# Luke Skywalker "adoption" thoughts
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luke-skywalker-adoption-thoughts/271711
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [October 28, 2004, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luke-skywalker-adoption-thoughts/271711 "2004-10-28T19:26:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@DogMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DogMom)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2004, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luke-skywalker-adoption-thoughts/271711/1 "2004-10-28T19:26:02Z")
This just popped into my head this morning and I’m not sure why it did, so I decided to share it with y’all and see what you thought of it.
It just occurred to me that Luke Skywalker must’ve had…well…not the ideal relationship with his Aunt & Uncle. For one thing, it was made pretty obvious that he knew from early on (I think, but I’m not sure and will cheerfully accept correction on the timing) that he **was not** their child. The way at least his uncle interacted with him I got the impression that he wasn’t exactly **welcome** , either - they’d agreed to raise him out of some sense of family duty, perhaps, but not necessarily because they _wanted_ him.
He called them “Aunt” and “Uncle”, for one thing - never “mom” or “dad” - which, from my conversations with friends who are adoptees seems rather unusual. Even if they know their birth parents, the ones who raised them are still Mom & Dad. To have him call the people who raised him “Aunt” and “Uncle” seems a bit…odd…again, **unless** they wanted to make it clear that he was _not_ their child in any sense of the word.
Anyone else have any thoughts on the matter?
(And yes, I realize this has probably been hashed out before, but I ran a search of CS and didn’t see anything that related. Sorry if this has been done to death already.)
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2004, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luke-skywalker-adoption-thoughts/271711/2 "2004-10-28T19:46:16Z")
> [@DogMom](#):
>
> Anyone else have any thoughts on the matter?
Yeah, I wonder if J.K. Rowling is a Star Wars fan.
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### Author:  [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2004, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luke-skywalker-adoption-thoughts/271711/3 "2004-10-28T19:50:05Z")
> [@DogMom](#):
>
> He called them “Aunt” and “Uncle”, for one thing - never “mom” or “dad” - which, from my conversations with friends who are adoptees seems rather unusual. Even if they know their birth parents, the ones who raised them are still Mom & Dad. To have him call the people who raised him “Aunt” and “Uncle” seems a bit…odd…again, **unless** they wanted to make it clear that he was _not_ their child in any sense of the word.
I don’t think that’s so strange. If I were raising the (hypothetical) children of a sibling, I would expect to be called “Uncle.” It’s still a familiar term.
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### Author:  [@Padeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Padeye)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2004, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luke-skywalker-adoption-thoughts/271711/4 "2004-10-28T20:09:33Z")
Maybe…when Lucas was writing the scripts in the mid seventies he didn’t antipicate, or worry about, discussion groups on the Internet discussing the story’s shortcomings.
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### Author:  [@DogMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DogMom)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2004, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luke-skywalker-adoption-thoughts/271711/5 "2004-10-28T20:36:18Z")
Well, yes, obviously Lucas couldn’t’ve forseen message boards and so forth. Sorry, I didn’t mean it as a “shortcoming”, just something that occurred to me, that’s all. Actually, it was more of an accepting the Star Wars world as “real”, for a moment, and the thought of, “geez, that must’ve sucked for him.”
Especially since we find out in _Clones_ that Owen was Anakin’s stepbrother, at best, and no blood relation at all.
And my brain just evidently put all that together this morning:
1. Owen wasn’t a Skywalker
2. Luke was raised by “Uncle Owen” and “Aunt Beru” and evidently had never called them “mom” and “dad”
3. They didn’t give him their last name, either
4. Owen seemed to resent Luke even being there; telling him all kinds of things about his dad and then finishing it up with basically “and don’t you ever become like him”.
Again, all this was based on the premise that “the story _did_ happen”, rather than “hey, look how stupid Lucas was”.
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### Author:  [@aaslatten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaslatten)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2004, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luke-skywalker-adoption-thoughts/271711/6 "2004-10-28T20:40:38Z")
First of all, is Uncle Owen really his uncle? I mean, is he really Anakin’s brother?
(I’m avoiding the prequels.)
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### Author:  [@aaslatten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaslatten)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2004, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luke-skywalker-adoption-thoughts/271711/7 "2004-10-28T20:41:50Z")
> [@aaslatten](#):
>
> First of all, is Uncle Owen really his uncle? I mean, is he really Anakin’s brother?
>
> (I’m avoiding the prequels.)
Sorry, I missed that DogMom had already addressed this.
