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Post by Subtext Mining on Apr 15, 2017 18:42:57 GMT
I’d like to lay the groundwork for an ongoing exploration into the complexities of this deep character's actions, psyche, emotions, motivations, passions, quirks and overall personality. This opening post is merely a foundation on which to build with deeper questions and commentary. So, along the way, feel free to suggest additions, subtractions and critiques to this OP.  First let's start with his strengths:He is good natured and has a big, loving heart. Has an eagerness to help others, via his extraordinary talents and bravery, even at the risk of his own safety. He’s deeply compassionate to all and possesses a deep concern for his friends and loves ones, whom he is wholly devoted to protecting. He’s never runs from responsibility in any situation. Now let’s cover some characteristics that others around him may find troublesome:He is often overconfident, sometimes exhibiting a sense of hubris. He likes to show off. He is prideful in his talents. His mentor feels his gifts have made him arrogant. He has a "need for speed” and a need for action, he’s restless and reckless. A bit of a hotshot when in action. He is impulsive. he finds patience difficult. He detests sitting around waiting. He desires taking immediate action when problems arise. He wants quick answers to pressing questions. He demands results and is often willing to "go too far" (according to Obi-Wan, in the novels) to accomplish his objectives. He is even willing to sometimes act on his own accord to do so, disobeying his master and the Jedi Council. He feels rules and bureaucracy stifle both his progress and his ability to accomplish objectives. He often has his own idea of what the right thing to do is in any given situation. He will bend the Jedi rules or find loopholes to justify his actions and desires. His mentor feels he is unpredictable. He uses his abounding emotions to fuel his actions, which goes against the Jedi Code. He knows he should constrain them, but he cannot, and for the most part, will not. Likewise, he’s unable to let go of his emotional possessions and attachments, which is also contrary to the Code. He’s got a temper, he’s often easy to anger. Especially when success is on the line. He seeks revenge when those he cares about are harmed and/or when he’s been bested. He’s competitive, even with his master. He feels a need to excel and prove himself. Feels held back from reaching his full potential. He seeks approval. He is often filled with self-disappointment and frustration when he fails. He can’t accept failure. He feels he should always be better. He sees no need for one to limit one’s self in accomplishing their goals. Hence his tendency to circumvent or exceed his mandate and the Jedi way in general. He desires to be considered at least an equal with the Masters. He doesn’t like his ideas to be challenged. He does not want his connections with his loved ones to change. He fears to lose them. He is socially awkward and is lacking in some social norms and manners, though he often is very forthcoming with his thoughts & feelings. And finally, the big ones. His relationship with his abundant connection to the Force, and the Prophecy attributed to him:He seems to be uncertain on how to deal with such a bountiful connection. He feels it is his birthright to be all-powerful. Now, lets look at all of these.Most of these are normal for most people, especially young people - or at least, justifiable, or understandable. In other words, he is not just an asshole or a power-hungry maniac just for the sake of being one. His motivations are pure and rather common, despite his uncommon faculties and ascription. Even in his showiness, Anakin is still relatively good-natured and fun-spritited, which is endearing. I would argue that his defiance & willfulness stems from his former life as a slave which may have led to a resentment in authority, and a feeling of always being held back. Perhaps, growing up as a slave he felt he would never have any opportunities in life, so being a free, powerful Jedi he is savoring every moment, and doesn’t want to squander his potential, which he feels exists for the service of protection. “I will be the most powerful Jedi ever” is hubris, but his intentions were focused on his role as a protector, not for self gain. Plus his strong connection with the Force has made him overconfident, but all of the Jedi have become so at this stage. Not to mention his pride is being fueled by Palpatine whom he trusts as a mentor. He likes that Palpatine sees his potential. |
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Post by tonyg on Apr 27, 2017 22:45:59 GMT
First of all, this picture is absolutely my favorite of my favorite SW character. <3.
Analytical and very true essay, I would add very small details.
You described more than well his good qualities, I would add only that he is fast thinking and intelligent. Anakin often is the first one to guesses what would happen not only because he is Force sensitive, he is just smart. And is a pity that this actually one pf the few things that can be find in him after his fall, but unfortunately he uses his brains for very bad purposes then. While being himself, being Anakin he is compassionate and always thinks about the others (As Padme is leader of the opposition, she would hardly want to leave the capital and so on).
