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[[Luke Skywalker]], in the ''[[Star Wars]]'' cycle, is definitely a hero. Not only does he work with and serve other characters in a just cause, but also—and most important—in the course of the three installments of that cycle in which he appears, Luke Skywalker must make a life-changing decision, based on a perspective that changes his entire sense of his life, and accept the consequences of that decision. It is not enough that Luke Skywalker joins the rebellion and accepts training as a [[Jedi Knight]] (though he breaks that training at a critical moment, a mistake that nearly costs him his life). As his instructors make clear, he must face a brutal fact: that his father, whom he had long assumed had died by an act of murder, is in fact his foremost antagonist, and that he, Luke, is likely to become just as evil as his father did if he is not careful with the Force with which he has chosen to play.

[[Luke Skywalker]], in the ''[[Star Wars]]'' cycle, is definitely a hero. Not only does he work with and serve other characters in a just cause, but also—and most important—in the course of the three installments of that cycle in which he appears, Luke Skywalker must make a life-changing decision, based on a perspective that changes his entire sense of his life, and accept the consequences of that decision. It is not enough that Luke Skywalker joins the rebellion and accepts training as a [[Jedi Knight]] (though he breaks that training at a critical moment, a mistake that nearly costs him his life). As his instructors make clear, he must face a brutal fact: that his father, whom he had long assumed had died by an act of murder, is in fact his foremost antagonist, and that he, Luke, is likely to become just as evil as his father did if he is not careful with the Force with which he has chosen to play.

[[Anakin Skywalker]], also known as [[Darth Vader]], is clearly the anti-hero of the first three (chronological) installments in the series. He means well to begin with, but in the end succumbs to the blandishments of Senator (later Emperor) [[Palpatine]] and devotes himself to evil rather than good. In the next three installments, Darth Vader appears as a villain—but in fact Darth Vader is still an anti-hero, and in the very last installment makes the crucial decision to defect from the cause of evil when his own son comes under mortal threat.

[[Anakin Skywalker]], also known as [[Darth Vader]], is clearly the anti-hero of the first three (chronological) installments in the series. He means well to begin with, but in the end succumbs to the blandishments of Senator (later Emperor) [[Palpatine]] and devotes himself to evil rather than good. In the next three installments, Darth Vader appears as a villain—but in fact Darth Vader is still an anti-hero, and in the very last installment makes the crucial decision to defect from the cause of evil when his own son comes under mortal threat. That decision costs him his life, but in the after-life his former instructors welcome him into the club of old Jedi Knights powerful enough to continue to influence people and events even after death.

Palpatine is, of course, the chief villain in all six installments. Like any villain, he is stopped only by death. [[Obi-wan Kenobi]] qualifies as a hero in the first three installments and an anti-villain in the next three.

Palpatine is, of course, the chief villain in all six installments. Like any villain, he is stopped only by death. [[Obi-wan Kenobi]] qualifies as a hero in the first three installments and an anti-villain in the next three.