"Your father was seduced by the dark side of the Force. He ceased to be Anakin Skywalker and became Darth Vader. When that happened, the good man that was your father was destroyed. So you see, what I told you was true... from a certain point of view."

With these words it appears that Obi-Wan Kenobi had intentionally lied to Luke Skywalker about the fate of his father. Many fans have faulted Obi-Wan for the story he told Luke, and some consider him to be a terrible hypocrite and liar. Yet, spiritually, was not Obi-Wan's story perhaps more truthful than the material reality? Is it not perhaps more truthful to say that a different person came to inhabit the body of Anakin Skywalker when he accepted his apprenticeship to Darth Sidious and set out to murder every Jedi Master, Knight, Padawan and youngling in the Jedi Temple? How much more true did this become when this inner darkness became obvious for the whole world to see after the loss of limbs and extensive burn damage that necessitated the terrifying life support system that is Darth Vader?

Luke seems horrified at this betrayal. He tells Obi-Wan there is still good in Vader. What is Obi-Wan's response? "He is more machine, now, than man. Twisted and evil." Luke is told he must face Vader again, and Luke insists he cannot... that he cannot kill his own father. To this Obi-Wan replies, "then the Emperor has already won."

It seems from all of this that Obi-Wan is being uncompassionate towards Anakin, refusing the possibility of good being present within him yet. Urging Luke to punish Vader for his crimes, to take him from this world as he took so many others. And yet... I do not see it this way. Rather I believe this is yet another case of "a certain point of view" being used.

Both Obi-Wan and Yoda urge Luke to face Vader again, that he must destroy Darth Vader. We see quite clearly that from Obi-Wan's point of view Darth Vader is not Anakin Skywalker... but a distinctly different personality. We also see from Luke's trial in the cave of Dagobah in The Empire Strikes Back that Luke's own inner darkness is reflected back in the form of Darth Vader. For Luke, facing Vader again is also facing the mirror again. A trial of the spirit that all Jedi must pass to attain Jedi Knighthood.

It was a trial that Obi-Wan faced on Naboo against Darth Maul... calming collecting himself after nearly plunging too his doom in his mad rush to punish Maul for killing his Master. It was a trial that Anakin face in his duels with Count Dooku, yet another promising Jedi turned Sith. Luke's initial test was in the controlled setting of the cave, a more traditional Jedi trial than that faced by either Anakin or Obi-Wan. Luke failed the test, just as he failed the second in his first physical confrontation with the real Darth Vader. Indeed, the brutal truth that Vader reveals to Luke in that setting is foreshadowed in the cave when the decaptiated face of Vader shatters to reveal Luke's own. Had Luke but had the wisdom necessary to truly understand, he would have seen all of this there and been at peace with it.

"That name no longer has any meaning for me."

For Vader, as well, Obi-Wan's words are true. For him Anakin Skywalker is long dead, and Darth Vader took his place. When Luke does go to his father, intent on turning him from the dark side the truth of Obi-Wan's statement is echoed by Vader's assertion that even the name Anakin Skywalker lacks meaning. Wisely Luke insists it is Vader's true self that has been forgotten.

This is the confrontation that Obi-Wan and Yoda had insisted must happen, that Luke wanted to avoid at all costs. Not the duel of lightsabers, but the duel of spirit. It is because Luke Skywalker destroyed Darth Vader with his compassion that Anakin Skywalker re-emerged and saved Luke, saved the galaxy, and balanced the Force. It is this which I believe Yoda and Obi-Wan were urging Luke towards without laying it all out there for him. Because Truth is something best experienced and understood when experienced than when it is simply told.

I find it hard to believe that Obi-Wan was refusing compassion to Anakin in his statements to Luke. Though they appear contrary to compassion, we know that only through compassion and surrender of self can a Jedi become one with the Force and merge their entire being(spirit and flesh) with its energy. Obi-Wan did just that. How could he if he didn't have compassion for all beings, Darth Vader included? The process of joining the Force would have yielded a great deal more knowledge than either Luke or Vader could have dreamed of. More yet, we know from George Lucas' statements that Anakin was pulled to that immortality by Yoda and Obi-Wan in his last moments of life.

Luke was so much like Anakin that I believe Obi-Wan told him just what he needed to hear to do what he felt, what he knew, was right. It was through this means that Obi-Wan and Yoda ensure that Luke Skywalker was responsible not only for the return of the Jedi Order, but the return of the Jedi Anakin Skywalker... Chosen One of the Force.