Summary

Palpatine ’s manipulation ofAnakin SkywalkerinStar Warsis nothing short of horrifying . Chancellor Palpatine consume no prison term sinking his claw into a young Anakin . As shortly as the battle on Naboo was over inStar Wars : Episode I – The Phantom Menace , Palpatine introduced himself to Anakin , promise he would note the young Jedi ’s career“with heavy interest . ”Anakin – who was still reeling from saying goodbye to his female parent and fall back his only father - figure , Qui - Gon Jinn – was emotionally vulnerable , and thus an easy target for Palpatine , who sensed Anakin ’s underlie dark and fears from the start .

Over the eld , Palpatine inserted himself into Anakin ’s aliveness , setting himself up as a confidante , a friend , and a wizard for the untested Jedi . Anakin crave affection , passion , and recognition , and Palpatine was willing to give it to him , much more than the Jedi ever would , or indeed , could . Palpatine manipulated Anakinin legion ways , each arguably more worrisome than the last , using Anakin ’s harm , veneration , guiltiness , and unending capacity for love against him until one day , Anakin was in conclusion quick to give in to his desperation and become Darth Vader .

While an contention could be made that Anakin would have one solar day turned to the benighted side even without Palpatine ’s assist – Palpatine only coaxed Anakin ’s swarthiness to the surface , he was already susceptible to strong emotion , and his relationship with Padmé was tie down to be his unfastening – Palpatine poke and prodded atAnakin ’s flaws and weaknesseswithout ever afford him a fortune to change and watch from his mistakes . Anakin may have been doomed from the beginning , but that does n’t make Palpatine ’s manipulative actions any less repugnant .

Anakin Skywalker glaring with Sith eyes from Revenge of the Sith to the left and Anakin Skywalker standing in the World Between Worlds in Ahsoka to the right

Although Anakin Skywalker is well one of the most important character in all of Star Wars , several parts of his story still make very little sense .

6Palpatine Became A Father Figure For A Boy In Need Of One

What if Qui-Gon Jinn had lived?

Anakin ’s attachment to Qui - Gon Jinn was graspable . Here was a gentleman’s gentleman who recognized his talent , further them , and present him with an opportunity to will Tatooine and his liveliness as a slave behind for might and dangerous undertaking . Having grown up with only his female parent , never know who his sire was , it produce a hole inside Anakin . He take that form of attention , and Qui - Gon was willing to give it to him , even only because he believed Anakin was the pick out One .

When Qui - Gon was kill by Palpatine ’s prentice , Anakin was handed over to Obi - Wan Kenobi instead , who , at the clip , was just a Padawan , and not much elderly in the grand strategy of things . Instead of being instruct about the Jedi and the Force by a beginner , he was or else taught about his young life by a sidekick , someone who still had a title on Anakin ’s middle but could n’t protect him from the emptiness that suppurate after leaving his mother behind and losing Qui - Gon . Enter Palpatine .

Palpatine was older , wiser , oddly easy , and proud of Anakin ’s accomplishments . He knew exactly what Anakin was missing in life and became that someone for him . How could Obi - Wan and the emotionally detach Jedi ever compete ?

Anakin crying in Attack of the Clones in a red hue to the left and Vader at the end of Revenge of the Sith to the right

5Palpatine Used The Jedi Council’s Reluctance Towards Anakin Against Him

The Jedi believed Anakin was too old and emotional to join the Order

The Jedi were initially reluctant to allow Anakin join the Jedi Order . Not only was he much old than most Jedi initiates , who are often bring to the Temple as babies and yearling , but Anakin was more emotionally volatile , too . He was understandably afraid , he missed his mother , and he was all too curious about what his Modern power would think . As the Jedi Council pointed out , Anakin was emotionally compromise . It would be fantastically difficult for him to let go of his future attachments and regulate his feelings when he was already so committed to someone he had left behind .

