One of the most dissected scenes in Star Wars: The Last Jedi is Rey’s foray into the cave on Ahch-To. The film, especially on a first viewing, is wrought with tension, and nothing encapsulates this more clearly than Rey’s journey of self-discovery. This metaphor is a consistent trope in film and literature, and often does more to put the spotlight on specific characters than might be at first perceived. Not unlike Luke’s Force vision in The Empire Strikes Back, the cave reveals the truth of what lies beneath the surface of the hero.
An exploration of the cave is a motif that has been around since the days of the Greek philosopher Plato. Plato believed that the cave investigates the confusion between what is authentic and what is false. In other words, it’s so much more than a spelunking field trip. It’s a physical journey as well as a metaphorical journey into self-discovery. Rey explores the depths of the cave, but, in all actuality, is looking inside of herself to discover the truth of who she actually is.