Before you say anything — I’m well aware that I’m not the first one to tackle this topic and I certainly won’t be the last either. There are countless analyses, reaching from completely informal ones, like this one, to scientific reports centering around Anakin Skywalker, his personality and his character arc (and I enjoy every single one of them), but it wouldn’t feel right not to dedicate something to him and that is for very good reason.
I fell in love with Anakin Skywalker practically the moment my father showed little toddler me the Star Wars movies — an act my mom wasn’t a particular fan of, but I would come to be incredibly thankful for as I grew older. Star Wars, and therefore the story of Anakin Skywalker, has been by my side practically my whole life and I wouldn’t want it any other way. I grew up with both the prequels and the original trilogy and still like to rewatch them regularly (someone might even say religiously) because there is something particularly captivating about what comes down to be the story of “the chosen one”: a slave boy from a desert planet who would grow up to be the one to bring balance to the force.
It’s a tale full of mixed emotions: happiness, excitement, fear, anger, grief and probably most importantly hope.
It’s a tale of destiny, choices and quite frankly, tragedy. Because while yes, technically speaking Anakin’s story does end on a good note, I think that nobody would disagree when I say that its conclusion isn’t happy. It’s a happy ending for the galaxy (well, more or less, try rebuilding a government for one country in the real world after the previous one was violently overturned, and then do that for an entire galaxy), sure, but it’s not a blissful one for Anakin, is it? I would argue that it’s a bittersweet ending: something that does end on a high note, but still leaves some lingering feelings of sadness and nostalgia, maybe even leaving you behind with those “what if” thoughts that countless fanfic authors make use of (as they should, I thrive of those AUs, but that’s a topic for another time).
So, let’s dive into it. This is my take on the story of Anakin Skywalker.
The prophecy of “The Chosen One”
From the moment he was born, arguably from the moment he was conceived, Anakin’s story was already decided: he was the boy who was destined to bring balance to the force — a prophecy that would lay heavily on his shoulders as soon as it became clear that this slave boy was indeed the chosen one. While prophecies are an often used story trope and quite charming, let’s look at it from the in-story perspective: Imagine you were a child, not even ten years old, only to find out that you were the one to practically save the galaxy that the fate of everything you know and even the things you don’t know lies on your shoulders and yours alone. Pretty terrifying, huh?
And if that wasn’t enough a prophecy isn’t just a heavy burden for you, but it also presents you with many responsibilities and expectations placed upon you by other people: family, friends and even strangers.
From the day he was brought to the temple, Anakin was met with the prophecy of the chosen one. And even if Qui-Gon was first met with doubt by the Jedi Council, it was still the very reason why he took the boy with him. Qui-Gon believed that Anakin was the chosen one, that he was the one to bring balance to the force, begging his padawan to train him while he was drawing his last breath. And sure, Anakin was excited at the thought of becoming a jedi (which kid wouldn’t? They have lightsabers!) but that doesn’t automatically mean that the prophecy — practically his purpose — didn’t have any negative side effects.
Being seen as “The Chosen One” ultimately resulted in being treated differently than his peers: special assignments, missions and most definitely higher expectations. What’s especially cruel about this is the fact that Anakin wasn’t discovered and taken in by the Jedi order when he was an infant or toddler, no, he lived with his mother for nine whole years. And while yes, he was exceptionally powerful when compared with peers even without the years of training that they had, but nonetheless, that meant he wasn’t just focused on but also oftentimes heavily criticised by his masters. I believe we tend to forget that above all, Anakin was still a kid, still trying to learn the most basic ways of the force while practically everybody else in his various classes has been there and learning for years compared to him. Pair that with the incredibly high expectations placed on him for something he did not have a choice in and you get a textbook beginning for a villain origin story (and not in a “i’m not like other girls” type of way).
For Anakin, the prophecy is a heavy responsibility paired with seemingly unreachable expectations on the shoulders of a lonely child.
Slavery
During his lifetime, Anakin was never just a normal person like you and me. He was (as discussed) “the chosen one”, one of the most powerful jedi and following that one of the most powerful sith — but before that, Anakin was a slave boy on Tatooine.