Anakin is also very frank and honest: he speaks what he thinks to such degree that sometimes many people feel uncomfortable around him (except Padme, of course).
His not so good qualities: in short, he is young. Yes, Padme is young also, but she is more relaxed and patient, while Anakin has so much energy and fervor in him. And of course, bad temper. This energy could be tamed, but also could be transformed in something bad. We see that still in AOTC but I think that with wisdom and patience Anakin would find his way (that wisdom and patience what Qui Gon possess as master). Anakin is young but already lived very rough life: he was a slave. And since then he was determined to prove that he is not an object that should be controlled but a person. So, that is the way that Anakin treats authority of any kind: if he is just controlled he recklessly resist. If he is persuaded (ad it is possible, as he is intelligent person) he listens: is what Padme is doing. Palpatine is doing something different and while it looks apparently good is very bad for Anakin: he makes him feel free but in the same time too important (you don't need guidance and so on). Of course, he is using his flaws: deep in his heart Anakin is shy and insecure but covers that well even sometimes from himself by trying to prove that he is the best ad he knows what he is doing. But the effect of all these conversations with Palpatine is negative: instead of confident (but realistic) Anakin becomes prideful and too fixed in his own unique qualities.
Ad last, but not least: the fear. Anakin is not afraid for himself or his life he fears that he is not good enough to protect the people he loves. He has motives for that fear (the tragic destiny of his mother) still this fear is whart made him fall.
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Post by Subtext Mining on Apr 29, 2017 3:01:59 GMT
Thanks. And right! His high intelligence and quick thinking. A very under-discussed quality of his. I really wish I had included that in my opening salvo, I meant to come back to it and forgot. I also see some uncompleted sentences of mine, hehe. I will fix those. But yes, his innate ability to think fast on his feet and find ingenious solutions to big problems and tight situations. Which kind of ties into his high talent in fixing mechanical things. He's a brilliant tactician as well as a mechanical engineer, it's like he sees all the gears in motion, whether physical components or mental ones, and can quickly find the best way to fix it.
So yes, that combined with his phenomenal connection to the Force, makes him, as Ben said, a cunning warrior. I love how we ended up learning that meant he often came up with quick adaptations to plans, which often worked better than the ones established by he Council, yet his motivation was always to succeed in thwarting the bad guys while saving the lives of his comrades. (and it's funny to see his mistakes, which of course make him human).
Perhaps his shortcoming was lacking the skills to manage his emotional struggles?
You were right about him. In that this quality of cleverness of his is one of the only aspects we see after his fall. But as we all know, it's important to see how this, as well as the re-emrgence of all his other strengths are what culminated in what he ultimately accomplished on the Death Star II. One of the finest, most profound arcs of our time.
And yes, yes, yes, his traits, or passionate emotions, which could be either be tamed or set fully wild. This is the narrow line he walked. And Padme was there to guide him, which he craved. She was his beacon.
He also sought a father figure who would understand him. The tragic death of Qui-Gon left him without such a mentor. Which is why Palpatine feeding his ego was the other side of this tragedy. Kenobi did do his best with Anakin and deserves no blame for what happened. Kenobi did do a good job with him, it's just also part of the tragedy that he may have took Anakin on while still not experienced enough himself. And obviously, Kenobi & Anakin were opposites in there approach to life and their service to the Force, like Kenobi and Jinn were, which often makes for a good Master/Padawan relationship, but perhaps without a more Living Force aware Master around who is focused more on the moment with which to properly observe Anakin's struggles, and appreciate how real they were to Anakin, there was a failure in the whole system for Anakin?
And wow, you really helped the meaning of his line, "My name is Anakin and I'm a person" finally sink in for me. That is all spot on.
Also, a cute moment of insecurity comes when he feels Padme hardly recognized him, but Jar Jar assured him that she did, gladly.
I think what I ended up realizing while looking into Anakin's character and therefore naturally establishing in my thesis what that his biggest "problem" was that he was just a normal person - with extraordinary talents, brains and heart, who belonged to an Order which he believed in but required him to put aside his "normalcy".
