To forgive is an act of compassion, Buffy. It's not done because they deserve it, but because they need it.

Giles from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Ryan Kaufman recently posed an thought provoking question in his blog.

Would Luke have forgiven Vader so easily if he'd known the truth?

Part of what makes this question so interesting is that Luke's forgiveness of Vader is the defining moment of the entire saga. The eventual triumph of light over dark hinges on Luke's ability to forgive Vader. I believe that Luke still forgives his father even if he knows just what his father did. One of the interesting themes in the entire saga is that of how Anakin and Luke were mirrors of each other. Anakin lost his mother to the brutality of the Tusken Raiders. Luke lost his aunt and uncle to the brutality of the Stormtroopers, commanded by Vader. Luke watched Vader cut down Obi-Wan. He knows that Vader has tortured Han and Leia. Every time Luke looks at his right hand, he sees a visible reminder of Vader's cruelty. He already knows that his father is a monster capable of tremendous cruelty.

And yet Luke also knows that people loved his father. Surely he remembers Obi-Wan's sadness when he talked about Anakin. Luke also knows that his mother loved his father. We also don't know what Owen and Beru might have told Luke about his father. They certainly heard stories of what Anakin was like from Shmi. What Luke knows is that his father was once a Jedi. Luke has to believe that Vader can still choose his destiny. It's what he's been trained to do. Yoda taught him that a Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack. Obi-Wan and Yoda did not train Luke to be a Sith killer. They trained him to be a Jedi. As even Anakin said after the Tusken slaughter, "I'm a Jedi. I know better than this."

And as Luke confronts his destiny, he will face a similar situation as his father did. Palpatine is goading Luke, encouraging a fight between father and son. He hears that joining the dark side is the only way to save his friends. Luke tries to resist at first, but gives in when Vader infers that Leia will join the dark side. Luke unleashes his full fury and is soon beating Vader into submission, culminating with removal of Vader's hand. At this moment, the test truly comes. Palpatine tells Luke to strike down Vader and take his place as the new Sith apprentice.

Let's consider for a moment what Vader is thinking at this moment. Surely, his entire life is passing before him. He remembers clearly his childhood, his mother, Padme, his Jedi friends, and of course the decisions that would lead to the armor which now encased his body. As Matt Stover observed so well in his novelization of Revenge of the Sith, Vader is tormented forever because he caused Padme's death. He hates himself because of what he has done, yet cannot break free from his prison. So, he awaits his death because he knows what comes next. Like Dooku before him, he deserves death. How many innocent lives has he taken? How much suffering has he caused? Justice will soon be served.

Yet this is where Luke differs from Anakin. He has learned to forgive. Anakin couldn't forgive the Tuskens for killing his mother. He couldn't forgive Padme for not going along with his dark choices. Luke is given the opportunity to exact justice on the very individual who has caused so much suffering throughout the galaxy. And yet Luke shows mercy to the monster. George Lucas has said that compassion and greed represent the light and dark sides of the Force. Luke will not take the law into his own hands so to speak. He will not betray his Jedi training. Luke's forgiveness is the very key to Vader's next decision. When he could have killed Vader, Luke chose to forgive him. He showed mercy to a monster. And Vader, filled with hatred and self-loathing all these years begins to see again. He still doesn't have to choose darkness. While he cannot escape the consequences of his earlier choices, he does not have to be bound to the darkness forever.

Forgivness is something that we need just as much as the perpetrator of the wrong we have suffered. Anakin's inability to forgive led to dark choice and tremendous suffering, himself included. He literally lost everything. If Luke hadn't forgiven his father, Luke would have suffered his father's fate. He would have joined Palpatine and killed his friends, only to find out that he was now truly alone in the galaxy. Luke's forgiveness of his father's sins showed Anakin that he was worth loving, even if he was a monster. And in that fateful moment, Anakin finally defeated the monster within himself. So many times before he had been selfish. He wanted to take vengeance on the Tuskens. He wanted to kill Dooku. He wanted to rule the galaxy. He wanted ultimate power. He wanted to make Padme join him on the throne. And now, he chooses to be selfless. Surely, Anakin knows the consequences of force lightning coursing through the machine that sustains his body. The little boy who gave with no thought of reward has returned.

And yet, he has not escaped the consequences of his actions. Where he could have had years to spend with his children, he has but minutes to spend with his son. He will never be able to spend time with his daugther. There is poignancy, sadness, and pleading for forgiveness in his dying words. "Tell your sister you were right."