“I’m a person and my name is Anakin” — Anakin to Padmé in Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Anakin was born into a life of slavery, it being the only thing he knew from the moment he opened his eyes and saw the world for the first time. He was stripped of his free will and freedom, being forced to work for his owner and having practically every aspect of his life controlled by him. And his experiences on his home planet would haunt him for the rest of his life.
There’s no doubt that Anakin was deeply traumatised by his early life, leading to him avoiding the topic of his childhood all together, which can be seen when he’s refusing to talk about it with his padawan Ahsoka, when the two of them wander around the desert on his home planet. He refuses to acknowledge it in any way, purposefully suppressing these memories altogether.
Suppression may help in the short term, redirecting his focus to tasks at hand, but it does not change the fact that the simple mention of slavery is a trigger for him, resulting in him lashing out and even becoming violent (understandably so). Anakin never really had the chance to process his experiences and has to rely on short-term defence mechanisms to protect himself from the painful memories. This is all the more tragic because he is aware of this and yet finds himself unable to find comfort in somebody, not even in his wife.
From the beginning Anakin’s story is defined by oppression and dreams of freedom — allowing the darkness to follow him his entire life.
Shmi Skywalker
When talking about Anakin it is inevitable to mention his mother Shmi. Parents, or primary care takers, are crucial for a child’s development and play a huge role in their socialisation and the shaping of their character. They are the ones that have to teach their kids about different values, approach social norms with them and give them support and love to help them grow into a responsible and competent adult.
I think it’s obvious that Shmi had a huge effect on her son: she is portrayed as a nurturing and positive person, influencing Anakin to become an empathetic and caring person himself. The two of them had an incredibly intimate bond, being the only people they have on Tatooine. Their family is small, but undoubtedly very close.
Let’s not forget that Shmi is the one that lets Anakin go first, she is the one to tell him to leave after he has been freed, even if it meant leaving her behind. And when he hesitates, tells her that he can’t leave her and that he wants to stay by her side, she tells him to go, because if there’s one thing you can’t stop, then it’s change. Shmi knows that she might never see her son again and yet she lets him go, because that’s what is right for him — and what would a mother want more than to make her child happy?
Even though Shmi gets freed and even marries and it’s safe to assume that she leads a better life, it undoubtedly takes a toll on her that she doesn’t see her son for the next ten years again. Until one day she gets abducted and tortured and by some miracle she holds out for long enough to see Anakin for one last time, finally being reunited with her child, finally being able to tell him just how proud she is of him, only to die in his arms just a moment later.
Anakin’s fear of loss is something that is visible during every stage of his life: and it began with Shmi. He didn’t want to let her go, he feared for her when he saw visions of his mother suffering which led to his desire to develop even more powerful abilities — to save the ones he loved. And he failed.
His mother’s tragic death ultimately leads to his own descent into the dark side of the force.
Jedi, the Code and the Jedi Council
The tragedy of Anakin’s life is closely connected to the Jedi Order and his relationship to the code and the council.
Being introduced to the life of a jedi and joining the order was definitely something exciting for Anakin: starting a new chapter in his life and being offered a chance to start over and finally do something that he wanted to — become a jedi. Yet his time as a jedi and especially as a padawan was hard, as we have previously discussed.
Added to that, the rigid ways of the jedi and the jedi code would soon come to clash with his emotional self, his desires and frankly, his nature.
The Code preaches a life of no emotions but peace, emphasising emotional detachment and self-discipline, something that Anakin would ultimately fail to adhere to. He is an incredibly emotional person, feeling his emotions intensly and deeply, often failing to control them, having to be reminded of what was actually important in this moment, like capturing Count Dooku in Episode II. Added to that, Anakin was prone to form deep personal attachments, like to his master, his padawan and especially his wife. In turn these attachments made him terrified of loss, again leaving him in a direct conflict with the Jedi Code.