And; He always had a tendency to go beyond the tenets of the Order to achieve success, and though questionable, it was always justifiable, from a certain point of view. The tragic question though is, was he willing to over-extend his strengths in order to do the worst things for what could be considered the most sympathizable of reasons? This is why I feel his ultimate decision had to be about Padme.
Unfortunately, Anakin, though chosen by the Force to bring about balance, found himself in a perfect storm. There was a gulf between him and the Order's expectations, and on the other side he had Palpatine's manipulations.
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Post by tonyg on Apr 30, 2017 17:01:33 GMT
Many people whine about dialogue lines in PT but this a specific genre so it has to be melodramatic and strange. Also every line is intense and tell so much. As “I‘m a person and my name is Anakin“. And “I don‘t like sand“. But especially here even few people understand what is to be a slave. Is not to have chains, it is not necessary at all,but is to be treated like object, like property with no free will. Is more than awful. And yet the irony is that fighting to become a master (in every sense  ) Anakin becomes the ultimate slave as his body is trapped into machine, his soul in despair and suffering and his will to the desires to the Emperor. Anakin‘s liberation looks almost impossible but after all, he is the Chosen one not because he is perfect but because he comes back from a path that anybody before him could come back: for the love of his son and actually his Padme. |
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Post by Subtext Mining on May 11, 2017 18:16:42 GMT
Now I'd also like to add some ways of describing Anakin's overall default personality, or the impression he gives off.
These are the words that come to my mind, experimentally. Feedback and additional ideas are encouraged (since I'm finding it hard two find the right words).
Withdrawn
Reserved
Introverted
Preoccupied
Awkward
Self-conscious
Sullen
Brooding. Like there's always something deep on his mind that he doesn't quite know how to deal with. I think some of that comes from two things:
The Force speaking to him so much and so strongly, it's probably a lot for one (young) person to manage.
And of course missing his mother.
Yet despite this he still always speaks his mind. Or as you said, Anakin is also very frank and honest: he speaks what he thinks to such degree that sometimes many people feel uncomfortable around him (except Padme, of course).
He also has a gravitas.
He is the quintessential "life on the edge" young man with the heart of gold. A bit of a James Dean type, but less a "rebel without a cause" and more a rebel that wants to do everything in his power to help others. Almost to a fault.
The above listed qualities of course are also attributable to what Hayden Christensen brings to the character. A great casting choice that brought a lot color to the character - the off-kilter way he emphasizes the words that he does is very unique.
Many were expecting the Hercules, football quarterback type, or some unhinged, power hungry, dark rogue. But I was pleasantly surprised and pleased that we got a more well-rounded, relatable, very human character, with quirks like every day people.
(Again, this is all before the night of his turn of course).
Filmmaker Kevin Smith says this about Anakin: “Some people are like, oh, he’s too whiney. Why would the galaxies greatest villain be some whiney teenager? That’s who the galaxy’s greatest villain would be, he would start as a whiney teenager. He’d start as an emo kid with some issues.”
Other than Luke being famously whiney, I feel that Anakin actually isn't, so much.
Venting about Obi-Wan? At least he also included his genuine praise of his master. It's not like he was being unappreciative. He felt he was being held back - tying back into what I was saying about the Force being so strong in him, and what you said about growing up a slave. Plus, it was to Padme he did this, no doubt this is the first time he's had the chance to talk about these things in this way, and it shows how much he feels comfortable with her.
Demanding the gunship to be turned around to help Padme? That is in his instinct to protect her. That's like faulting a dog for barking at strangers.
Surely, he has some frustrated teenager moments, but to slap a "whiney" label on him and write the character off is a shame. This character is too deeply layered for that.
