Yes, this too. (Off-Topic)

by CruelLEGACEY , Toronto, Wednesday, January 24, 2018, 16:36 (2579 days ago) @ Harmanimus

commit premeditated murder

Citation needed.

There are 3 Rashamon-inspired flashbacks. One with no Lightsaber. One from the perspective of a scared child already poisoned by the darkside. One from an uncle who feels that his instinctual readying of his lightsaber was abhorent. I think this is very deliberately done to illustrate a shame Luke has and does it well. By the end of RotJ, and as is illustrated through his mentions in TFA, Luke was considered a legend, and in TLJ he admits he was struck down by pride - by believing his own legend. And that is very human. Even more human than Luke behaved throughout RotJ except when he embraced anger and struck down Vader.

At least that is where I am coming from and still having a hard time marrying what you describe to what is on screen.

I am really enjoying this discussion beeteedubs. Most of the folks I’ve discussed it with came away with a similar perspective re: Luke as I did. So it is refreshing to hear about other interpretations that don’t just claim character homocide.

You perfectly described what I was trying to say. Luke’s actions were instinctual. That line in and of itself communicates the magnitude of what he saw when he searched Ben’s feelings. He saw such darkness and anger that he involuntarily drew his lightsaber. Luke Skywalker, who stood alone next to Vader AND the Emporer and kept his cool (for a while), was so freaked out that his threat-detection instincts took over and he drew his weapon.