Though the Jedi eventually relented and allowed Anakin to train under Obi - Wan ’s alert yet inexperient oculus , they never fully and really permit go of their doubts . Yes , they allowed Anakin to have a Padawan , but only because they hoped it would learn him how to let go . Yes , they made him a General in the Grand Army of the Republic and recognized his incredible strength , but they also refused to include him in certain important missionary work – Obi - Wan ’s undercover mission as a want deplorable inStar Wars : The Clone Warsseason 4 comes to mind – as they never truly trusted him .

Palpatine knew the Jedi had distance themselves from Anakin and used that to his vantage . He preyed upon Anakin ’s self - dubiousness , drive the Jedi to include Anakin on deputation he was n’t actively ascribe to . In doing so , he pushed both side to the breakage stop .

Palpatine, Vader, and Momin

conceptualize by the will of the Force itself , Anakin Skywalker was the prophesy Chosen One , destined to take the Force into balance . Anakin struggled to balance competing attachment to the Jedi Order and his wife Padmé Amidala , and at last hang to the dark side , becoming Darth Vader . For years he serve well as Palpatine ’s ripe deal human beings , but he was finally redeemed by the religion of his Logos , Luke Skywalker . Now a Force Ghost , Anakin continues to act as an agent of balance .

4Palpatine Promised Anakin Things The Jedi Could Not And Lied About It

Anakin wanted to save Padmé, but he never could

Though the Jedi Council ’s reservation was one of Anakin ’s big insecurity , his main impuissance , of grade , was Padmé Amidala . Anakin could n’t help himself when it came to her . He loved her , he craved her love in reappearance and decided that the Jedi Order ’s formula were less significant than his kinship with his married woman . Anakin ’s pauperism for affection , both forcible and emotional , played a major part in his secluded love involvement . The Jedi Order was too restrictive and too cautious , and as a resolution , they pushed Anakin into a doomed family relationship , one that would finally doom the entire Jedi Order .

Palpatine make love all this , of course . He had see Anakin ’s need for honey and twisted it into something desperate and ugly . Finally , when Anakin becomes possessed with saving Padmé ’s life , Palpatine lies to Anakin and recount him he can still save up her . He essentially drive Anakin into a corner – Anakin would either turn to the dark side to deliver his wife , or he would ferment to the dark side out of brokenheartedness and anger after losing her . Palpatine left him with no other choice . Using Anakin ’s beloved for Padmé against him like that was unfeignedly disturbing .

Anakin Skywalker ’s descent to the dark side of the Force is a polar event in Star Wars , and 15 key moments defined how that turn happen over prison term .

Attack of the Clones' Anakin Skywalker and Chancellor Palpatine in the Star Wars prequels

Custom Image by El Kuiper

3Palpatine Used Anakin’s Isolation Against Him

Palpatine forced Anakin to distance himself from the Jedi

As the remainder of the Clone Wars come in flock – just as Palpatine had engineer , of course – Palpatine began to use Anakin ’s trust in him to isolate him . Anakin already felt like he was being neglect by the Jedi , and his religion in the Order startle to go down as soon as his Padawan , Ahsoka Tano , left the Jedi Order after being incorrectly accused of treason inThe Clone Warsseason 5 . He was frustrated ; he want to prove to the Order that he was the best of them , and he also wanted to keep Padmé safe at all toll .

to boot , in Kristin Braver ’s Skywalker family biography , Skywalker : A Family At War , it was let on that , when Anakin was young , Palpatine used to take him on covert jaunt to Coruscant ’s indisposed Hades . There , he spotlight the criminalism and thralldom that was certain to see red Anakin give his agonizing past as a striver on Tatooine , “ proving ” to Anakin that the Jedi were useless when it truly mattered . Palpatine used Anakin ’s differences and needs to isolate him from the Jedi so that when the time came , Anakin would have no problem leaving the ordering behind to get what he truly wanted .

Palpatine ’s suspicion turned out to be correct . After Mace Windu ’s dying , Palpatine order Anakin to put down what was leave of the Jedi – including the impeccant younglings – and Anakin agreed , becausehe no longer see the Jedi as a force for honest . He viewed them as the ultimate opposition .