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### Author:  [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luke-skywalker-adoption-thoughts/271711/8 "2004-10-28T20:49:14Z")
> [@DogMom](#):
>
> 1. Owen seemed to resent Luke even being there; telling him all kinds of things about his dad and then finishing it up with basically “and don’t you ever become like him”.
Where in the world do you get this from? He acted towards him just like any other father working a farm would have. Luke was absolutely needed where he was - there’s evidence the farm was shorthanded at the time, even. Additionally, there’s genuine care and concern towards Luke radiating from Beru when she and Owen are alone, and Owen’s comments in that scene show nothing but protectiveness, not resentment.
Of course Owen didn’t want Luke following in the steps of his father (at that point, just a pilot in the Clone Wars) - he needed him on the farm, not dead. Owen thought he knew exactly what would happen if Luke ventured out into the world - he’d become a reckless adventurer or soldier, only to be smashed by the Empire.
And I’ve known plenty of people raised by aunts and uncles, who refer to them as such, not as mother and father.
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### Author:  [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luke-skywalker-adoption-thoughts/271711/9 "2004-10-28T20:49:43Z")
I don’t think Luke had the ideal relationship with his Aunt and Uncle. This is more evident is Owen’s harsh attitude towards Luke than in how Luke addresses his uncle.
But I also think Owen felt some sort of responsibilty towrds Luke, too. He tried his damnedest to keep him on Tattooine where he would be safe.
Also, not Peter Parker called the people who raised him “Aunt May” and “Uncle Ben” and he had a great relationship with them.
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### Author:  [@DogMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DogMom)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2004, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luke-skywalker-adoption-thoughts/271711/10 "2004-10-28T20:55:22Z")
I _don’t_ blame you for avoiding the prequels, they’re horribler than horrible.
Brief synopsis for you.
In _Phantom_ Anakin is “discovered” by…um…yeah. Two Jedis. Obi-Wan Kenobi and Liam Neeson. Whatever. Anyway, he & his mom are slaves to this flying…thing. Looks like a giant slug with wings and arms.
In _Clones_, we discover that Anakin’s-Mom Skywalker (forgot her name; it’s not important) has been freed by the giant slug with wings & arms (perhaps purchased by Owen’s dad. I forget. My brain was actively trying to leave the theater by this point.) and has married Owen’s dad. Since the marriage has taken place between the movies, and Owen is older than Anakin, obviously Owen can’t be Anakin’s-Mom Skywalker’s son. Therefore, she’s his stepmom, and he’s Anakin’s stepbrother.
\
Oh, like _that_ was coherent on my part. Ah, well, sorry - it’s the best I can do.
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### Author:  [@aaslatten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aaslatten)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2004, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luke-skywalker-adoption-thoughts/271711/11 "2004-10-28T21:00:53Z")
> [@Maus Magill](#):
>
> Also, not Peter Parker called the people who raised him “Aunt May” and “Uncle Ben” and he had a great relationship with them.
Also Dorothy’s Uncle Henry and Auntie Em.
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### Author:  [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2004, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luke-skywalker-adoption-thoughts/271711/12 "2004-10-28T21:19:37Z")
> [@Lute Skywatcher](#):
>
> Yeah, I wonder if J.K. Rowling is a Star Wars fan.
🙂 There is a bit of similarity, isn’t there? Especially the way Dogmom describes Lukes situtaion. Of course, Rowling has stated more than once–and rather emphatically–that she will not have any Star Wars “I am your father” revelations in her books.
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### Author:  [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2004, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luke-skywalker-adoption-thoughts/271711/13 "2004-10-28T21:44:10Z")
Add my name to the list of people that didn’t think Owen and Beru didn’t show any on screen hostility towards Luke. He and Owen have a fight, but then so do most fathers and sons. Beru seems very warm towards him, and Owen seems genuinely worried about Luke’s future, given what became of his father.
A related question, it’s been a while since I’ve seen the films, but don’t they state that Luke was given to Owen and Beru to hide him from Vader? You’d think if Vader was looking for his son, his mothers relations would’ve been the first place he’d look.
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### Author:  [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2004, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luke-skywalker-adoption-thoughts/271711/14 "2004-10-28T21:51:26Z")
> [@Malodorous](#):
>
> A related question, it’s been a while since I’ve seen the films, but don’t they state that Luke was given to Owen and Beru to hide him from Vader? You’d think if Vader was looking for his son, his mothers relations would’ve been the first place he’d look.