It also emphasises a life in serenity and harmony, as opposed to passion and chaos. And I believe that most people that have seen at least one movie or even just one episode of The Clone Wars know that Anakin is an incredibly passionate person and that wherever he goes, chaos would soon follow. He acts impulsively, often only afterwards realising that his actions went against the ideals of the Order to which he pledged himself to.
Anakin’s strained relationship with the Jedi Council only worsens his inner turmoil. He often felt misunderstood and excluded by them, a conflict that reaches its climax when he is denied the rank of a Jedi Master in Episode III, which leaves him feeling frustrated and isolated within the Council. I’m not trying to say that the Council was wrong to deny Anakin the higher rank at this point in time, he clearly has issues following the Code, so personally I understand the sentiment of him simply not being “ready” yet. But the distrust by the other masters clearly left a mark on Anakin — especially after being marked as “the chosen one” the moment he stepped in front of the Council.
(There is certainly more to be said about the Jedi Order and the Jedi Code itself, but let’s not get into this for now)
I would never fault Anakin for joining the Jedi Order — he was a child after all and which child would say no to force powers and lightsabers? However from my point of view it’s clear that the life he is told to live in the Order clashes with his personal wishes and beliefs, leading to an intense inner struggle practically every day.
Anakin commiting to the rigid ideology of the Jedi as a child that goes against his entire nature and complicated relationships in the Order make him way more vulnerable, allowing him to give in to the temptation of the dark side.
Sheev Palpatine
Without Palpatine, also known as the secret sith lord Darth Sidious, I firmly believe that Anakin’s story would’ve turned out differently. He is the embodiment of the manipulative and seductive power of the dark side, able to lure a vulnerable Anakin in and bind him to it.
Anakin met Palpatine when he first came to Coruscant and he soon would assume a mentor role for the young boy, being able to recognize his potential and forming a close relationship with him, something that would come to benefit him and his plan to transform the Republic into the Empire in the future. To put it in simpler terms, I would say that Palpatine groomed Anakin to become Darth Vader.
Palpatine is undoubtedly a master manipulator, being able to read his emotions and fears, getting Anakin to trust him and slowly draw him closer to the dark side, all while presenting himself as a trustworthy friend and political leader, concealing his true identity. This is especially tragic because this began during an especially vulnerable part of Anakin’s life, when he needed a sincere and accepting figure in his life, with him craving approval.
And one day, he finally got an opportunity to make Anakin embrace the dark side, transforming into Darth Vader. All of his manipulation undeniably led to many of Anakin’s personal tragedies: he lost his friend and master and his wife, events which only strengthened Anakin’s commitment to the dark side of the force.
Palpatine has a strong hold over Anakin, so strong that it seems like there is no redemption for him.
Ahsoka Tano
Jedi were supposed to be keepers of the peace, not soldiers, and yet for most of the time that we, the audience, see them they are just that: soldiers. The galaxy is at war and the jedi are the ones that lead their troops into battle, fighting alongside them. And during this dark time in the galaxy, war raging in almost every part of it, Anakin gets assigned a padawan himself, the young Togruta Ahsoka.
Watching Anakin’s relationship with Ahsoka unfold during the Clone Wars movie and series has always been one of my favourite things about this Star Wars animation. Despite initially not even wanting a padawan, stating that it must be a mistake and that one would simply slow him down, Anakin grows to care for Ahsoka like for a little sister and eventually growing in his role as a mentor, as he guided Ahsoka just like his master had guided him.
Having Ahsoka as a padawan meant new responsibilities for Anakin, forcing him to mature as a teacher; yet their time together would be cut short, forcing Anakin to let go of Ahsoka sooner than he ever expected.
“I have to sort this out on my own. Without the Council… and without you” — Ahsoka to Anakin in Clone Wars Season 5, Episode 20
After being falsely accused of a crime, Ahsoka, her trust in the Jedi being broken, decides to leave the Order and in turn her master. And while it certainly wasn’t an easy step for Ahsoka, it took a toll on Anakin as well, who took her departure as a personal loss. He felt helpless, like he couldn’t support a loved one in their time of need, which ultimately led to them leaving him. Just like Ahsoka, his trust in the Order weakened, growing increasingly frustrated with it.