Anakin Skywalker and Darth Vader Split By a Lightning Bolt

Conceived by the will of the Force itself, Anakin Skywalker was the prophesied Chosen One, destined to bring the Force into balance. Anakin struggled to balance competing attachments to the Jedi Order and his wife Padmé Amidala, and ultimately fell to the dark side, becoming Darth Vader. For years he served as Palpatine’s right hand man, but he was ultimately redeemed by the faith of his son, Luke Skywalker. Now a Force Ghost, Anakin continues to act as an agent of balance.

The senator for Naboo , Palpatine rose to tycoon and influence during the die days of the Republic . In reality , his public persona was just a masque ; he was really Darth Sidious , greatest of the Sith Lords , and he used his political skills and Machiavellian cunning to bring down both the Republic and the Jedi . Palpatine decree his Galactic Empire for decades , until he was denounce by his prentice , Darth Vader . Even this was n’t enough to halt the Emperor , however , as he was resurrected by his follower - only to be defeat once again .

2Palpatine Fed Anakin’s Fragile Ego

Anakin craved recognition

Palpatine did n’t just isolate Anakin from the Jedi , though . He also stroke his fragile yet overwhelm ego . Anakin knew he was powerful . He was cocky , sure of himself , and quick to lead in battle , follow his instincts rather than verbatim Republic orders . Those property made him a great albeit irregular Jedi General , and Palpatine extol Anakin ’s effort at every act , encouraging him to do more by postulate him to fall in and top top - secret Jedi missions , even when the Jedi Council disagreed .

InRevenge of the Sith , Palpatine took this all one pace further by convincing Anakin that he had earned a seat on the Jedi Council . Anakin had been praise by Palpatine his entire biography , and he trust that the Chancellor knew well than anyone . As such , when the Council defy to give Anakin a seat , one he believed was rightfully his , Palpatine was there to comfort and console him , give Anakin the power and recognition the young Jedi so urgently hunger .

1Palpatine Encouraged Anakin’s Self-Loathing, Forcing Him To Become Darth Vader

Palpatine forced Anakin to wallow in his despair

Anakin was a mess of contradictions , and Palpatine used that to his advantage . Anakin believed he deserved more praise from the Jedi Council , so Palpatine feed it to him . At the same clip , Anakin believe he was n’t strong enough to write Padmé , so Palpatine told him he could learn him how . Anakin loved himself and hat himself in equal measure , tear between his commitment to Palpatine , Obi - Wan , Padmé , and the Jedi Order until he finally snapped . He anguish Padmé even though he had assure not to , and he fought with Obi - Wan until he became marred beyond recognition .

That was Palpatine ’s final step . Anakin need to hate himself and be submerge by sorrow and anger , so overwhelmed that there was nothing left for him but the grim side . He encourage Anakin ’s negative feelings , ram him to become something else , someone else . That was the birth of Darth Vader . OnceAnakin Skywalkerwas lose and Darth Vader took over , Palpatinedropped his caring mask and revealed who he was at his essence : a selfish , swollen-headed , tyrannic operator .

Star Wars is a multimedia system franchise that set out in 1977 by Divine George Lucas . After the release of Star Wars : Episode IV- A New Hope ( originally just titled Star Wars ) , the dealership quick exploded , spawning multiple continuation , prequels , TV show , video game , strip , and much more . After Disney acquire the rights to the dealership , they quickly expand the population on Disney+ , starting with The Mandalorian .

Ian McDiarmid as Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars Return of the Jedi

The senator for Naboo, Palpatine rose to power and influence during the dying days of the Republic. In reality, his public persona was just a mask; he was really Darth Sidious, greatest of the Sith Lords, and he used his political skills and Machiavellian cunning to bring down both the Republic and the Jedi. Palpatine ruled his Galactic Empire for decades, until he was betrayed by his apprentice, Darth Vader. Even this wasn’t enough to stop the Emperor, however, as he was resurrected by his followers - only to be defeated once again.

Star Wars Franchise Poster

Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.

Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader

Emperor Palpatine/Darth Sidious