Yes, but it isn’t clear that Vader knows about them. One would assume that if he had, he’d be searching much harder, as would the Emperor. My guess is that Amidala finds out she’s knocked up just as Anakin makes the final transition to evil, and Obi-Wan takes the twins to be raised seperately - Leia on Alderan, Luke by family on Tatooine. I would also imagine that both adopting sets of parents would be told that the child is an orphan, not the spawn of the second most evil person in the galaxy.
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### Author:  [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2004, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luke-skywalker-adoption-thoughts/271711/15 "2004-10-28T21:54:44Z")
> [@Malodorous](#):
>
> A related question, it’s been a while since I’ve seen the films, but don’t they state that Luke was given to Owen and Beru to hide him from Vader? You’d think if Vader was looking for his son, his mothers relations would’ve been the first place he’d look.
Only if he _knew_ about the kid. If Padme gets knocked up but Anakin never finds out…
Then years later when some punk kid blows up the Deathstar and Vader asks, “Who the hell was that???.. What? Skywalker, you say.”
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### Author:  [@Rufus\_Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rufus_Xavier)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2004, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luke-skywalker-adoption-thoughts/271711/16 "2004-10-28T22:01:51Z")
If Vader doesn’t know he has children, how does he know Luke is his son in _Empire_? You might be able to say he ‘senses’ it, but, after all, he is in very close proximity to his daughter in several scenes in the original movie, and ‘senses’ nothing about her relationship to him. In fact, as Star Wars begins, Vader’s ship is capturing the ship his daughter is in, and right above the planet where his son lives, as well as his old Jedi master. All he wants at that point, though, is the Death Star plans.
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### Author:  [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2004, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luke-skywalker-adoption-thoughts/271711/17 "2004-10-28T22:08:01Z")
> [@Rufus Xavier](#):
>
> If Vader doesn’t know he has children, how does he know Luke is his son in _Empire_? You might be able to say he ‘senses’ it, but, after all, he is in very close proximity to his daughter in several scenes in the original movie, and ‘senses’ nothing about her relationship to him.
Just more signs of George’s crappy storytelling.
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### Author:  [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2004, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luke-skywalker-adoption-thoughts/271711/18 "2004-10-28T22:10:33Z")
I think the assumption is that he found out about Luke’s existence from STAR WARS (soi-disant A NEW HOPE), and that he investigated off-screen between STAR WARS and EMPIRE STRIKES B. He must not have known of the existence of the boy – I mean, Luke bears the Skywalker name, lives with his aunt and uncle, on Anakin’s home planet… It wouldn’t have been hard to find him, if Vader had been looking. The only explanation is that Vader wasn’t looking… until the events of STAR WARS made him aware.
That would be the logical explanation.
Of course, there is the implication that D. Vader was the one responsible for the death of Beru and Owen… while looking for the droid with the missing plans. Presumably, he didn’t search the place too carefully or he would certainly have found evidence of Luke’s existenc. And presumably he didn’t interrogate Beru and Owen, either, just sizzled 'em.
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### Author:  [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2004, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luke-skywalker-adoption-thoughts/271711/19 "2004-10-28T22:11:12Z")
Yeah I presumed that since Vader knew he was Luke’s father at the end of ESB, he must’ve known he had a son. Now that I think about it though, stormtroopers sack Owen and Beru’s farm and presumably interrogate them before killing them. These stormtroopers probably reported directly to Vader, who at that point would’ve discovered that his stepfather was raising a boy with his last name.
At the end of RotJ, Vader is suprised to find, by reading Luke’s mind, that he has a twin sister. So I think its obvious Vader wasn’t present for the birth of his children.
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### Author:  [@Malodorous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malodorous)
#### Post date: [October 28, 2004, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/luke-skywalker-adoption-thoughts/271711/20 "2004-10-28T22:17:35Z")
> [@C K Dexter Haven](#):
>
> Of course, there is the implication that D. Vader was the one responsible for the death of Beru and Owen… while looking for the droid with the missing plans. Presumably, he didn’t search the place too carefully or he would certainly have found evidence of Luke’s existenc. And presumably he didn’t interrogate Beru and Owen, either, just sizzled 'em.
I think Vader could’ve made the discovery here. He doesn’t talk about it until ESB, but he doesn’t really meet face to face with Luke until then. I suppose it’s a little odd that he and Obi didn’t discuss it when they met on the Death Star, but they did have a lot of other things on their minds at that point.
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