![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Star Words: Episode VI, Part 46
Oct. 7th, 2021 10:10 amThe tide has turned on Endor, thanks to Han's impression of an Imperial officer inside the walker. This will, in turn, bring hope for the Rebels battling the Death Star and the Empire's mighty fleet. But in the throne room, matters are still very bleak.
Luke is hiding, a wise way to avoid aggression. Vader is determined to draw him out, searching for the things most likely to tempt and taunt him.
"Give yourself to the Dark Side. It is the only way you can save your friends."
This line used to puzzle me a bit. Though I knew it was leading up to Vader's discovery of the hidden twin sister, I still thought it seemed odd to suggest that the Dark Side could have any benefit for one's friends. If you turn to evil, they're not your friends anymore, right? But the prequels provided tremendous insight. Vader knows what led him to the Dark Side. He intends to direct Luke down the same path.
But here's the thing...turning to the Dark Side didn't save a single one of Vader's friends. They all renounced him when he became evil, most crucially the wife he thought to save with dark powers. So why would he still think this temptation has any power? For that matter, why didn't he just hop back to the good side once it became clear his deal with the devil was a bust?
Because you can't hop back and forth like that! You can't pledge yourself to the side of darkness and remained untainted. It poisons you, transforms you. Darth Vader has known for a long time that his plan to attain unlimited power for the benefit of his loved ones has utterly failed -- but in the meantime, he has become converted to the view that the Dark Side is all that truly matters. He has given in to the way of violence, selfishness, hatred -- it now forms the very essence of his motives and character.
He thinks he's doing the right thing, luring Luke to the Dark Side. He'll lie and deceive and twist the truth however he thinks necessary, if only it will bring his son to the same grim knowledge and power that Vader possesses. Does he really want to help Luke save his friends? Doubtful. But he wants his son to see the same "truth" that he does, so he'll use the same ploys that brought Anakin to the supposed only way.
And it almost works. But there are few transcendent twists coming before this tale ends.
Next, the harshest blow.....
Luke is hiding, a wise way to avoid aggression. Vader is determined to draw him out, searching for the things most likely to tempt and taunt him.
"Give yourself to the Dark Side. It is the only way you can save your friends."
This line used to puzzle me a bit. Though I knew it was leading up to Vader's discovery of the hidden twin sister, I still thought it seemed odd to suggest that the Dark Side could have any benefit for one's friends. If you turn to evil, they're not your friends anymore, right? But the prequels provided tremendous insight. Vader knows what led him to the Dark Side. He intends to direct Luke down the same path.
But here's the thing...turning to the Dark Side didn't save a single one of Vader's friends. They all renounced him when he became evil, most crucially the wife he thought to save with dark powers. So why would he still think this temptation has any power? For that matter, why didn't he just hop back to the good side once it became clear his deal with the devil was a bust?
Because you can't hop back and forth like that! You can't pledge yourself to the side of darkness and remained untainted. It poisons you, transforms you. Darth Vader has known for a long time that his plan to attain unlimited power for the benefit of his loved ones has utterly failed -- but in the meantime, he has become converted to the view that the Dark Side is all that truly matters. He has given in to the way of violence, selfishness, hatred -- it now forms the very essence of his motives and character.
He thinks he's doing the right thing, luring Luke to the Dark Side. He'll lie and deceive and twist the truth however he thinks necessary, if only it will bring his son to the same grim knowledge and power that Vader possesses. Does he really want to help Luke save his friends? Doubtful. But he wants his son to see the same "truth" that he does, so he'll use the same ploys that brought Anakin to the supposed only way.
And it almost works. But there are few transcendent twists coming before this tale ends.
Next, the harshest blow.....
