Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Rey travels to the remote island world of Ahch-To, a jagged, sea-shrouded planet where Luke Skywalker has been in self-imposed exile. This isolated setting reflects Luke's desire to distance himself from the Jedi order and the broader conflict between the Resistance and First Order.

• ahch-to
• luke skywalker location
• remote island
• exile

Canto Bight is a glittering, luxurious casino city located on the planet Cantonica. It serves as a playground for wealthy arms dealers and war profiteers who profit from selling weapons to both sides of the conflict, illustrating the moral corruption surrounding the galactic war.

• canto bight
• casino city
• cantonica
• rich planet

The Resistance retreats to Crait, a mineral-rich planet covered in bright white salt flats with ancient rebel base ruins. There, they face the First Order in a desperate last stand inside a salt-covered fortress, using old rebel vehicles to mount a desperate defense.

• crait
• salt planet
• resistance base
• final stand

The events take place immediately after the destruction of Starkiller Base, placing the story in the late stages of the Resistance's struggle against the First Order. The galaxy is at a turning point where the Resistance is depleted and the First Order controls most of the known systems.

• timeline
• post-starkiller base
• chronology
• galactic war

The film explores several interconnected themes: the clash between different styles of leadership through Poe and Holdo; the duality between light and dark embodied in Rey and Kylo Ren's connection; the necessity of sacrifice shown through Holdo and Luke's actions; and the enduring nature of hope despite overwhelming loss.

• themes
• leadership
• duality
• sacrifice
• hope
• light and dark

The leadership clash centers on Poe Dameron's impulsive direct-attack mindset versus Vice Admiral Holdo's secretive strategic approach. Poe's mutiny forces the Resistance to confront what true leadership requires during crisis: not just courage, but strategic thinking and the willingness to sacrifice personal glory for the greater good.

• poe dameron
• holdo
• leadership conflict
• resistance command

Duality manifests through Rey and Kylo Ren's telepathic Force connection, which bridges the divide between light and dark. Their parallel struggles represent the moral complexity of the Force, while Luke's own past failures and his hesitation to train Rey further underscore that the boundary between light and dark is rarely clear-cut.

• duality
• light side
• dark side
• kylo ren
• rey
• force connection

Sacrifice is a driving force throughout the film. Vice Admiral Holdo sacrifices herself by piloting the Resistance cruiser into the First Order fleet as a decoy. Luke Skywalker sacrifices his physical existence to become a Force projection, buying time for the Resistance to escape while delivering a powerful message of hope.

• sacrifice
• holdo
• luke skywalker
• death
• heroic act

The hope theme centers on the idea that even when the Resistance appears defeated, the spark of resistance can spread. The final shot of a broom-wielding child on Canto Bight seeing the Force symbolizes that the legacy of the Jedi and the spirit of rebellion will endure through new generations.

• hope
• ending
• resistance continues
• broom child
• future generations

Supreme Leader Snoke is the enigmatic manipulator who controls the First Order from behind the scenes. He is revealed to be the one who created the bond between Rey and Kylo Ren, using their connection to lure Rey to the dark side. His sudden death at Kylo Ren's hands marks a pivotal shift in the First Order's power structure.

• snoke
• first order leader
• manipulator
• supreme leader

Vice Admiral Holdo is the mysterious strategic leader who takes command of the remaining Resistance fleet. Her calm demeanor and willingness to keep her plans secret contrast sharply with Poe's aggressive tactics. She ultimately sacrifices her life in a daring decoy maneuver that allows the surviving Resistance members to escape to Crait.

• vice admiral holdo
• laura denn
• resistance leader
• heroic sacrifice

Kylo Ren is torn between his blood relation to Luke Skywalker and his allegiance to Snoke and the First Order. His internal conflict represents the ongoing battle between light and dark within him. He seeks power to extinguish the past but remains haunted by his family legacy, ultimately choosing his own path after killing Snoke.

• kylo ren
• ben solo
• dark side
• temptation
• redemption

Luke Skywalker retreated to Ahch-To after believing he had failed his nephew Kylo Ren, nearly killing him in a moment of weakness. Haunted by his past failures with the Jedi order and the weight of legend, Luke chose self-exile rather than continue training Jedi, believing the Jedi era should end.

• luke skywalker
• exile
• failure
• jedi order
• ahch-to

The final scene shows a young stablehand child on Canto Bight using the Force to grab a broom, looking up at the stars with wonder. This moment symbolizes that the Force extends beyond the main characters, the spark of hope and potential Jedi can be found anywhere in the galaxy, ensuring the cycle continues.

• broom child
• canto bight
• force sensitive
• future jedi
• ending scene

Rey and Kylo Ren share a unique telepathic connection through the Force that allows them to see and communicate across vast distances. This bond was deliberately created by Snoke to manipulate them both. Through their connection, they experience each other's memories and emotions, blurring the lines between light and dark.

• rey
• kylo ren
• force connection
• telepathy
• snoke manipulation