Why does Rey have Luke's lightsaber?

In the Star Wars sequels, Rey inherits Luke Skywalker’s original blue lightsaber, which plays a crucial role in her journey as a Jedi and as the new hope for the galaxy. The lightsaber itself carries immense significance—not just as a weapon but as a symbol of legacy, destiny, and connection to the Force. Here’s the story behind why Rey has Luke’s lightsaber:

Luke Skywalker’s Lightsaber: The Legacy and the Connection

Luke Skywalker’s blue lightsaber originally belonged to his father, Anakin Skywalker (Darth Vader). It was the saber that Anakin used in his battles during the Clone Wars, and later, it became Luke's weapon when Obi-Wan Kenobi gave it to him in A New Hope. Luke used this lightsaber in many key moments, including his first confrontation with Darth Vader and the Emperor in Return of the Jedi.

However, Luke loses his lightsaber in The Empire Strikes Back when Darth Vader cuts off his hand and the saber falls into the depths of Cloud City. The weapon was later retrieved by Leia Organa after Luke’s fall.

Luke's Saber Before Rey: The Journey

In Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, the saber mysteriously returns to the story after many years. It has traveled through various hands before it reaches Rey. After the events of Return of the Jedi, where the saber was presumed lost, it eventually comes into the possession of Maz Kanata in The Force Awakens.

• Maz Kanata is the owner of the lightsaber and is the one who gives it to Rey when the Force calls her to it. Rey does not understand its significance at first, but she has an instinctive connection to the weapon. She feels the Force within it, and it calls to her in a way that leads her to take the saber.

• Why Rey?: The fact that the saber calls out to Rey suggests that she has a deep connection to the Force and that she is, in some way, tied to the legacy of the Skywalker family. It is a symbolic passing of the torch—the weapon that once belonged to Luke and his father, Anakin, is now in the hands of a new Force-wielder, Rey.

The Symbolism of the Saber

Luke's lightsaber is not just a weapon—it's a symbol of the Skywalker family and their involvement in the galaxy's fate. By the time Rey inherits it, the saber represents:

1. The Legacy of the Skywalkers: The saber has passed through the hands of Anakin, Luke, and now Rey, highlighting her connection to the Skywalker legacy, even though Rey is not a Skywalker by blood.

2. Rey’s Destiny: The lightsaber calling to Rey is a powerful sign of her connection to the Force and her destiny to carry on the work of the Jedi, much like her predecessors. In The Force Awakens, when Rey touches the saber, she experiences visions of past events, connecting her to the galaxy's history and the struggles that have shaped the future.

3. Luke’s Influence: Although Rey doesn’t initially know the full weight of what the saber represents, it eventually becomes clear that Rey is following in the footsteps of Luke Skywalker and taking on his legacy as the next generation of Jedi.

Rey’s Connection to the Saber in The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker

The Last Jedi

In The Last Jedi, Rey continues to wield Luke’s saber. When she attempts to convince Luke to return and help the Resistance, the saber represents not only her link to the past but also her hope for the future. During her training with Luke, Rey learns that the Jedi are not meant to cling to the past but to embrace the future. Eventually, Rey uses the saber in her battle against Kylo Ren, solidifying her identity as the new hope for the Jedi.

The Rise of Skywalker

In The Rise of Skywalker, Rey becomes even more closely tied to the Skywalker legacy. It’s revealed that she is actually the granddaughter of Emperor Palpatine, but she decides to carry the Skywalker name as a way of honoring the Jedi who came before her. By the end of the film, Rey has crafted her own lightsaber—a yellow-bladed saber—signifying her own connection to the Force and the Jedi Order, while still holding onto the legacy that Luke and Anakin created.

The Saber’s Significance to Rey’s Journey

1. Embracing the Force: The lightsaber is the key to Rey's awakening. It’s a physical manifestation of the Force calling her to action. Throughout the sequels, the saber is used in moments of growth, from her initial hesitations to wield it, to the final moments when she claims her place as a Jedi.

2. Luke’s Teaching: When Rey inherits the saber, she is not just picking up a weapon; she is taking on the responsibility of everything Luke and Anakin fought for. Luke Skywalker becomes a mentor in the Force, even after his death, appearing to Rey as a Force Ghost and teaching her the most important lesson: the balance between hope and failure.

3. The Continuation of the Jedi: The saber's passage from Luke to Rey represents the Jedi’s ability to endure. Even after the near-total destruction of the Jedi Order, the legacy of the Jedi is not lost—it continues through Rey, who rises as the new champion of the Force.

Conclusion

Rey having Luke’s lightsaber is a powerful narrative device that connects her to the Skywalker legacy and symbolizes her destiny as the next generation of Jedi. The saber is not just a weapon; it’s a bridge between past, present, and future, carrying the weight of the Skywalker family's impact on the galaxy. Through Rey’s journey, she reclaims the Force for the future, learning from the mistakes of the past and charting her own path as the last hope for the Jedi.

The blue lightsaber’s legacy is far from over, as it represents the timeless struggle between the light and dark sides of the Force—a theme central to Star Wars and Rey’s own story.

For more on Rey and the history of the lightsaber, you can check out her profile on the Star Wars Wiki.