience profound trauma. From the fall of his father, Darth Vader, to the near-corruption of his last remaining student, Ben Solo (Kylo Ren), Luke's personal and professional journey left him deeply scarred. Reflecting on these traumatic moments, Luke was hesitant to repeat the Jedi Order's past mistakes.

Fear of Repeating the Past

The Star Wars prequel trilogy vividly narrates the complex internal conflicts and political entanglements within the Jedi Order. Fearing that by rebuilding the Jedi Order, Luke might recreate the same issues, he chose to avoid them. The risks involved in recreating a formal, structured Order were significant, and Luke decided to pursue a safer path.

Different Vision for the Force

Besides his fear of repeating the past, Luke's connection with the Force led him towards a more personal, less-structured approach. He believed a formal Jedi Order might not be necessary, and his new vision for using the Force was more suited to an individualized path, giving him more control over who and how he would train.

Lack of Resources

As a lone surviving Jedi, Luke faced the challenge of rebuilding a large-scale Jedi academy. The resources required to establish and maintain such an institution were vast. Given his limited means, Luke decided to only train Rey, who showed unique potential and aligning with his vision for the future.

Reasons for Training Rey

Unique Potential

Rey's raw Force abilities and inherent goodness immediately struck a chord with Luke. Recognizing her potential and the lessons she could teach even before he began her training, Luke felt a duty to nurture her. Her natural gifts made her an ideal candidate to carry on the Jedi legacy.

Hope for the Future

As the dark side resurfaced, Luke sensed the imminent threat it posed. Seeing Rey as a critical figure in resisting it and restoring balance to the Force, Luke felt a sense of urgency. He hoped that by training her, he could help prevent the same mistakes he made with Ben Solo.

Personal Connection

Bethinking back on his failed attempt to train Ben Solo, Luke was left with a heavy heart. Training Rey offered him an opportunity for redemption and the chance to fulfill his legacy in a different way. It was a means to make amends for his past failures and ensure that the Jedi Order remained a force for good.

From Isolation to Redemption

After his failure with Ben Solo, Luke realized that the Jedi Order, and possibly even he himself, might be a greater danger to the galaxy than a help. He sincerely did not want to risk losing Rey in the way he had lost his son. The irony is not lost on Luke when Rey says, "Why not I've seen your daily routine and you are not busy" to his statement, "You need a teacher. I can't teach you." Perhaps had Rey challenged him further and mentioned Kylo Ren, Luke would have taken notice and changed his path.

Conclusion

Through a combination of trauma, concerns over repeating past mistakes, a distinct vision for the Force, and the unique potential of Rey, Luke Skywalker's decision to isolate himself and choose Rey for training deeply reflects his personal growth and the challenges faced by the Jedi Order in a changing galaxy.