How Jedi Suddenly Wiped From Memory in Almost Like 20 Years?

I’ve always wondered how the galaxy went from being led by thousands of Jedi during the Republic to a time in A New Hope where they’re brushed off as legends or “magic.” It’s wild to think that such an iconic and influential group could fade into obscurity in just two decades. 

Sure, younger generations might not have firsthand experience with Jedi, but anyone older than 20 would still remember them clearly. How did the galaxy seemingly forget the Jedi so quickly?

People Remember the Jedi but Have No Reason to Mention Them

I think the best example of this is Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru of Luke Skywalker. It’s obvious they know about the Jedi, but they go out of their way to keep Luke away from Ben Kenobi. Why? Because they know what happened to Luke’s father and fear the same path for him. They’re trying to protect him from the danger that comes with being connected to the Jedi.

Luke himself knows about the Jedi, and we see this in his conversation with Ben Kenobi in the hut. When Luke asks, “You fought in the Clone Wars?” It’s clear the Clone Wars are common knowledge. Ben’s response, “Yes, I was once a Jedi Knight, the same as your father,” connects the Jedi to Luke’s family in a significant way. The interesting part here is Luke doesn’t react with surprise—he already knows about the Jedi, even if only in vague terms.

Even Han Solo knows about the Jedi, though he dismisses them as myths or outdated relics. During Luke’s training aboard the Millennium Falcon, Han says, “Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid.” When Luke counters with, “You don’t believe in the Force, do you?” Han replies confidently, “Kid, I’ve flown from one side of this galaxy to the other. I’ve seen a lot of strange stuff, but I’ve never seen anything to make me believe there’s one all-powerful force controlling everything.”

And then there’s the moment on Yavin 4 when General Jan Dodonna explains the Death Star’s plans to the Rebel pilots. As everyone prepares to launch, he concludes with, “Man your ships! And may the Force be with you!” This line stands out because it’s a phrase we typically associate with the Jedi. If Dodonna didn’t know about the Jedi or the Force, how would he be familiar with this iconic expression?

From these conversations, it’s clear the Jedi aren’t entirely forgotten. People still know about the Jedi; it’s just that they don’t have any reason to bring it up. For most ordinary people, mentioning the Jedi might feel too dangerous, especially since the Empire is actively hunting down any Jedi survivors they can find.

How Fear Made the Galaxy Forget the Jedi

One of the reasons I think people in the Star Wars universe avoid mentioning the Jedi is either because they believe the Jedi are extinct or out of fear of the Empire. A good example of this belief is the conversation between Moff Tarkin and Darth Vader in A New Hope. 

When Obi-Wan Kenobi shows up on the Death Star and Vader senses his presence, Tarkin dismisses it, confidently stating that he believes Obi-Wan is dead and that the Jedi are long gone. Tarkin’s exact words are chilling: “The Jedi are extinct, their fire has gone out of the universe. You, my friend, are all that’s left of their religion.”

But it’s not just about believing the Jedi are gone—it’s also about fear. After the fall of the Jedi Order, the Empire launched an aggressive campaign to hunt down any surviving Jedi, using specialized agents known as the Inquisitors. These dark side warriors were trained by Darth Vader to track, capture, or kill Jedi who had escaped Order 66. The mere mention of the word “Jedi” could attract the Empire’s attention, sparking suspicion that someone might be harboring a survivor. 

The Inquisitorius operated with ruthless efficiency, often using fear and terror to achieve their goals. They were brutal in their methods, torturing captured Jedi for information and leaving devastation behind as a warning to others.

This fear is depicted vividly in Star Wars: Tales of the Empire. In Episode 5, Realization, we see Barriss Offee, now an Inquisitor, alongside the Fourth Sister on a mission to hunt down a surviving Jedi. When they arrive on a rocky planet, they interrogate the locals for information. Even after getting the answers they need, the Fourth Sister mercilessly slaughters everyone, showing just how brutal the Empire can be when it suspects Jedi involvement.