Now an integral part of current Star Wars material, Anakin Skywalker is possibly the most significant character of all, given his role in the saga as both a primary hero and later villain. It’s a tragic tale of heartbreak, despair and regret, but what were the key factors behind this cataclysmic fall from grace?
Regret
Firstly, it’s worth noting how tough Anakin’s upbringing was, seeing as he was enslaved alongside his mother on Tatooine. Without much hope or ambition, it’s not until Qui-Gon shows up that he’s presented with any sort of prospects moving forward. He later lives with the regret of not being able to save his mother from death, something which ignites a newfound desire to learn more about the force even if that requires studying away from the Jedi Code.
Love
It’s forbidden for Jedi to form attachments as these emotions can lead to irrational thinking. Despite this, Anakin forms a very close bond with Padme Amidala, and this later blossoms into a full relationship which leads to marriage and the birth of children. With visions that Padme is destined for premature death, Anakin steps further away from the light side, knowing only powers promised by the Sith Lord, Palpatine can potentially unlock the means to deter this from happening.
Desire
Anakin is the prophesised chosen one, and with that, he’s not shy in admitting he’s far superior to your typical Jedi. The code itself seems to hinder his true potential, which is of course a good thing when considering what he later becomes. The prime example for his desire to move further from the Jedi philosophy would be the fractious relationship with Obi-Wan, where he believes his guidance is actually holding him back.
Manipulation
Ultimately, Anakin is all over the place during the Prequels, and Palpatine sure knows this. He fully understands how to nudge the young Jedi in the direction of the Sith, most notably during the famous opera scene, in which the death of Darth Plagueis is the basis of his rationale for learning the dark side code.
From these, which do you think is the main reason for Anakin’s turn to the dark side?