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Post by tonyg on May 13, 2017 21:20:00 GMT
Reserved. Hm. I'm not sure if it fits into his character. I would say that he is spontaneous. And being spontaneous and open means all the opposite to reserved to me. Maybe you have something different in mind. Dreamer. Yes, he has big dreams, idealistic big dreams: be a Jedi KNIGHT, help the others, free the slaves, save and protect. A real knight of the Old Code. Gentle. The funny thing is how Anakin is gentle while being unrefined at all. It always fascinates me how a person with zero social manners (there are at least 2 scenes in AOTC that prove that) can be at the same time so gentle to others and especially to those he loves and respects. Vulnerable: Anakin doesn't fear to confess what he feels that makes him vulnerable, of course, but he just doesn't care. I think this is the main reason that he refuses to cover himself with the Jedi hood: he walks open to the rest of the world. Never before Vader's appearance we see Anakin with the hood on and I think this is deliberate. |
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Post by Subtext Mining on May 14, 2017 8:13:45 GMT
Ah, this is a good reason why I like having discussions; refining ideas. With "reserved", I think you were going in more the active sense, when I was going with more his social presence. But still; exactly, by reserved I basically meant a gentle, vulnerable dreamer type. I mean, he's not a chatty small-talker, or a social butterfly. He often interjects only when he has something important to say. And in casual conversations, he's soft-spoken. If the situation is urgent, then he is appropriately forceful. The dictionary definition of 'reserved' is not quite what I'm getting at, but I can't think of another word in English to come closer. What I'm trying to say is, he's the opposite of the outgoing, popular, football quarterback type. More like the contemplative genius (day?)dreamer. But all in all, what seems to be the consensus so far is that he carries a lot of, what people would consider, contradictions. -He's not a social giant, but is never afraid to speak his mind or make himself vulnerable - and perhaps that is what makes him so socially unrefined. (Good point about the hood, I was thinking about that a lot lately). -He seems preoccupied but always has a good grip on his surroundings and the situation at hand. -He's a Force prodigy, yet, makes mistakes.  -His demeanor is a little soft and awkward, but his passions and will are like raging volcanoes - which he puts to use for the service of others and standing up for what he believes in. -He lives to be a Jedi and serve the Republic, but plays by his own rules to do what he feels is right and/or necessary. -He comes across as withdrawn and broody, but is impulsive and, as you said, spontaneous. -At times it's like he doesn't quite feel comfortable in his own skin yet, or he's insecure, though he is relatively confident, perhaps over-confident - which you pointed out as a compensation for his insecurities. This also ties in to what I was saying about how strongly the Force speaks to him, yet it sometimes seems a lot for him to deal with/process logically.   Again, most of the adjectives I used here aren't exactly the most accurate descriptions to attribute to him, which I think goes to show how paradoxical a character he is. He defies description, yet is so human. He's not really completely any one thing, he kind of plays both extremes of each temperament spectrum. He's the misfit with the heart of gold, but volatile, with all of his emotions. |
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Post by tonyg on May 15, 2017 1:08:43 GMT
Melancholic. I think that is something that defines him and I could say this instead of reserved. But not melancholic as depressing but as dreamer who sometimes tends to focus on the negative, but also he could be very vivid and optimistic about the things that inspire him. A James Dean -like hero type, if I can say so (I know that Lucas deliberately looked for and actor who can represent this James Dean-y look and presence). Also: weird. Anakin is not an ordinary quarterback of the block as you said. He is very unusual, very special person, but that means he is also weird. That doesn’t mean bad, he is just not the usual guy from around the corner. I think many fans cannot deal with that. While Luke is not exactly the cool guy in OT (Han is) till ROTJ he is not weird or strange or extravagant or something like that. In ROTJ he began to look more like his father: a somehow unusual outsider. He is not isolated, just becomes a little bit strange. But generally and in the beginning Luke is the good simple farmboy while Anakin is nothing similar….Anakin, well, in short he is a nerd (much more than his son) so many fans cannot swallow the fact that Padme falls in love with him not realizing that is one of the qualities that actually attracted Padme. But being weird has nothing to do with not having friends. Anakin can easy form attachments to the others if he is allowed to, because he is frank and spontaneous. That’s why it was so hard for him to fits in the Jedi Order: there the opposite is needed. |
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Post by Subtext Mining on May 19, 2017 5:53:24 GMT
