Chapter 36: Star Wars — Summary and Analysis
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
In English class, Ms. Schultz opens a discussion about how heroes grow in the Star Wars movies, specifically mentioning Luke, Han, and Leia. The conversation quickly turns to which film each student likes best. More than half the class, including the narrator, names Star Wars: A New Hope as their favorite—a movie they have loved since age seven. The narrator explains that although Ben Kenobi's death is sad, it is the moment Luke begins to understand the Force. She adds that the scenes where Ben's voice reaches Luke give her chills, because even though Ben is gone, he still lives in Luke's heart.
Most of the other students choose Return of the Jedi as their favorite, citing its happy ending, the redemption of Darth Vader, the final triumph of good over evil, and the Ewoks. The narrator agrees that it is her second favorite, since she loves happy endings. Only one student, Pete, selects The Empire Strikes Back. Sarah and John object, saying it is too sad—Han is frozen, Luke learns the big bad guy is his dad—and that it ends on a cliffhanger. Pete counters that it is the most interesting movie of the three because it shows what happens when the bad guys fight back hard, and it is about learning how to be a hero even when your father is the most evil guy in the universe. He pauses, and the faint white scar under his eye seems more prominent. He adds that the cliffhanger made everyone want the next movie even more, calling it smart marketing, and the class laughs.
Ms. Schultz acknowledges Pete's point and steers the discussion toward how the heroes grow in that second movie and how that growth applies to the books they have been reading. The class moves on, but the narrator cannot stop thinking about the look on Pete's face when he talked about learning Darth Vader is your father.
Key Events
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Ms. Schultz leads a class discussion about hero growth in Star Wars, referencing Luke, Han, and Leia.
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More than half the class, including the narrator, names A New Hope as their favorite.
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The narrator explains that Ben Kenobi's death is when Luke begins to understand the Force, and that Ben's voice still reaches him.
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Most other students choose Return of the Jedi for its happy ending, Vader's redemption, and the Ewoks; the narrator ranks it second.
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Pete is the only student to pick The Empire Strikes Back.
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Sarah and John object, calling it too sad and unfinished.
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Pete argues it is the most interesting film because it shows heroes learning despite an evil father.
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Ms. Schultz acknowledges Pete's point and redirects the class to apply the films to their reading.
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The narrator is struck by Pete's expression when he mentions learning Darth Vader is your father.
Character Development
The narrator reveals her deep emotional connection to stories, especially ones that explore mentorship and legacy. Her preference for A New Hope stems from the way Ben Kenobi's death becomes a turning point for Luke—a moment when the mentor's voice continues to guide the hero from within. This suggests that the narrator values the idea that loved ones can live on through memory and influence, a theme that resonates with her own life.
Pete's choice of The Empire Strikes Back and his passionate defense of it hint at a personal layer beneath his words. The narrator notices the scar under his eye and the way his expression shifts when he talks about learning that your father is the most evil guy in the universe. This moment implies that Pete may be drawing on his own experiences, though the chapter does not explicitly confirm this. His ability to find value in struggle and an unfinished story shows a maturity that contrasts with the other students' preference for neat resolutions.
Ms. Schultz demonstrates effective teaching by validating Pete's perspective and using it to deepen the class's analysis. She encourages students to connect fictional hero journeys to the literature they are reading, modeling how stories can illuminate real-life challenges.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
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Hero's Journey: The discussion centers on how Luke, Han, and Leia grow as heroes, with each film representing a different stage of that journey.
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Mentorship and Legacy: The narrator highlights Ben Kenobi's death as the moment Luke begins to understand the Force, and Ben's voice continuing to reach him symbolizes how mentors live on through their teachings.
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Redemption: Return of the Jedi is favored for Vader's redemption, showing that even the most evil characters can change.
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Identity and Parentage: Pete's comment about learning Darth Vader is your father touches on the painful discovery of a parent's true nature, a theme that resonates with the narrator.
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Resilience and the Value of Struggle: Pete argues that The Empire Strikes Back is the most interesting because it shows heroes learning despite hardship, suggesting that struggle is essential to growth.
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Happy Endings vs. Cliffhangers: The class's split between A New Hope and Return of the Jedi versus The Empire Strikes Back reflects a broader tension between comfort and complexity in storytelling.
Why This Chapter Matters
This chapter uses a familiar cultural touchstone to explore deeper emotional and psychological themes that parallel the narrator's own life. The narrator's love for A New Hope and her emphasis on Ben Kenobi's lasting voice mirror her relationship with her mother, who is ill—she may be thinking about how a parent's influence can persist even after loss. Pete's reaction to the idea of an evil father hints at his own possible struggles, and the narrator's inability to stop thinking about his expression shows her growing empathy and curiosity about others' hidden pain.
The chapter also reinforces the novel's broader themes of identity, family, and resilience. By examining how heroes grow in the face of adversity, the characters—and the reader—are invited to consider how they might apply those lessons to their own challenges. The discussion about happy endings versus cliffhangers subtly questions whether life always provides neat resolutions, a theme that will likely resonate as the narrator faces her mother's illness and her own coming-of-age journey.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does the narrator prefer A New Hope over the other Star Wars movies?
The narrator prefers A New Hope because it shows Luke's growth after Ben Kenobi's death. She explains that Ben's death is when Luke begins to understand the Force, and that Ben's voice still reaches him. This emphasis on mentorship and legacy suggests that the narrator values the idea that a guide can continue to influence a hero even after death.
2. Why does Pete choose The Empire Strikes Back as his favorite, and how does he defend it?
Pete chooses The Empire Strikes Back because he finds it the most interesting of the three films. He argues that it is about what happens when the bad guys fight back hard, and that it shows heroes learning how to be heroes even when their father is the most evil guy in the universe. He also notes that the cliffhanger ending made everyone want the next movie even more, calling it smart marketing.
3. What effect does Pete's comment have on the narrator, and what might it suggest?
The narrator cannot stop thinking about the look on Pete's face when he talked about learning Darth Vader is your father. This suggests that she senses a personal connection between Pete and the theme of parental evil, possibly hinting at his own experiences. It also shows her growing empathy and her tendency to reflect on the hidden struggles of others.