Anakin Skywalker is a key character in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, with his journey to the dark side of the force explored in Episodes I-III. He is discovered by Qui-Gon Jinn on Tatooine, where he lives as a slave with his mother. Anakin falls in love with Padme and is manipulated by Palpatine, leading to his downfall and transformation into Darth Vader. Despite his tragic path, his son Luke believes in his redemption and ultimately helps him return to his true identity as Anakin Skywalker.
Anakin Skywalker is an essential character in the first Star Wars trilogy, Episodes I-III. In George Lucas’ initial 1977 film Star Wars, only brief mention is made of Anakin. We learn that he is Luke Skywalker’s father and we are told that he was betrayed and killed by Darth Vader which is not true as Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader. Episode V The Empire Strikes Back reveals this and plays out Luke’s emotional struggle as he seeks redemption to father him.
In Return of the Jedi, we learn that Anakin Skywalker fathered twins, Luke and Leia. Up until Episode V, Darth Vader believed his wife Padme died before giving birth. Luke’s struggle to reform Darth Vader and not become like him is encouraged by his sense that Vader still has some good in him. In this task, Luke succeeds, bringing balance to the force, as prophesied.
The second trilogy, which is a prequel to Star Wars, begins with the film The Phantom Menace. Though panned by many critics, what makes it interesting and dark is that it involves an anti-hero and his path to the dark side of the force. In this first film, Episode I, we learn the following:
1. Master Qui-Gon Jinn discovered Anakin, when Qui-Gon, Kenobi and Padme were stranded on Tatooine.
2. Anakin and his mother are both slaves.
3. Qui-Gon is intrigued by Anakin’s abilities as a mechanic and his extraordinary reflexes and tests his midi-chlorian level. He is taller than any living Jedi.
4. Anakin was the product of a virgin birth.
5. Child Anakin, is loving, compassionate and helpful, and longs to escape his bondage and become a Jedi Knight.
6. Anakin’s midi-chlorian count suggests that he is the one prophesied to bring balance to the force.
7. Qui-Gon agrees to train Anakin, despite the council’s objections.
8. When Qui-Gon dies, Obi Wan Kenobi takes over this training.
Anakin falls in love with Padme, Queen Amidala of Naboo. Young Anakin, played by Jake Lloyd, isn’t very believable in this compared to Natalie Portman’s portrayal of Padme. The love story between Anakin and Padme is more believable in the second two films with Hayden Christensen playing the role of Anakin Skywalker.
In Episode II, Attack of the Clones, Kenobi is cautious about the interest in Anakin shown by Palpatine, the disguised Sith Lord. Palpatine encourages Anakin to go against Jedi teachings and Anakin violates one of the most sacred precepts of the Jedi Order by marrying Padme at the end of the film. He also exacts retribution against the sand people for killing his mother and begins to show how easily he is dominated by his own anger, which is a sure path to the dark side.
In the third film, Revenge of the Sith, Anakin’s fears center around the fact that Padme will die in childbirth. Palpatine, who offers Anakin a means to keep Padme alive if he follows the ways of the Sith, exploits this. Although Anakin soon discovers that Palpatine is the Emperor and a Sith Lord, he continues to follow him in hopes of being able to save his wife.
Ultimately, the downfall of Anakin Skywalker and the creation of Lord Vader stem from Anakin’s inability to control his emotions, his outright disobedience to the Jedi precepts and his arrogance, pride in the ability he possesses to wield the force . Kenobi isn’t a good teacher for Anakin and doesn’t realize how badly his student is failing him. Anakin’s murder of the Sand People, and then his murder of the children at the Jedi Training Center, cement his journey to the dark side. Kenobi later explains to Luke that Anakin is in a sense dead and that Darth Vader is a completely different person. Padme and Luke both insist this isn’t true, and Luke continues to feel good in Vader, eventually helping Vader redeem himself and become Anakin Skywalker again in his defense of being his son.
Anakin Skywalker’s character is tragic, very much at odds with his son. Despite his good intentions, his path is marked by evil deeds, the seduction of power and the deliberate interference of Palpatine who encourages Anakin to explore the Sith way. The prequel trilogy ends on a sad note, with Anakin destroyed both spiritually and physically, and the new Darth Vader emerging from this destruction.
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