Ah, that is perfect. Leave it to Tony. ^ That should be the statement on the back of Anakin's trading cards. The question becomes how much of that introspection and melancholia comes from things like not forgiving himself for leaving his mother, missing her, resenting the Jedi Order for not letting him visit her and requiring him to move on from his attachment to her, never having a proper father figure, his vast connection to the Force and his journey in becoming intimately acquainted with it, etc. But also, I would like to now start a series of deep questions I have about Anakin. My first one ties into this, and it's about his volatile explosion of rage at the Tusken camp. Where did all that rage, hate and pain come from? Something like that doesn't come out of nowhere. I mean, he did find himself in the worst of all possible circumstances; his beloved mother tortured and killed by brutal savages out in the wild on an Outer Rim planet. But let's ask this; what would the typical Jedi have done in that situation? Well, first they wouldn't have attachments with their mother, so let's say it was their master or something. I think it's safe to say they typically would've carried their master's body away quietly, and if the Tusken men chased after them, the Jedi would've destroyed their weapons and only hindered the Raiders, not killed them. But obviously this was not Anakin's reaction, even though he had 10 years of Jedi training under his belt. Of course, he also had 10 years of living as a normal person. -And when I use the word "normal" here, and in the posts above, I don't mean he wasn't weird, you stated that perfectly, by normal I just mean he was free to love his mother and friends and develop attachments to them, without having to adhere to a monastic code.- My estimation is that he really did feel "held back" by the Jedi Order. And not just in his Force potential, but also as listed above, in otherwise simple things like remaining close with his mother. And not being able to freely do things he wanted to like freeing slaves in territories outside of the Republic jurisdiction. But he loved being a Jedi, so he stuffed his frustrations down. I would also add, despite their thousands of years of commendable ways and training regimens, out of their practice of training younglings from infancy, the Jedi simply had no necessity, and therefore little to no resources to train special cases like Anakin in things like emotional intelligence, it was a blind spot of theirs. (Note: Lucas stated he used Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman as a sourcebook when writing the prequels).I also want to put forth the idea that at that moment, in Anakin's mind, the Tuskens represented all the dangers that could harm his loved ones and freedom and justice. And as a natural-born protector he unleashed his fury in that perfect storm of unfortunate circumstances. It is in his nature to be passionate and impulsive and fierce. Combined with the fact that on that fateful night he was also the tender age of 19 - a precarious time for passionate young men. "I'm a Jedi, I know I'm better than this." shows he knows what he did was wrong, but Jedi codes aside, killing the women & children was completely crossing the line even for a non-Jedi.  So the question remains; why was his reaction so horrifically destructive? What brought this otherwise compassionate young man to use his skills and instrument of peace & justice to commit an atrocity? The night before, on Naboo, Anakin said to Padme that he cannot be rational. Though I would extrapolate this is when it comes to Padme, and therefore his other loved ones. The etymological root for emotion means "to move". The Jedi tame their emotions and do not act on them. But just like the nature of the PT, and of Anakin & Padme's love, Anakin can not be tamed. He does act on his emotions and passions. And though he tires to be a proper Jedi, in states of emergency, and with little time to think, his passions override his logic. Daniel Goleman calls it a neural hijacking, or emotional hijacking. He also explores the concept that emotional distress cripples one's ability to learn. So perhaps while studying to be a Jedi, the constant inner turmoil of missing his mother is what hindered his ability to learn to let go of attachments and fear of losing them. |
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Post by negotiator1138 on May 19, 2017 22:53:06 GMT
Hi guys! Long time no see.
Anyways, I just want to throw in a quick comment here. Anakin Skywalker is (in my opinion) probably the most complex fictional character since Hamlet.
I like that you guys touched on his impatience with the bureaucracy and politics of everything. His sheer power and intelligence put him in such a position of galactic importance. He reached this point of incredible influence at too young of an age. He had yet to gain the wisdom of an older Jedi (the kind Obi-wan was just discovering), while simultaneously being indoctrinated by Palpatine.
And the kicker of it all is that he was in love! No one can be rational when dealing in love. I also believe his love was possessive. I believe Padme's love for him was possessive as well, because she refused to see the change in him and denied its possibility. She desperately longed for her romance on Naboo while she was a powerful Senator married to a Jedi on the High Council. Her fantasy was drastically different from the reality that the entire Galaxy hinged upon!
Such a volatile situation!
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Post by tonyg on May 20, 2017 23:59:05 GMT
Negotiator is back! It is been a long time, indeed.
Just few remarks here, as the topic need more time to discuss and to think about it.
