We have all heard of Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, an iconic character from the Star Wars universe, but why is he often referred to as ‘Ben’? It turns out that the answer is much more interesting than you might expect.
In this article, we will uncover why Obi-Wan is called Ben, how the character has changed over time, and the various meanings behind his nickname. So, if you are a fan of the beloved Jedi Master, then keep reading, and discover why Obi-Wan Kenobi is known to his friends as Ben.
Why is Obi-Wan Called Ben?
Obi-Wan Kenobi is one of the best-known characters of the Star Wars franchise.He is a wise and powerful Jedi, who is the mentor to Luke Skywalker and guides him on his path to becoming a Jedi. But in the original movie, it is revealed that his real name is actually Ben. So why is he referred to as Obi-Wan?
Origin of the Name Obi-Wan
In the early scripts of the original trilogy, Obi-Wan was referred to as “Ben Kenobi”. In George Lucas’ first treatment of Star Wars, dated January 29, 1973, Ben is described as an old hermit living in the desert and passing on the story of Darth Vader.He was an important part of the story, but he wasn’t the Obi-Wan fans of the franchise know and love today. In the second draft, Obi-Wan was given the title of Sir and was now a skilled warrior who also happened to be Luke’s benefactor. By the third draft, Obi-Wan became the Jedi Knight that he is today.
At this point, Lucas decided to drop the “Ben” from his name and only refer to him as Obi-Wan.
Why is Obi-Wan Called Ben?
The reason why Obi-Wan is referred to as Ben is because Lucas felt that Obi-Wan wasn’t a name that the audience could relate to. He wanted the audience to be more invested in the character and thus decided to give him a more human name like Ben. Moreover, it was also a tribute to Lucas’ mentor, Japanese orientalist Ben Tora.
Lucas met Tora while he was studying at the University of Southern California. Tora influenced Lucas in many ways such as gaining an appreciation for oriental culture and religions. As a tribute to his mentor, Lucas decided to name the character Ben and call him Obi-Wan.