The last entry I wrote about Anakin and Obi-wan you probably didn't read, and I can't blame you. I had no real comments to it, but someone was kind enough to advise me that i should "put some space into it". yes, it was a long entry. well, here i go again...

Vader killed Obi-wan on the death star, but if someone thought that the conflict between those two is over with Kenobi's death, soon it become clear that it's not the case, the fight just passed to another phase.
the stage of physical confrontations or any real dialogue between them has ended, the fight now takes place inside Luke's soul, and what each one of them represent for Luke. They both try to plant loyaly for them and to their cause (freedom for the galaxy or rulling it) within his soul. Obi uses all his influence and the validity of his word to stop Luke from falling to the dark side, and Vader tries to uproot all Obi's values from Luke's heart.

in the fight between Luke and vader, vader mentions Obi-Wan no less than four times. at first i didn't understand why he does that. after all, he killed him three years ago and he himself says to the empror that "Obi-wan can no longer help him" (to Luke). he knows Obi can't interfere, so why he mentions him every four seconds? now i think that he mainly tries to rip the connection between Luke and Obi-Wan, to show him that Obi is not the "great man" Luke thought he was. that would help him to turn Luke to the dark side and would be another blow to his old master.

one year or so now passed since this fight, and we are in ROTJ. while Obi-wan mumbles his speech about the certain point of view (that didn't impressed Luke too much) and tells about the good friend Anakin was (what impressed Luke more), he did not say exactly what he whats Luke to do when he'll confront his father (kill him? redeem him?).

vader is in conflict regarding his son, but his feelings towards Obi-wan are much clearer- he still wants to defeat him, and the more throbbing Obi's defeat will be-the better. and yet, when Luke offers vader the option to come with him (just as Padme did), vader stands with his face to the window and says quietly, as to himself "Obi-Wan once thought as you do", like he's remembering for a moment the one who was a brother to him. but the moment has passed, the hate is stronger and Vader turns around and with his thunderous voice speaks again about the strength of the dark side.

Two more times Vader mentions Obi in ROTJ- one is when he compliments Luke about his fighting after his son kicks him down the stairs, and the second is after he discovers he has a daughter. "now his failure is complete" he says, still obsessed with that old ghost of Kenobi. why does Vader makes this a personal conflict between him and Obi once again? not a fight between good and evil, democracy and dictatorship, the Empire and the rebellion, no- it's about him and obi. as if obi decided by himself to hide the kids from Vader. Does he not know about Yoda? I don't think Obi's defeat could ever be complete in Vader's heart.

anyway, why do you think he mentions Obi-wan that much (both in ESB and ROTJ), what is this obsession with the dead and still feeling guilty ghost of Kenobi? Share your thoughts!