Star Words: Episode III, Part 24
Oct. 4th, 2018 01:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
matrilIt seems that Anakin believes he has passed the point of no return. The stumbling backward, dropping his weapon; that anguished cry of "What have I done!" And when Palpatine offers an answer, he snatches at it in desperation and despair. His turn to the Dark Side does not start with a wild rampage of violence. That comes later. It starts with a quiet, defeated man who thinks he has nowhere else to go.
"I will do whatever you ask."
When has Anakin said this before? Ah, yes. In Episode II, during the fireplace scene on Naboo. To Padmé. And in his mind, it's all the same promise. He would do whatever is required to win her love, and he would do whatever is required to protect her. He will pay any price, because the alternative is unthinkable. He must have her. He can't lose her.
"Just help me save Padmé's life. I can't live without her." He truly believes this. He has no idea how to deal with loss and heartbreak. There is still a hole in his heart from the moment when his mother died in his arms, and if he hasn't found healing for that, there's no way he can find it if Padmé dies. But Anakin, you poor misguided soul, this very determination to pay any price is the surest way to lose Padmé, not to death but to betrayal. (Well, and also death, but it's all very symbolic and metaphorical). And when he does lose her, you could say that Anakin really does die, leaving nothing but a Sith Lord with a hollow heart. Wow, it's just so perfectly, poetically devastating. I'm sad.
In any case, let's learn from Anakin's mistakes and never, ever make a deal with the devil. It's not worth it. It's never worth it.
Next, the aftermath of Order 66....
"I will do whatever you ask."
When has Anakin said this before? Ah, yes. In Episode II, during the fireplace scene on Naboo. To Padmé. And in his mind, it's all the same promise. He would do whatever is required to win her love, and he would do whatever is required to protect her. He will pay any price, because the alternative is unthinkable. He must have her. He can't lose her.
"Just help me save Padmé's life. I can't live without her." He truly believes this. He has no idea how to deal with loss and heartbreak. There is still a hole in his heart from the moment when his mother died in his arms, and if he hasn't found healing for that, there's no way he can find it if Padmé dies. But Anakin, you poor misguided soul, this very determination to pay any price is the surest way to lose Padmé, not to death but to betrayal. (Well, and also death, but it's all very symbolic and metaphorical). And when he does lose her, you could say that Anakin really does die, leaving nothing but a Sith Lord with a hollow heart. Wow, it's just so perfectly, poetically devastating. I'm sad.
In any case, let's learn from Anakin's mistakes and never, ever make a deal with the devil. It's not worth it. It's never worth it.
Next, the aftermath of Order 66....
