The Rise, The Fall, And The Redemption Of Anakin Skywalker
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Anakin Skywalker has been known by many names throughout his life. The Chosen One, Skyguy, General Skywalker, Ani, and eventually Darth Vader. Anakin was born on the Outer Rim planet of Tatooine in 41 BBY to Shmi Skywalker and an unknown father. Anakin has gone through a lot in his life. We first meet him as an optimistic kid on Tatooine, who grew into a Jedi knight, and then eventually, he succumbed to the dark side. Anakin is one of the most complex characters in the Star Wars universe.
The Rise Of Anakin Skywalker
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On Tatooine, Anakin and his mother were enslaved and owned by Watto. Anakin had exceptional piloting skills and even built the protocol droid C-3PO. He was accidentally discovered by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, where he finds out about the twenty thousand midi-chlorian count flowing through Anakin’s bloodstream. Qui-Gon believes Anakin is meant to fulfill the prophecy of The Chosen One and will “bring balance to the Force.” During the Battle of Naboo, Anakin is able to help the Jedi and the people of Naboo fight off the Trade Federation. He is taken as a padawan to Obi-Wan Kenobi after Qui-Gon’s death at Darth Maul’s hands.
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Over the years, Anakin and Obi-Wan would become very close, almost brother-like. As Anakin grows, his skills improve. He accompanies his master on various missions that help him improve his skills. Ten years after the Battle of Naboo, he is reunited with Padme Amidala due to an assassination attempt. He and Obi-Wan are tasked with protecting her. As he got closer to Padme, he struggled with his desires for Padme and his duties as a Jedi. He and Padme eventually marry in secret.
Ever since he was a child, Anakin has had a lot on his shoulders. Things are finally looking up for him as he graduates from padawan to a Jedi Knight. He commands the 501st army and even gains a padawan. People respect him and even look up to him. Padme eventually reveals that she is pregnant, which excites Anakin. Things are finally working out for the better.
The Fall Of Anakin Skywalker
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Many elements led to Anakin’s demise. Bad dreams have plagued Anakin for many years. He dreamt of his mother dying, which came true. When he returned to visit Tatooine, he found out Tusken Raiders had kidnapped her. Later, he would find his mother and slaughter the Tusken tribe. He later dreams of Padme dying in childbirth, worried that this dream will also come true, Anakin confides in Yoda. Yoda reminds him of the Jedi Code, which frowns upon attachments. So he finds Chancellor Palpatine. Palpatine tells him the story of Darth Plageius, The Wise, who was able to use Force to keep the ones he loved from dying.
After being accused of bombing the Jedi temple, Ahsoka leaves the Jedi order. Anakin does help get her name cleared, but by then, it is too late. As her master, he feels responsible for this loss. It’s another instance of him feeling betrayed by the Council.
The death of Qui-Gon Jinn was another reason Anakin fell to the dark side. He never had the father figure that he so desperately needed. Obi-Wan was more of a brother and a mentor to him instead of a father figure. Palpatine manipulated Anakin and used his fear against him to make him turn to the dark side and into the Sith Lord, known as Darth Vader.
The Redemption Of Anakin Skywalker
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Anakin Skywalker’s redemption comes from his son, Luke Skywalker.
During the Return of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker reached his full potential as a Jedi Knight. While the rebels are fighting the Empire on Endor, he surrenders himself to confront the Emperor and Darth Vader. Vader and Luke duel it out in the Emperor’s throne room. The entire time, Luke has hope that his father will change. It isn’t until Luke is begging while he is being electrocuted by Palpatine that Vader changes. He picks up Palpatine and throws him over the edge. Unfortunately, Vader is electrocuted in the process, and the machine keeping him alive sustains damage, which leads to Vader dying.
Luke has always known there was good in Vader. He takes his helmet off to look upon his father’s face as he dies. Luke brought Anakin’s body down to the Endor moon for a funeral pyre. He is able to forgive his father for everything he has done. Luke redeems his father. He always believed that the good would overpower the dark in him, and in the end, he was right.
Anakin’s story is one of the most tragic stories in all of Star Wars. So many elements worked against him and caused his fall to the dark side. Not everyone forgave Vader, and that’s okay too, but his son did. His son was able to redeem him and show that there was still good in Vader after all this time.
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Source(s): Wookiepedia, Collider
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