Ahsoka leaving challenged his belief in the principles of the Jedi, contributing to his already big emotional turmoil and disillusionment. This loss only made his attachment to other people stronger, growing more and more vulnerable — a weakness that would soon lead to his ultimate downfall.
As the bond breaks, his faith in the Order is weakened: an event that undeniably plays a pivotal role in his fall to the dark side.
Obi-Wan Kenobi
I can imagine that by now some people might be yelling about how I did not mention his master, friend and brother yet: Obi-Wan Kenobi. And truly, there is no way to tell Anakin’s story without mentioning him as he is a crucial aspect in it. And while I won’t be able to take a proper dive into their relationship (at least not right now), I can’t deny that Obi-Wan played a huge part in Anakin’s life.
Obi-Wan took on a young Anakin as his apprentice, as per his dying master’s wishes. And while they did not have the best start to their relationship at first (well, they practically rarely interacted before and he did voice his concerns about the young boy to Qui-Gon), I think everybody would agree with me when I say that the two of them formed a close bond — one that reached way beyond a master and an apprentice.
“A Jedi’s goal is to defend a life, not take it” — Obi-Wan to Anakin in Kenobi, Episode 5
As his master, it was Obi-Wan’s responsibility to teach Anakin the ways of the Jedi, mentoring him in the Code, wisdom and discipline. However, this proved to be quite a challenge since living according to the Code did not come easy to Anakin because of his brash and emotional nature.
Yet, everybody who has taken a look at their time together — look no further than the their very first scene in Episode II, almost any Episode in the Clone Wars series or ultimately Obi-Wan’s heartbreaking monologue at the end of Episode III, knows that their bond was deep, brotherly. I would argue that Obi-Wan was just as attached to Anakin as his padawan was to him, despite what the Jedi Code taught him.
To me, Obi-Wan serves as a bridge between the Code and Anakin himself, constantly torn between the Jedi way and his own attachment to Anakin. He tries to understand Anakin’s emotions, even knowing about his attachment to Padmé and still turning a blind eye to it, because he knows that this made him truly happy (on that note, I need George Lucas’ cut of Episode III, thank you, knowing about this deleted scene broke me) and yet is never able to fully grasp it, ultimately failing in his task to guide him on the right path. Heartbreaking, right?
“You were my brother, Anakin. I loved you” — Obi-Wan to Anakin in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Their story comes to its dreadful climax during their battle on Mustafar — Obi-Wan being forced to confront his former padawan, his brother, and ultimately defeating him, leaving him behind. He believed he had lost him forever, killed him, until he would come to face off against Darth Vader a few years after — escaping before duelling him once more on the Death Star, sacrificing himself and allowing Vader to strike him down.
The relationship between Anakin and Obi-Wan is a story of mentorship and brotherhood, ending in misfortune, failure and guilt.
Padmé Amidala
Anakin’s story would not be complete without the person he loved most: his secret (but also not really secret) wife, Padmé Amidala.
While I admit that watching their love story be told does make me cringe at times, I will be the first one to defend the two of them. Even as a kid I loved watching these two fall in love to the point of arguing with my brother that we just had to watch Episode II (and it remains a guilty pleasure to this day).
“Are you an angel?” — Anakin to Padmé in Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Their love story begins in a junk shop on Tatooine, getting closer after ten years until finally marrying in secret on Naboo. And while you would think that a love story is usually something inherently positive, something occuring to pull a character out of their misery in media, this time it is a critical and incredibly heartbreaking part of Anakin’s story.
“I thought we had decided not to fall in love” — Anakin to Padmé in Episode II: Attack of the Clones
We all know that Anakin’s romantic involvement is forbidden by the Jedi Code, explicitly prohibiting any kind of attachment. And yet his attachment to her runs deep, clashing with the ideals of the Order he dedicated his life to. The two of them were forced to keep their love a secret. And while the “Forbidden Love” might be an intriguing trope in romance media of any kind, I believe it’s safe to assume that this secret weighed heavy on Padmé and Anakin’s relationship, forcing them to be always careful and hide their true feelings whenever in public. I think we all agree that this leads to feelings of guilt and fear, even making them resist their feelings in the beginning — even though for us humans love of any kind is something that comes naturally to us.