For me and as I say for Lucas the love is not the problem, it is the solution. Strong love is not the same as possessive love. Could the love be strong without being possessive? Yes, it could (I'm talking about it in general, not for some random moments or acts). Till the infamous moments in ROTS Anakin's love for Padme is strong but not possessive and her love to him is the same till her last breath. The proof: still in AOTC after the fireplace scene Anakin says nothing to Padme, I mean, about his feelings. Is not that they changed ( the moment on the clone ship proves it) but he just accepted her decision. This is the real love: strong and out of reality. It cannot be realistic, I Mean rational, because the love is never that. This strong love that they felt to each other tied them forever in one being. Anakin said that he cannot breathe without Padme and obviously is right: when he looses her he dies (metaphorically). She also breaks when she sees that she is loosing him i the shadows of Vader. But is not the love that killed them is the desperation and the fear of Anakin the fear that he would loose Padme.
And speaking of that, what would do the typical Jedi in Anakin's situation in Tattoine? I'm not sure that he would resist to the anger ad the destructive power of the desperation also, even I'm sure he/she wouldn't. And the Jedi themselves were sure about this also because all this training, all this estrangement form normal emotion is realized because they decided that the only successful way to solve such situation is to avoid it, i/e/ to avoid any kind of strong emotions. But they were wrong, as Luke proved to them in Ep.6, love is the answer to the desperation and the anger.
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Post by Subtext Mining on Jun 3, 2017 13:11:26 GMT
Vulnerable: Anakin doesn't fear to confess what he feels that makes him vulnerable, of course, but he just doesn't care. I think this is the main reason that he refuses to cover himself with the Jedi hood: he walks open to the rest of the world. Never before Vader's appearance we see Anakin with the hood on and I think this is deliberate. While looking for other things I found this image a couple weeks ago and just now have time to get to it. What Tony is saying rings true. Anakin is not chatty, but when he says something, it's important and he means it. And though he is not a social butterfly, he is raw and honest, open to the world. His life as a slave may have also given him a desire to remove all hinderances from himself - to remove all barriers between him and the world around him. "I wanna be the first one to see 'em all!" Like touching Padme's bare back on Naboo, he wants full contact. (Fitting, I suppose, that the trilogy begins with a blockade). We also touched on his insecurities and his fear of not being powerful enough to completely protect his loved ones. This is the part of himself that he struggles with, the part he tries to hide.  But when he killed the Tuskens, he now really had something to hide. And then another when he married Padme. And now, because of his fears, and his actions: one out of revenge and one out of love, he has begun to build the mask around himself. Or as Tony said: The first time we do see him cover his face is after he becomes Darth Vader. I would venture this is because he is ashamed of his actions; he wants to hide his face from the world, in an attempt to hide his identity, in hopes he can veil from even himself that it was him doing it. He knows it's too far, but he feel he has no choice. Both he and Padme know the real Anakin wouldn't do these things. So perhaps this is the only feeble attempt he can make at maintaining his honor, despite the atrocities. But to no avail.  Padme & Anakin agreed that their secrets would destroy them. But was that really it? Their secrets were as such through societal expectations. His "mask" was a persona of sorts. Mostly, if Anakin had left the Jedi Order after the events of AotC, he could've been open about the two big things. But the fact that he was a Jedi, got tangled up in the politics of that and fell victim to SIdious' manipulations, are what contributed to his downfall, combined with what would have always been there despite the actions: the source of those actions; his fears and his passions. Our volatile situation. But despite it all, Padme still chose to see the good in him, and that's what saved the universe. She was the "Choosin' One". She loved Anakin despite his flaws. Anyone would easily love the flawless quarterback, and likewise run from a tragedy, but her love was strong and true and special. She saw that the good in him outweighed the bad. She was there to support him in his decisions, not judge or run. Was that her flaw? If so, it was the 'flaw' that saved it all. She loved and served the galaxy despite it's flaws because that's what she does. He was a good man and meant well, but lacked the necessary self control to properly focus his virtues and passions. When the Council says "Let's not go that far", Anakin says "Why not, if it works?"... "It's implied in our mandate!"... "it doesn't have to be that way." Or, as Negotiator said: I heartily agree that Anakin Skywalker is probably one of the most complex fictional characters of modern times. |
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Post by Subtext Mining on Aug 23, 2018 1:10:01 GMT
Going through the Attack of the Clones novel again, I came to this passage, where Anakin carries his mother from the speeder to the Lars home, and was impressed by how well the author captured it.
