Luke Skywalker. Farm boy on some backwater planet Tatooine , that's 'farthest' from the 'bright center' of the universe. Farming mushrooms on his Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru's farm, far from any major cities, he lives an isolated life with just a handful of friends to socialize with.
His aunt and uncle are the only parents he's ever known, and doesn't know much, if anything of substance about his mother or father.
He's a simple, honest young man with a penchant for day-dreaming of a better life. One that seems to elude him, season after season. But he's patient and respectful, does his chores and continue's to hope.
This simple and uneventful life is turned upside-down when he returns home, fearing the worst, and finds the only parents he's ever known tragically incinerated to the bone- killed by the 'Empire'!
He could have stayed. He could have buried Owen & Veru, mourned their deaths and in their honor , continued on with the farm...but he didn't. He wanted revenge for them; he wanted justice!
He believed that this 'crazy old wizard' Obi Wan(Ben) Kenobi, who's company he now shared , could possibly serve him somehow, in some measure , in his quest for that very thing.
So he joined him. He decided to assist him in his new commission...and learn about this mysterious 'force' Ben was talking about. Something he NEVER heard of before, but piqued his interest deep down inside.
Understand this: Luke had no military training. He had no practical world experience- he only knew farm life. The only weapon's he's ever shot were antiquated blasters. And although he has an uncanny skill as a pilot, he never flew a fighter of any kind.
Only his T-16 served as 'training', where he would blast Womp Rats a few meters large for fun. I'm sure he imagined those Womp Rats were Tie fighters in his young mind!
Luke had no tactical training. He had NOTHING really to prepare him for the adventure he was about to embark upon.
Upon the Death Star , he witnesses the second greatest tragedy of his life- the 'death' of Ben Kenobi! Obi-Wan was the only person who could train him in the ways of the 'force'. The only person in fact who ever even SPOKE of it!
First of all, he began to love Ben as a father figure. So raw from the emotional devastation of his aunt and uncle's death , he clings to Ben for comfort and 'family'.
So when he sees Darth Vader slay Ben ,Luke is enraged! He fires his blaster's with anger and passion, but Obi-Wan's soft voice is heard in his head saying, "Run Luke run-!" ...so he does!
Again he had no formal training with pistol blaster's , grappling hooks or 'anti-aircraft' cannons (aboard the Millenium Falcon), but somehow he excels.
Maybe it's revenge that drives him...a sense of justice needed. But whatever, Luke doesn't look back, and that must have taken tremendous self-control and internal discipline!
Fast-forward to the the attack on the Death Star.
Luke never sat in the cock-pit of an X-Wing fighter, but that didn't matter that day. It was 'do or die', so what little experience he got from the flight simulator on Yavin prior to launch would have to suffice.
Did he think to himself that I have no real experience here with this incredible war machine? Did he worry he wouldn't be able to preform, putting not only his life at risk but also his fellow pilots?
NO.
He did not! He trudged forward.
Luke put his faith in technology as all the others did. And although the Commander briefing the pilots of their mission in the war room on Yavin imparts "May the 'force' be with you", few took it to heart.
The first bombing run against the Death Star fails.
And when the Commander of 'Red Squadron' fail's to penetrate the exhaust port in his attack run, he orders Luke to use what pilots are left of the 'Red' to complete the mission!
This is where Luke proves himself. This is where he rises above all other's in cinematic history as the greatest hero.
From farm boy with absolutely no military training, no real world experience, no family- they were all just tragically killed-!, no firm grasp of the 'force', one friend Biggs, and no practical "in cockpit" know-how , he begins his attack run!
While in the trench Wedge , a fellow X-Wing pilot says : "Are you sure the computer can hit it?"
Biggs, Luke's childhood friend is killed.
Wedge is hit, but has to get clear- he can't do any more good.
So now all the pressure's on Luke. The last one- the last hope!
Vader is behind him with two wing men.
Luke's shot-! , but not bad.
Suddenly he here's a voice, and it strangely sounds like Ben!
"Let go Luke" it says, "Trust your feelings!".
Luke turns off his targeting computer.
What?!!!
Commander's on Yavin respond: "Luke ,you turned off your targeting computer"!
Luke says,"I'm alright!"
Luke trusts his feeling. He trusts the voice in his head. Not technology.Not the simulation training. Not his past experiences.
He trusts the 'Force'. He takes a leap of faith , putting millions of lives at risk and TRUSTS this invisible essence he just recently was introduced to.
He had no practical reason to do so. He didn't know the 'force' ,and his mentor who could teach him about it was dead.
Still, Luke didn't waver.
The 'force' came through for him because unexpectedly Han Solo comes out of nowhere and clears Luke's shot!
The 'force' served as his targeting computer. The 'force' pulled the trigger.
With 'the force', Luke destroyed the Death Star. Luke got his revenge and justice.
He went against convention, common sense and contemporary thinking.
He trusted his heart...and he won!
So much at stake. No proof of success using the 'force'. So many people depending upon him. The memory of his family in the balance.
It's enough to make your head explode.
But he pulled it off. Against all odds, with just a second to spare!
Now that's a hero!
Headlopper