To be human is to love. And it’s just like german philosopher Erich Fromm has said: “Love is the only sane and satisfactory answer to the problem of human existence” — and now imagine not being allowed to love.
“Love won’t save you, Padmé” — Anakin to Padmé in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Anakin has formed a deep emotional attachment to Padmé and their love seemed to blossom with every day, to them expecting a child (well, twins) together. But the joy would not last long as Anakin would soon be plagued by visions of Padmé dying, triggering his already intense fear of losing her. Soon this fear would be the only thing that drives him forward and he desperately tries to find a way to save her and prevent the tragedy that he foresaw.
This is what ultimately led him right into Palpatine’s arms, who exploits Anakin’s love for Padmé and lures him to the dark side, convincing him that the dark side will help him save his wife.
It’s safe to assume that Anakin felt alienated, the secret nature of this relationship not allowing him to seek comfort and advice and so he is forced to make darker and extreme choices, turning his back on everything he believes in, on his friends and ultimately even on Padmé.
Something that could be arguably the most tragic event of Anakin’s life was Padmé’s death. Despite his efforts of saving her, tormented by visions of her losing his life, he ultimately plays a huge part in her demise. One of the most prevalent reasons for him to join the dark side was Padmé after all, Palpatine, as discussed, using Anakin’s visions as bait, promising him the power to save her — only for Anakin to fail miserably. Imagine giving up everything you believe in, your entire life, just to save the love of your life — and then you fail. Wouldn’t that shatter you? Wouldn’t you feel hopeless and empty?
Wouldn’t you blame yourself?
I would argue that it was at this point that he fully embraces the dark side, truly becoming Darth Vader — a powerful sith lord that the entire galaxy would come to fear.
There is definitely much more to say about Anakin and Padmé, but I believe that it has become clear that their love is a profound Shakespearean tragedy: a passionate but forbidden love, which ends with the fall of a flawed hero and the death of his love.
Love is an incredibly dominant and compelling emotion, having the power to make you do things that you otherwise would never do — and it makes Anakin do things that ultimately lead him to lose Padmé.
Darth Vader
The culmination of Anakin’s tragedy is undoubtedly his life as Darth Vader: the darkest (and for most Star Wars fans most famous) chapter of his life. His transformation from a powerful jedi knight into an even stronger sith lord seals his choice to forsake his jedi training and identity, embracing the dark side fully — both physically and mentally.
“You were the chosen one! It was said that you would destroy the sith, not join them!” — Obi-Wan to Anakin in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
His physical transformation into what we would consider a cyborg cloaked in the iconic black armour and helmet, after being severely injured during his duel with his former master on Mustafar, is terrifying. His fall to the dark side is now more than “just” a choice, but something that robbed him of his humanity. He is more machine than man, relying on them to do even such trivial things as breathing.
His terror-striking exterior fits to his role as the enforcer of the Galactic Empire: serving the emperor and doing his bidding — his actions going against his previous hope to bring true peace and justice to the galaxy. Much like in his early life, he became a slave to his new master, serving him without question. He is a pawn to Darth Sidious, bound to him with only limited autonomy— something that to me symbolises his fall even further: he went from an enslaved child that above all wanted to be free to a sith lord, who despite his powers was nothing but a lap dog, a person constantly being controlled by someone else (sounds familiar, huh?).
To me, Darth Vader went from being a jedi knight to being a slave to the dark side of the force and his master and ultimately a slave to his own past choices and actions. He played a huge part in destroying the Jedi Order, hunted down surviving Jedi, his former friends and comrades, just to kill them and he also played a big part in the passing of his love, Padmé.
He is in a constant conflict because of all of this and there is nothing he can do to ease his pain. Ultimately, he chose to commit these heinous acts and now he has to live with them, unable to go back to the past and change it. He became the empire’s ruthless and merciless enforcer, known and feared by everyone.
