Archetypes Group

Project:
The Empire Strikes
Back
By: Grayson Young and Luke Karouna
Synopsis
The movie begins with the rebel base on Hoth being discovered and attacked by the
Empire. After the battle, Luke Skywalker travels to the planet Dagobah to be trained as a
jedi by Yoda. He then travels to Cloud City on Bespin, where he rescues his friends and
fights Darth Vader before escaping.
Devil Figure:Darth Vader
Darth Vader is the main antagonist of
The Empire Strikes Back. During the
film, he dispatches scouts from the
Galactic Empire to hunt the Rebel
Alliance. He intends to annihilate the
rebels for his own selfish desires. In a
confrontation, he tempts the protagonist
and offers him to rule the galaxy
together, however he is rejected and this
leads to him severing Luke Skywalker’s
arm.
Loyal Retainers: C-3PO and R2-D2

The two droids are consistently

supporting the heroes of the film, and
are often essential to their success or
survival.
Good Vs. Evil:
The lightsaber duel between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in cloud city is a symbolic
battle between good and evil. Luke represents good, fighting for the freedom of the
galaxy, while Darth vader represents evil, by seeking to rule the galaxy. Ultimately, in the
climax of the duel over cloud city, evil triumphs over good and Luke is forced to retreat.
The Initiation

Luke’s time on Dagobah with Yoda

represents his transition from a
lightsaber-wielding hero to a jedi,
through Yoda’s teaching and training.
Luke even faced a manifestation of
Darth Vader at the end of his training,
symbolizing his initiation into the jedi.
Light Vs. Darkness:
The rebellion’s constant conflict against
the galactic empire is a symbolic
representation of the struggle between
light and darkness. The rebellion is often
referred to as the light side, representative
of their hope and good will. On the other
hand, the galactic empire is known as the
dark side, due their malice and the despair
they bring about.
Heaven vs. Hell
The design of Cloud City demonstrates a heaven and hell dynamic by presenting it
originally as a majestic structure up high in the clouds that would be a place of rest and
comfort for the heroes. When Darth Vader arrives though, they travel deeper into the city,
which is portrayed as dark, cramped corridors where Luke fights Vader.
Works Cited:
https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Star_Wars:_Episode_V_The_Empire_Strikes_Back
https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/movie/empire-strikes-back/summary
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Empire_Strikes_Back
https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Duel_on_Cloud_City/Legends#:~:text=The%20Duel%20on%20
Cloud%20City,his%20hand%20in%20the%20process
.
https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Galactic_Civil_War