Oh, thanks for the access! I remember running across your lj on my elizabeth_hoot account, and being all "hm, maybe it's just locked" but sadfacing that there was no meta to catch up on. Now there is! :D :D :D
I do think zen!Luke is very much a response to how closely he was walking his father's path in ESB -- where he's consciously trying to follow the hero-father but he's unconsciously following Vader, as well. (Relevant creepy vision is relevant.) His serenity in ROTJ is very clearly deliberate and conscious, not temperamental. It's like he's trying to be the anti-Vader but that only leads to becoming more like him, in some ways.
I like the zen badassery, sure, but I sort of have the feeling that it mayn't be the healthiest thing for him. Post-ROTJ, I think Leia's arc would be, as you say, reaching a place where she can own her heritage, but I think Luke's would be ... finding a place between not becoming a second Darth Vader, as he nearly did, or denying most of his own nature.
Re: I expect this will be a long reply
I do think zen!Luke is very much a response to how closely he was walking his father's path in ESB -- where he's consciously trying to follow the hero-father but he's unconsciously following Vader, as well. (Relevant creepy vision is relevant.) His serenity in ROTJ is very clearly deliberate and conscious, not temperamental. It's like he's trying to be the anti-Vader but that only leads to becoming more like him, in some ways.
I like the zen badassery, sure, but I sort of have the feeling that it mayn't be the healthiest thing for him. Post-ROTJ, I think Leia's arc would be, as you say, reaching a place where she can own her heritage, but I think Luke's would be ... finding a place between not becoming a second Darth Vader, as he nearly did, or denying most of his own nature.