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dangermousieLong long reaction. Behind the cut so as to save spoilerphobes.
I have also had two double espressos but hopefully this still makes sense…
This is such a story of contrasts.
We start with Anakin risking his life to save Obi-Wan, fighting side by side. We end with them fighting to the death.
We start with Anakin Skywalker, poster book Jedi, hero of the Republic. We end with Lord Vader, a Sith Lord, minion of the Empire.
We start with a man who sees all the beauty of the Universe in Padme’s face. We end with the man who Force-chokes her and (rightly) blames himself for her death. It is his fault she has no will to live.
We start with a man who cannot bring himself to execute Dooku when he is on his knees, even though he is a Sith Lord who threatens all Anakin holds most dear and who has cut off his arm. We end with a man who has slaughtered Jedi children.
We start with a Jedi who is sickened by giving in and killing Dooku. We end with a Sith who kills Separatist leaders as they beg for mercy with joy in his heart and what (if it wasn’t so horrifying) would pass for banter.
We start with a man who is desperately afraid of losing those he loves. And we end with a man without fear. Because he has nothing left to lose. Because he has lost everyone already.
We start with a young man who has everything. And we end with a wreck of a being who has nothing. No one.
And yet, it makes such horribly perfect sense. And that is why the story is good.
This book should have been subtitled “The Road to hell is paved with good intentions” Or Achebe’s “Things fall apart” Anakin’s desire is to save others. He is selfless in that regard. He is never worried about his own life. When Palpatine tells him that the Dark Arts cannot prolong the user’s life (i.e. Anakin's), but only the lives of others, you don’t see Anakin going “Oops. Must start from scratch now.” It does not check him for a moment. He doesn’t care. But of course, his desire is selfish as well. Neither Obi-Wan nor Padme are in the least suicidal, but they would both gladly die to prevent Anakin from becoming Vader, or even to stop the war. So it is his desires he is following, not theirs.
And that brings me to Anakin’s fear. The fear that consumes him. In a way, it is both a bad thing (it is what makes him susceptible to Palpatine after all), and a good thing as it is his connection to humanity. Darth Vader feels no fear (for a while at least). Which I find fascinating…
Throughout RotS, the image I have of Anakin is someone clinging to sanity and control by bloody fingernails, as they are being pried open one by one. And he knows that. And he can’t stop it. And that makes him lose it all the more. And, IMO, that is in part why he gives in. He wants the pain to stop. And that is why he cuts so loose. It’s (IMO) a reaction to not having to fight for sanity any more, but just revel in free fall.
Much more later, but for now I need to think some more.
I have also had two double espressos but hopefully this still makes sense…
This is such a story of contrasts.
We start with Anakin risking his life to save Obi-Wan, fighting side by side. We end with them fighting to the death.
We start with Anakin Skywalker, poster book Jedi, hero of the Republic. We end with Lord Vader, a Sith Lord, minion of the Empire.
We start with a man who sees all the beauty of the Universe in Padme’s face. We end with the man who Force-chokes her and (rightly) blames himself for her death. It is his fault she has no will to live.
We start with a man who cannot bring himself to execute Dooku when he is on his knees, even though he is a Sith Lord who threatens all Anakin holds most dear and who has cut off his arm. We end with a man who has slaughtered Jedi children.
We start with a Jedi who is sickened by giving in and killing Dooku. We end with a Sith who kills Separatist leaders as they beg for mercy with joy in his heart and what (if it wasn’t so horrifying) would pass for banter.
We start with a man who is desperately afraid of losing those he loves. And we end with a man without fear. Because he has nothing left to lose. Because he has lost everyone already.
We start with a young man who has everything. And we end with a wreck of a being who has nothing. No one.
And yet, it makes such horribly perfect sense. And that is why the story is good.
This book should have been subtitled “The Road to hell is paved with good intentions” Or Achebe’s “Things fall apart” Anakin’s desire is to save others. He is selfless in that regard. He is never worried about his own life. When Palpatine tells him that the Dark Arts cannot prolong the user’s life (i.e. Anakin's), but only the lives of others, you don’t see Anakin going “Oops. Must start from scratch now.” It does not check him for a moment. He doesn’t care. But of course, his desire is selfish as well. Neither Obi-Wan nor Padme are in the least suicidal, but they would both gladly die to prevent Anakin from becoming Vader, or even to stop the war. So it is his desires he is following, not theirs.
And that brings me to Anakin’s fear. The fear that consumes him. In a way, it is both a bad thing (it is what makes him susceptible to Palpatine after all), and a good thing as it is his connection to humanity. Darth Vader feels no fear (for a while at least). Which I find fascinating…
Throughout RotS, the image I have of Anakin is someone clinging to sanity and control by bloody fingernails, as they are being pried open one by one. And he knows that. And he can’t stop it. And that makes him lose it all the more. And, IMO, that is in part why he gives in. He wants the pain to stop. And that is why he cuts so loose. It’s (IMO) a reaction to not having to fight for sanity any more, but just revel in free fall.
Much more later, but for now I need to think some more.
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Date: 2005-05-07 08:27 pm (UTC)I don't think he ever considered turning before the final meeting with Luke. I don't think he believes he can, that he is worthy of redemption and love. And I do wonder when he realized about how little use Palps had for him. I wonder if it was when Palps so calmly offered Luke to kill his father (and Anakin must have flashed to Dooku).
I must read AotC novelization now.
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Date: 2005-05-08 05:47 pm (UTC)I don't think he believes he can, that he is worthy of redemption and love I would agree. He completely loses faith in himself. Well, he completely loses himself . I think he hates Palpatine from the moment he truly "becomes" Darth Vader and Palpy calmly informs him that he (Anakin) killed Padme. He wants to crush him then and there, but he can't. As far as realizing what little use Palpatine really has for him, I'm not sure. But if he doesn't realize it before that moment in ROTJ with Luke, it's certainly sealed then. And that also seals his hatred for the Shadow that has haunted him all those years.