An Uncertain Tale of the Chosen One, Anakin Skywalker
In the Star Wars world, Anakin Skywalker—the fabled Jedi Knight and eventual Darth Vader—is among the most recognizable and nuanced figures. Audiences have been enthralled with his transformation from a hopeful youngster to a formidable Sith Lord for decades. But like the stories of many well-loved characters, Anakin's has its share of contradictions and puzzling moments.
Some parts of Anakin's biography, from his early demonstrations of Force abilities to his ultimate conversion to the dark side, left fans wondering and disputing. This article explores the paradoxes and peculiarities that add to Anakin's compelling yet baffling story by delving into some of these puzzling situations.
Anakin Skywalker's Force Abilities: An Unusual Story
The amazing Force powers of Anakin have caused much surprise as well as confusion. While young infants who are Force-sensitive usually display simple Force skills, such as the ability to levitate items, Anakin displayed more mysterious abilities right away. During the Battle of Naboo and the podrace on Tatooine, he demonstrated exceptional yet unusual reflexes and intuition.
It's concerning that during his youth, he was unable to exhibit any discernible, traditional Force abilities, especially levitation. Is it possible that his innate powers as the Chosen One took on peculiar forms? Or did the authors just fail to mention this ubiquitous Jedi quality? Like so much of Anakin's story, the solution is still a mystery.
Padmé Amidala and Anakin Skywalker: A Prohibited Love
The primary cause of Anakin's demise was his intense, forbidden love for Padmé Amidala, which defied the Jedi Order's precepts. Even though Anakin's Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi, knew how they felt, it is surprising that Anakin would come clean and declare his love for him. It would make sense that Anakin would be more subdued when it came to his feelings given the Jedi Order's rigorous regulations against attachments.
The confusion is increased by Obi-Wan's response, which is to tease Anakin instead of chastise him. The filmmakers appear to have been trying to show some compassion, even fun, in their connection, but this style runs counter to the gravity of the Jedi code and what it means for Anakin's destiny.
The Mother of Anakin Skywalker Died: A Sorrowful Loss
One of the most important events in Anakin's life was the passing of his mother, Shmi Skywalker. It ultimately sent him down a dark path and heightened his dread of losing everything. It's confusing, though, that Anakin didn't put up more of a struggle to keep his mother safe, even before she passed away. Though he had visions of her death, he was unable to persuade the Jedi Council to grant him permission to see her or to speak out in favor of her release.
Anakin's passivity in this scenario appears odd given his deep bond with his mother and his propensity to rebel against authority when it came to those he cared about. This contradiction begs the question of how close Anakin is to his mother and how willing he is to oppose the Jedi Order on her sake.
A brutal massacre involving Anakin Skywalker and the Tusken Raiders
Among the most upsetting things that have happened to Anakin is the massacre of the Tusken Raiders, a terrible deed motivated by his fury over his mother's passing. It would seem that the heinousness of this deed—the murder of innumerable men, women, and children—was a turning point in Anakin's conversion to the dark side. Strangely enough, though, Anakin doesn't appear to be much impacted by his deeds.
It is puzzling that this atrocity had no long-term psychological effects, particularly in light of the subsequent events that contributed to his downfall. Anakin's acts appear to have escaped punishment, which runs counter to the typical outcomes of turning evil. The extent of Anakin's darkness and his relationship to the Force are called into question by this contradiction.
The Clone Wars' Anakin Skywalker: A More Wholesome Side
Anakin is seen in the Clone Wars era as having a more virtuous side, especially in his connection with Ahsoka Tano. In contrast to the ruthless and vindictive Anakin of the Tusken Raider massacre, he exhibits warmth, humor, and compassion. The coherence of his character arc is called into question by this portrayal, which seems to contradict itself.
Although the Clone Wars period revealed a more playful side of Anakin, there were still angry and careless moments, like when he confronted Rush Clovis. This contradiction paints a nuanced picture of Anakin that highlights both his goodness and his susceptibility to evil. The difference between the Anakin shown in The Clone Wars and the one seen in subsequent Movies heightens the character's complexity and interest.
Anakin Skywalker and His Child's Absence
Anakin's first thought upon his metamorphosis into Darth Vader was Padmé's safety. Still, he never asked about their child's whereabouts. Given the close relationship between a father and his child and the chance that the latter may still be alive, this exclusion is puzzling. Even if Anakin believed the infant had perished along with Padmé, his lack of interest seems strange.
Anakin's character journey becomes disconnected when his care for his son Luke is absent, which makes his eventual repentance seem less genuine and organic. His willingness to acknowledge his family and the depth of his paternal impulses are called into question by this contradiction.
The Forgotten Enemy: Anakin Skywalker and Barriss Offee
The Jedi Knight Barriss Offee, who set Ahsoka up for murder, had a big influence on Anakin. Nevertheless, despite their hostility, Anakin shows little to no response when the two reconnect as Darth Vader and Barriss Offee. It's odd that he didn't receive more recognition given his vindictive attitude and the wrong Barriss wreaked on Ahsoka.
Given his heightened emotional condition as Darth Vader, Anakin's callous response to Barriss defies his normal demeanor. Although it seems that the producers decided to minimize this meeting in order to preserve Vader's enigmatic image, it ultimately goes against the character's well-established nature.
An Unfulfilled Ambition: Anakin Skywalker's Plan to Kill Palpatine
At one point, Anakin says he wants to remove Palpatine and says he can replace him. This goal represents a turning point in his trek towards the dark side, driven by the Sith Rule of Two. However, Anakin's scheme to murder Palpatine never quite comes to pass. After his encounter with Obi-Wan and his subsequent metamorphosis into Darth Vader, he seems to abandon this goal.
The sudden giving up of this goal is a puzzling story aspect, especially in light of Anakin's unrelenting quest for power. Although the authors may have opted to concentrate on other facets of Anakin's narrative, such his bond with Luke, the failure to fulfill this goal results in an unfinished feeling in his character development.
Luke's Discovery and Anakin Skywalker: An Unexpected Reunion
Even though Yoda and Obi-Wan Kenobi made an attempt to conceal the twins Anakin and Padmé's children, Luke's existence was not exactly kept under wraps. Vader's failure to find his son is surprising, given the Inquisitors' hunt for youngsters who exhibit Force sensitivity and Luke's residence's close proximity to the Tusken Raider massacre scene, where Vader experienced his first glimpse of the dark side.
Vader's lack of efforts to locate his son in spite of his supreme power and the knowledge at his disposal casts doubt on both the efficacy of the Jedi's concealment scheme and the consistency of his own behavior. The general logic of the story is compromised by this discrepancy, which leaves a gap in the plot.
Anakin Skywalker's Last Hours: A Lost Chance
In Return of the Jedi, Anakin meets a tragic end that illustrates his ultimate salvation. It is confusing, though, because he doesn't tell Luke about Padmé before he passes away. One would think he would tell his son her name, considering how much he loved her and wanted to keep her memory alive.
The fact that Padmé's name is missing, possibly because she was added as a character in the prequels after the original trilogy, only serves to raise more unanswered questions about Anakin's background. This lost chance adds even more mystery to Anakin's complex tale by leaving people to speculate about what his last words could have been.