"All that time, the thing that struck Padme the most was the look upon Anakin's face, an expression unlike anything she had ever seen on the Padawan: part rage, part grief, part guilt, and part resignation, even defeat. She knew that Anakin would need her, and soon."
That's a great way to describe it, I think. And I can see it in H. Christensen's face in that scene. The thing with this trilogy is that things are very multi-layered, yet on the surface most characters are very guarded with the extremes of their emotions. It's a sort of self-imposed flatness that denotes world-building and subtle character depths.
The book also went on to suggest Anakin's failure to save his mother is why he is so despondent and un-eager to help Obi-Wan on Geonosis, because he's starting to doubt himself.
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Post by tonyg on Sept 11, 2018 19:24:31 GMT
The grief and guilt are more than stamped in Hyden's face. Perfectly made scene, from everybody's part. I liked the little but intense moment where Anakin stopped like for a second to Lars and both of them felt the unspeakable grief.
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Post by PrinceOfNaboo on Aug 12, 2019 8:59:09 GMT
The thing that defines all of Anakin's actions and characteristics is him not fitting in his environment. That's the ambivalance about his character, the swinging moods and him being completely different when he feels welcomed and home (with his mother, with Padmé, doing Jedi business) in contrast to him being somewhere he doesn't belong (within the Order, with politicians, when the ones he loves are threatened).
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Post by Alexrd on Aug 12, 2019 11:54:40 GMT
He feels it is his birthright to be all-powerful. I don't think so. His desire to be all-powerful does exist, but is a means to an end, not something he thinks as a birthright. He knows he has talent, but sees discipline as an hindrance to his growth. And of course, Palpatine feeds him that way of thinking: "You don't need guidance, Anakin." |
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Post by Subtext Mining on Aug 14, 2019 4:09:37 GMT
Nice touch. Yeah, I would definitely reword that. I'm certainly sure I had meant to include that it was mostly due to Palpatine's mentoring.
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Post by ArchdukeOfNaboo on Aug 14, 2019 13:29:38 GMT
Responding to the previous few post:
Even if he does seek to be all-powerful, is he really to blame for such depths of egoism? No - this is the young Jedi who has grown up in a sheltered, monk-like environment, where his comrades have been drilling it into him about being the "Chosen One" ever since he stepped inside the Temple. He knows that one day he must "restore balance to the force", and though this may derive from a poorly understood esoteric prophecy, it nevertheless comes with great pressure.
Anakin is well aware of his great potential, and like a teenage prodigy in any sport, that can be as much of a poison chalice as a blessing.
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Post by Alexrd on Aug 16, 2019 15:13:34 GMT
Even if he does seek to be all-powerful, is he really to blame for such depths of egoism? Yes. He's to blame for indulging it and by not doing what he was taught (and more importantly, knows) to be right. Everyone is responsible for their own actions. One of the aspects that I like in the way George wrote the movies and the character of Anakin, is that he always established that Anakin is not an ignorant individual. He knows what his duty is. He knows what's right and what's wrong. He doesn't just recite Jedi wisdom. He understands it (even though he doesn't always follow it). It's all over his dialogue: "Sometimes we must let go of our pride and do what is requested of us." "All mentors have a way of seeing more of our faults than we would like. It's the only way we grow." "I know." "Attachment is forbidden. Possession is forbidden. Compassion, which I would define as unconditional love, is central to a Jedi's life." "I'm a Jedi. I know I'm better than this." "Yes, but he was an unarmed prisoner. I shouldn't have done that. It's not the Jedi way." "Something's happening. I'm not the Jedi I should be. I want more and I know I shouldn't." "Master, I've disappointed you. I haven't been very appreciative of your training. I've been arrogant and I apologize." And there are other examples... |
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Post by Moonshield on Apr 4, 2020 7:16:54 GMT
Padme and Anakin can be described like "water" and "fire".
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) Anakin becomes the ultimate slave as his body is trapped into machine, his soul in despair and suffering and his will to the desires to the Emperor. Anakin‘s liberation looks almost impossible but after all, he is the Chosen one not because he is perfect but because he comes back from a path that anybody before him could come back: for the love of his son and actually his Padme.