And yet, there is hope: his son, Luke Skywalker.
Anakin is the chosen one; and he chooses to betray everything he knew and everyone he loved.
Luke Skywalker
Let’s not forget that Anakin was initially unaware of his son Luke (and also his daughter, Leia), knowing him only as a part of the rebel alliance and the person that blew up the death star. They face off as enemies on Bespin again, with him cutting off Luke’s hand — an event that would be more important in the future than one might think.
Together with his master, Vader wants to turn Luke over to the dark side of the force, being aware of his force sensitivity and incredible power. And Luke is aware of this, managing to resist the temptation of the dark side and even willingly turning himself over to Vader. By now he has accepted that this fearsome sith lord is indeed his father — that he had strayed from the part of the light. Yet Luke still believes that there is good in him, feeling the same inner conflict that Anakin has felt for basically his entire life.
Father and son are forced to fight against each other, with Luke ultimately gaining the upper hand and almost striking Vader down — yet his faith in his father stops him. He refuses to give into hate, refusing the dark side and defying the emperor in the process, who in turn got ready to kill the younger Skywalker.
That is when Anakin intervenes, protecting his son from his master’s deadly force lighting, something that would lead to his own demise.
“You were right, Luke” — Anakin to Luke in Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
And so, Anakin’s final act is one of redemption: saving his son from the very man that played a huge role in his own downfall — and ultimately fulfilling the prophecy of the chosen one by destroying the sith and bringing balance to the force. Luke’s faith in his father was what allowed him to return to the light and is the centre point in Star Wars’ message about redemption and the true power of compassion and love. His tragic story culminates in a sacrifice, allowing him to die as the man he always was: Anakin Skywalker.
After so many years of suffering, Anakin is finally freed.
Force Ghost
So, that’s it. Anakin’s dead, his story is over, right? Well, not quite yet.
At the end of Episode VI, after Luke has burned his father’s body and returned to his friends and sister, we can see him looking over at the force ghosts of his mentors — Obi-Wan and Yoda — and sees the ghost of his father join them. After so many years of suffering, he finally found his peace, redeeming himself in his last minutes, allowing him to die as Anakin Skywalker (and not Darth Vader).
As a force ghost he achieves a kind of immortality and it allows himself to appear to others and guide and teach them, just like during his time as a jedi (and technically also as a sith, looking at you, The Force Unleashed). He again becomes a mentor, offering wisdom and support to those who need it.
Added to that, he finally gets to reconcile with his loved ones and family, like his master, and in my opinion brother, Obi-Wan and his former padawan Ahsoka, finally finishing her training, years after she left the order. In Star Wars Legends, he even tries to make amends with his daughter, Leia, but she drives him away, telling him that she doesn’t want to see him ever again (which is totally understandable as she only knew him as Vader and well, he did blow up her home planet). And yet this shows his willingness to become a better person (well, ghost now)and his commitment to be a better influence. He finally gets to close his story and move on.
By having him become a force ghost he becomes a beacon of hope for everyone: it shows that even if you have fallen to the dark side, you can still find your way back to the light.
Just like his masters, he becomes one with the force, living on to guide and inspire, even in death — much like his story inspires us.
Anakin’s life is a story about the rise of a promising Jedi and his following fall into the darkness, concluding with his own sacrifice to finally find redemption.
Admittedly, this became a bit longer than I expected, but to me this simply underlines just how tragic and multifaceted his story actually is.
There are many different lessons that can be drawn from this life story: lessons about choices, redemption, love and sacrifice. And I think that this is what drove me in from the very beginning. Anakin is a tragic hero, not the noble one you get from many fairy tales. He’s emotional, impulsive and fragile, making some choices that leave us yelling at the screen (and in some cases even rewatching the movies and secretly still hoping he chooses differently) and being forced to live with the consequences. A hero that loses himself in the story, who becomes a shadow of his former self, but still manages to redeem himself.
Anakin’s tale is undeniably a tale of humanity. About our potentials, our emotions, our fall and ultimately our redemption.
