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star wars - How did Obi-Wan not know about Leia in Episode 5?


Towards the end of the Empire Strikes Back when Luke is flying away in his X-Wing to face Vader. Ben's ghost says to Yoda:



That boy was our last hope.




To which Yoda replies:



No...there is another.



Referring to Leia of course.


How does Ben not know about Luke's twin sister at this point? As we saw in Episode 3 he was there during the birth of both children, and gave Leia to the Organas on Alderaan. Is there an explanation for this conversation between Yoda and Ben?



Answer




From the script of The Return of the Jedi, we have the following exchange




BEN: Then the Emperor has already won. You were our only hope.


LUKE: Yoda spoke of another.


BEN: The other he spoke of is your twin sister.


LUKE: But I have no sister.


BEN: Hmm. To protect you both from the Emperor, you were hidden from your father when you were born. The Emperor knew, as I did, if Anakin were to have any offspring, they would be a threat to him. That is the reason why your sister remains safely anonymous.


LUKE: Leia! Leia's my sister.



It is certain that Obi-Wan was aware of Leia, having given her up to Bail Organa. It is also clear that Obi-Wan doesn't believe Leia to be a hope in defeating the Emperor. This is likely because Obi-Wan believed to defeat Vader one would have to complete their training, and Luke having gotten the furthest was their only hope. Leia having never attempted the training would not have been successful, in his mind.


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