TransWikia.com

How did Obi-Wan Kenobi know Luke's name in ANH?

Science Fiction & Fantasy Asked by user111166 on March 17, 2021

In Star Wars: A New Hope when Kenobi saves Luke from the Sand People and wakes him up. Without Luke giving his name, Kenobi calls him,

"young Luke."

Is there an explanation or is this just a movie mistake?

3 Answers

They were next door neighbours. Obi-Wan had known Luke all his life. Later on in the prequels George Lucas had Obi-Wan be the one who had brought Luke to Tatooine and Obi-Wan was only living there because of Luke, having always planned to train Luke if he grew into a good prospect.

Answered by David Johnston on March 17, 2021

Ben was present at Luke's birth and delivered him to his adopted parents at the end of Revenge of the Sith. He then installed himself in a nearby hovel to keep an eye on him and to defend him from potential attackers.

We see in the (canon) comics that he met with Luke on multiple occasions during his early years, initially visiting the family on occasion, then observing the boy from afar after his falling-out with Owen Lars, right up to age 17, just a couple of years before seeing him again in ANH.

Luke age (approx) 4
Panel 1: Obi-Wan stands with his hood up in his Jedi robes overlooking a young Luke who is sat cross legged on the side of a small building: Obi-Wan thinks "Instead of Sith Lords and bounty hunters, my days were spent battling monotony and inactivity. I should have been busier than ever. I should have been training the boy." Panel 2: Close up on Luke still in the same position, Obi-Wan carries on: "But his uncle never allowed it. And I suppose there was a part of me that couldn't blame him."
Star Wars #7

Luke age (approx) 7
Close up on Luke's head holding a box of parts excited wearing a cowboy hat with goggles on it covering long hair, he says "But these... these are... Skyhopper parts!" Panel 2: Zoomed out view of Luke now looking up "Ha ha! Thanks, Uncle Owen!" Panel 3: Luke races away with the parts, in the background Owen can be seen inspecting various droids, he calls to Luke "What was that? Thanks for what?" Panel 4: View over Owen's shoulder as he watches Luke race away, "Luke?" Panel 5: We see a hidden Obi-Wan with his hood up has been watching the whole situation and chuckles to himself about the confused Owen
Star Wars #15

Luke age 13
Panel 1: Close up of a stern faced hooded Obi-Wan who says "Hurry up, I will get you home safely, Luke." Panel 2: Silhouetted view of Luke looking over his shoulder to look at the hooded figure of Obi-Wan behind him, he calls "Who. Who are you?" Panel 3: Close up of Obi-Wan removing his hood and saying "Ben Kenobi. You can call me Ben".
Star Wars Webcomic: #1 - An Old Friend

Luke age 17
Panel 1: Close up of Luke with a mic to his mouth looking smug "Hah hah" Panel 2: An even closer look of his mouth smiling "I won." Panel 3: A hooded figure looks over the scene to a crashed T-16 smoking on the desert floor
Star Wars Webcomic: #2 - Meeting the Droids

Answered by Valorum on March 17, 2021

Luke: The droid says he belongs to someone named 'Obi-Wan'. Do you think he means Old Ben?

To me, it seems clear from his preceding conversation with his Uncle that they all knew who Old Ben was, and so it reasons that on a desert planet with a tiny population that Old Ben would know who Luke Skywalker was.

Answered by user9570789 on March 17, 2021

Add your own answers!

Ask a Question

Get help from others!

© 2024 TransWikia.com. All rights reserved. Sites we Love: PCI Database, UKBizDB, Menu Kuliner, Sharing RPP