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Famously guiding Luke Skywalker on the dangerous nature of the dark side in The Empire Strikes Back, Yoda is the Jedi Master. But a turning point from the ancient struggle between the Jedi and the Sith shows that one of his fundamental lessons was, indeed, faulty.
While the Jedi seek knowledge and defense, Yoda told Luke that the dark side is driven by negative emotions such wrath, fear, and violence; he should not start conflict. The Jedi doctrine and the "light side" of the Force are founded in this idea. Although Yoda said the dark side is not intrinsically stronger, the Star Wars series regularly refutes this assertion.
The game Star Wars: The Old Republic unveiled a historic event called the Sacking of Coruscant. The dark side's power edge is eloquantly shown in this climax struggle between the Republic and the Sith Empire. Overwhelming the Jedi and their allies, a group of about fifty Sith warriors stormed the Jedi Temple.
Leading the powerful Darth Malgus, the Jedi were eventually no match for the Sith despite great efforts. Driven by the great might of the dark side, the Sith ruled the battlefield. Resounding loss for the Jedi Order, darkness Malgus—a emblem of its ruthlessness—emeraged triumphant from the Temple. The Sith then began a terrible attack of Coruscant, destroying the Republic.
The Sith's triumph against tremendous circumstances directly runs counter to Yoda's claim on the frailty of the dark side. This occurrence emphasizes the clear power advantage the dark side gives its users. The Sith's terrible efficacy results from their mastery of aggressive, offensive tactics the Jedi, bound by their code, cannot or will not use.
The dark side's power resides in its ability to improve aggressive Force ability and provide its practitioners a degree of strength much above that of a Jedi. A single Sith is a great opponent against several Jedi since the Sith's readiness to welcome aggression gives them a clear edge in battle.
Yoda correctly points out why the Jedi avoid using the dark side, even if his assessment of its power may be off-target. Though seductive, the dark side has a profoundly negative impact on individuals who use it; it twists their emotions and finally brings them down. The sad monument to the corrupting power of the evil side is Anakin Skywalker's plunge into Darth Vader.
The advantage of the dark side is its aggressive strength; the Jedi shine in defensive strategy. Although this might hurt the Jedi in battle, they know the dark side is really a seductive road to power that finally results in self-destruction. This is shown in Anakin Skywalker's sad destiny since he thought he could control the dark side to save his wife, but its corrupting effect turned him into a creature she could not identify.
Emphasizing defense and restraint, the Jedi's ideology shows to be a more lasting and finally more potent weapon. Using his own offensive power against Palpatine, the legendary Mace Windu, Yoda, and Rey all effectively deflecting Force lightning show this. Their capacity to counter the onslaught of the dark side finally beats its raw force.
In Luke's last fight with Darth Vader in Return of the Jedi, he finally kills his father by adopting aggressiveness, but he later decides compassion above revenge. Luke shows actual strength by resisting the attraction of the dark side. He knows that real power comes from how one reaches success as much as from winning.
Driven by their quest of dominance, the Sith overlook this basic reality. Though at first confused about the potency of the dark side, the Jedi show that actual power comes from self-control and compassion. Years of experience have sharpened Yoda's wisdom, which lets him go past the constraints of the dark side and finally triumph. Though frequently tested, the Jedi Order remains a ray of hope reminding us that real power comes from the persistent strength of compassion and knowledge rather than from physical force.