Post by xkamelx on Oct 11, 2006 20:52:58 GMT -5
I've heard a lot of people claim Anakin Skywalker's turn to the darkside of the Force was too rushed, that he didn't have a real reason to turn. Are they really right? Anakin's turn happens suddenly, unexpectedly and too quickly?
My opinion is that his turn wasn't rushed at all.
We have to realize that Anakin was an emotional person, who often let his emotions pave his path. This can largely be due to the life he lead, was an owned slave as a child, left his mother behind in slavery to pursue the path of a Jedi, lost his mother and felt guilty as he for-saw it in his dreams, but was too late to save her. This of course lead to his rage that slaughtered the Tuskin Raiders on Tattoine.
Anakin also was deeply in love with Padme, and his love for her was the most important thing to him, above everything else, including the code of the Jedi. After leaving his mother behind, Padme filled that missing female presence in his life.
In the years between Episodes I and II, Palpatine has significantly educated Anakin, more then likely poisoning Anakin's mind. After all, Palpatine is the master manipulator, look at the way he put himself into power and gained a dictatorship over the Republic; The Empire.
As said above, Anakin was in love with Padme, and knows Palpatine won't judge him for that, so the loyalty and influence of Palpatine begins.
Fast forward to Episode III, Anakin is one of, if not the most powerful Jedi in the galaxy. He's willing to do anything to win the war against the Separatists, but it seems like the Jedi Council is holding him back. The Jedi Council even offends him when he is put on the council at the request of Palpatine, but is not made a Master.
Now comes Anakin dreams about Padme's death. The last time he had dreams like this, they came true; his mother's death.
Anakin goes to Master Yoda for advice, and Yoda coldy tells him to basically do nothing, to let things run their course. Anakin cannot turn to Obi-Wan, as Obi-Wan over all others would figure out there was more then meets the eye to Anakin and Padme's relationship, despite the fact they are best friends he cannot go to Obi-Wan. This only leaves the father figure in his life, Palpatine.
Palpatine is the only one to give him hope. Palpatine tells him that it has been done before (using the force to stop death). Palpatine lends a sympathetic ear, makes statements about the Jedi to empathize with Anakin's frustrations about the Jedi. At this point, it seems like the only one who realizes Anakin's potential, and agree with Anakin's opinions and way of life is Palpatine.
Anakin does not need Obi-Wan any more. In his mind his training is complete. He now needs his wife, and needs Palpatine to help save her.
Now... Anakin discovers that Palpatine is the Sith Lord. Still wanting to do as the Jedi expects of him, and unsure whether or not the Sith is as evil as the Jedi claim, he goes to Mace Windu. After the battle that follows, Anakin sees that Mace is going to kill the only person who can help him, Palpatine. People in extreme anxiety become irrational, they tend to hold on to the most crucial things in their lives. So he made his decision with little time to think of the consequences, he saves Palpatine.
Now that Palpatine has transferred into his Sith self, Anakin at this point is bordering insanity. The drive to save Padme has driven him to insanity in my opinion, and allowing Mace Windu to be killed was likely the breaking point. I think he murders the children and Jedi in the temple as a result of his rage and insanity, murders those on Mustafar because at this point he is really buying into the manipulation, that the Jedi are evil, and the darkside is the only true ultimate path to power.
So, to make a long story short, the buildup to Anakin's turn takes place over about 15 years of his life. The Jedi has alienated him, his love and emotions have possessed him, he was perfectly manipulated by Palpatine, this added with all of the circumstance and events in his life was enough not only to break his sanity, but to allow him to completely give in to his irrational emotions which consumed him in the end.
I think Anakin had perfect reason for turning, and think the turn was due to many factors, and played out well on screen.
What do you think?
My opinion is that his turn wasn't rushed at all.
We have to realize that Anakin was an emotional person, who often let his emotions pave his path. This can largely be due to the life he lead, was an owned slave as a child, left his mother behind in slavery to pursue the path of a Jedi, lost his mother and felt guilty as he for-saw it in his dreams, but was too late to save her. This of course lead to his rage that slaughtered the Tuskin Raiders on Tattoine.
Anakin also was deeply in love with Padme, and his love for her was the most important thing to him, above everything else, including the code of the Jedi. After leaving his mother behind, Padme filled that missing female presence in his life.
In the years between Episodes I and II, Palpatine has significantly educated Anakin, more then likely poisoning Anakin's mind. After all, Palpatine is the master manipulator, look at the way he put himself into power and gained a dictatorship over the Republic; The Empire.
As said above, Anakin was in love with Padme, and knows Palpatine won't judge him for that, so the loyalty and influence of Palpatine begins.
Fast forward to Episode III, Anakin is one of, if not the most powerful Jedi in the galaxy. He's willing to do anything to win the war against the Separatists, but it seems like the Jedi Council is holding him back. The Jedi Council even offends him when he is put on the council at the request of Palpatine, but is not made a Master.
Now comes Anakin dreams about Padme's death. The last time he had dreams like this, they came true; his mother's death.
Anakin goes to Master Yoda for advice, and Yoda coldy tells him to basically do nothing, to let things run their course. Anakin cannot turn to Obi-Wan, as Obi-Wan over all others would figure out there was more then meets the eye to Anakin and Padme's relationship, despite the fact they are best friends he cannot go to Obi-Wan. This only leaves the father figure in his life, Palpatine.
Palpatine is the only one to give him hope. Palpatine tells him that it has been done before (using the force to stop death). Palpatine lends a sympathetic ear, makes statements about the Jedi to empathize with Anakin's frustrations about the Jedi. At this point, it seems like the only one who realizes Anakin's potential, and agree with Anakin's opinions and way of life is Palpatine.
Anakin does not need Obi-Wan any more. In his mind his training is complete. He now needs his wife, and needs Palpatine to help save her.
Now... Anakin discovers that Palpatine is the Sith Lord. Still wanting to do as the Jedi expects of him, and unsure whether or not the Sith is as evil as the Jedi claim, he goes to Mace Windu. After the battle that follows, Anakin sees that Mace is going to kill the only person who can help him, Palpatine. People in extreme anxiety become irrational, they tend to hold on to the most crucial things in their lives. So he made his decision with little time to think of the consequences, he saves Palpatine.
Now that Palpatine has transferred into his Sith self, Anakin at this point is bordering insanity. The drive to save Padme has driven him to insanity in my opinion, and allowing Mace Windu to be killed was likely the breaking point. I think he murders the children and Jedi in the temple as a result of his rage and insanity, murders those on Mustafar because at this point he is really buying into the manipulation, that the Jedi are evil, and the darkside is the only true ultimate path to power.
So, to make a long story short, the buildup to Anakin's turn takes place over about 15 years of his life. The Jedi has alienated him, his love and emotions have possessed him, he was perfectly manipulated by Palpatine, this added with all of the circumstance and events in his life was enough not only to break his sanity, but to allow him to completely give in to his irrational emotions which consumed him in the end.
I think Anakin had perfect reason for turning, and think the turn was due to many factors, and played out well on screen.
What do you think?