Tools of Characterization
Characterization in Star Wars: A New Hope
Names
Names are an early indication of characterization in Star Wars. Luke's last name, Skywalker, suggests his longing to leave his desolate home planet and seek adventure in the universe above. His first name is meant to express that he is one of us. In a movie filled with characters named Darth Vader and Jabba the Hutt, sporting a name like Luke makes him relatable to us Earth-bound humans.
Han Solo's name provides another great example. As someone who only thinks about his own needs and wanders the galaxy with no home to call his own, the surname Solo is fitting.
Also be on the look out for naming conventions in the film. All of the droids' names include numbers, and the aliens are given non-human sounding names like Chewbacca and Greedo.
Actions
When we first meet Darth Vader, he casually glances at some rebel corpses before strolling over them to choke the life out of the ship's captain. Grand Moff Tarkin destroys an entire planet just to demonstrate how powerful his new battle station is. These are our villains, Shmoopers. Their actions prove it.
On the other hand, Leia keeps the location of the rebel base from the Empire and risks her life to keep it hidden because she knows it is for the greater good. Even the self-centered Han Solo has a change of heart, and it is displayed in his actions when he returns to the Death Star just in time to save Luke's life.
Clothing
Like high school, the clothing you wear determines which clique you belong to in the Star Wars universe. The major difference is that there are only two cliques: the Empire and the Rebels.
The Empire's clothing is designed to really remove the individuality and humanity from the character. Darth Vader's mask and mechanical chest plate make it difficult to see the guy as a person and not a literal killing machine. Also, is there anything more dehumanizing than stormtrooper armor? These guys are interchangeable and the Empire treats them as such. Empire's uniforms also display very stark whites, blacks and grays. There's no real color, no personality.
On the other hand, the face of your average Rebel trooper is exposed. This fashion choice helps you to understand them as people even if you don't know their names and they are as much cannon fodder as your average stormtrooper. Characters like Luke, Leia, and Obi-Wan wear outfits that are looser, less militaristic. Their clothing exhibits more Earthy tones, too, making them feel more natural, more like people. All of this allows us to see these characters as individuals—not impersonal cogs in a militaristic machine.