Darth Vader

Darth Vader (41 BBY–4 ABY) is a fictional character in the Star Wars Universe. He is widely considered to be one of the most iconic movie villains of all time.

Anakin Skywalker

Anakin Skywalker is believed by many, notably Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn, to be the prophesied Chosen One, destined to bring balance to the Force by destroying the Sith, according to Jedi Master Mace Windu in '. He is taken as a young boy and trained as a Jedi, and becomes a legendary figure during the Clone Wars. However, Anakin's arrogance and emotional insecurities eventually turn him to the dark side of the Force, transforming him into Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Sith.

Related Topics:
Obi-Wan Kenobi - Qui-Gon Jinn - Chosen One - Force - Sith - Mace Windu - Jedi - Clone Wars - Dark side of the Force - Dark Lord of the Sith

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Son of Shmi Skywalker, Anakin is born in 41 BBY. Shmi claims that there was no father and that her pregnancy with Anakin resulted from a virgin conception. Some viewers have drawn narrative parallels between this tale and the New Testament stories of Jesus' conception and birth, as well as classic mythological stories. The wise Jinn suggests that Anakin might have been conceived by the midi-chlorians—the implication being that Anakin is a creation of the Force itself. (According to Chancellor Palpatine in Revenge of the Sith, the Sith Lord Darth Plagueis learned to provoke midi-chlorians into producing life—some have viewed this as a clue to Anakin's origins.) George Lucas has stated that these issues were left deliberately ambiguous, and that it has been left for the audience to decide how Anakin was created.

Related Topics:
Shmi Skywalker - BBY - Pregnancy - Virgin conception - New Testament - Jesus - Midi-chlorian - Chancellor Palpatine - Sith Lord - Darth Plagueis - Origin - George Lucas

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the prequels, and especially in the third episode, ', Anakin is a tragic hero whose tragic flaw is his fear of loss.

Related Topics:
Tragic hero - Tragic flaw

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Childhood and discovery

Anakin first appears as a kind, selfless nine-year-old boy (played by Jake Lloyd). Anakin and his mother are slaves owned by the curmudgeonly scrap-shop owner Watto. A child prodigy, Anakin excels at mathematics and engineering. Even at this young age, he can build or repair anything, evidenced by the creation of his own protocol droid C-3PO and podracer, each from salvaged parts. He is additionally a remarkable pilot with quick reflexes.

Related Topics:
Jake Lloyd - Slaves - Watto - Child prodigy - Mathematics - Engineering - C-3PO - Podracer - Pilot

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Anakin is found on Tatooine by Qui-Gon Jinn, who is convinced that he is the Chosen One foretold by prophecy to bring balance to the Force due to his record-high midi-chlorian levels and virgin birth. His incredible abilities are attributed to this unique Force-adeptness; for instance, Qui-Gon attributes Anakin's piloting talent to the Force allowing Anakin to "see things before they happen." Qui-Gon manages to win Anakin's freedom with a clever wager involving the boy being entered in a podrace, which Anakin wins despite multiple setbacks. Having won his freedom, Anakin must leave his mother, and he is brought to Coruscant along with Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Queen Padmé Amidala of Naboo, and the Gungan Jar Jar Binks.

Related Topics:
Tatooine - Chosen One - Coruscant - Padmé Amidala - Naboo - Gungan - Jar Jar Binks

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Master Jinn requests that the Jedi Council allow him to train Anakin as his student; this being proposed to take place after Obi-Wan completes the trials necessary to become a Jedi Knight. This request is denied, as Anakin is much older than the usual padawan, and he exhibits much fear and anger left over from his days as a slave, further intensified by the separation from his mother and his home.

Related Topics:
Jedi Council - Jedi Knight - Padawan

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:"Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger; anger leads to hate; hate leads to suffering. I sense much fear in you." —Yoda speaking to Anakin in front of the Jedi Council

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ultimately, Anakin helps to lead Naboo and Gungan forces to victory over the Trade Federation by taking a Naboo spacefighter and destroying the Federation flagship, the Droid Control Ship. Later, a dying Qui-Gon, slain by Darth Maul, urges Obi-Wan to train Anakin, and the Council reluctantly approves. Meanwhile, Palpatine, newly-elected as the Senate's Supreme Chancellor, befriends the boy, promising to "watch his career with great interest."

Related Topics:
Gungan - Trade Federation - Droid Control Ship - Darth Maul

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Anakin and Padmé form a strong bond, Padmé being one of his first glimpses of the galaxy beyond Tatooine.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Clone Wars

Anakin, now played by Hayden Christensen, is now a young adult and Obi-Wan's Jedi apprentice. He has developed into a socially awkward loner in his years of Jedi training, although his natural abilities place him leaps and bounds above his peers. He affects a haughty, arrogant demeanor as a defense mechanism, frequently showing off his talents to both impress and look down upon other people. His relationship with his master is complicated; though he says that Obi-Wan is like a father to him and claims his mentor possesses the wisdom of Master Yoda and the power of Master Windu, he chafes against Obi-Wan's authority and believes he is holding him back. Frustrated, he turns to another teacher for advice: Palpatine, who feeds the young padawan's fragile ego with assurances that he will one day be the greatest Jedi in the galaxy.

Related Topics:
Hayden Christensen - Defense mechanism - Ego

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Anakin is assigned to guard Padmé, who is now a senator. His childhood fascination with her has now become a powerful infatuation. In conversation, he reveals his affection for her, as well as his distrust of the political process and the need he perceives for there to be one strong leader. Anakin and Padmé ultimately fall in love, although Anakin's pursuit of this relationship is in violation of Jedi tradition, which holds that Jedi must avoid emotional attachment to others.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

While still guarding Padmé, Anakin senses that his mother, Shmi, is in danger. After arriving on Tatooine, Anakin finds that his mother has been freed from slavery and has been living in the desert with her new husband, Cliegg Lars, when she is captured by Tusken Raiders. The young Jedi discovers their camp, and slips into the tent that contains his mother, presumably locating her with his Jedi senses. He arrives to talk to Shmi shortly before she dies. Battered, sleep-deprived, and dehydrated, she dies in his arms. Seized by a blind rage, he slaughters the entire tribe of Tuskens, including the women and children. Yoda, as well as the deceased Qui-Gon's spirit, sense his Force presence turn "dark," and fear that this signals the beginning of the end for Obi-Wan's young apprentice. Padmé is clearly troubled by what he has done, but, being in love with him, she is not truly repulsed, and instead tries to soothe him with sympathy.

Related Topics:
Cliegg Lars - Tusken Raiders

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Anakin and Padmé learn that Obi-Wan has been taken hostage by the Geonosian-engineered Separatist droid forces. Padmé argues that they must free him and Anakin has little choice but to accompany her. However, they are also soon captured. Faced with their impending demise in a gladiatorial-execution arena, they profess their undying love to one another. Thankfully for the trio, the timely arrival of the Jedi along with new clone troopers allows them to escape and fight in the ensuing Battle of Geonosis. After losing his right arm in a lightsaber battle with Count Dooku, Anakin finally marries Padmé in a secret lakeside ceremony on Naboo, to which R2-D2 and C-3PO are the only witnesses.

Related Topics:
Geonosian - Separatist - Gladiator - Clone troopers - Battle of Geonosis - Count Dooku - R2-D2 - C-3PO

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In ', Anakin goes through many battles in the war, earning him the moniker "The Hero With No Fear." One of such major events in it is his battle with Asajj Ventress. He is later made a full-fledged Jedi Knight, despite the fact that he never takes the final test. During a mission to save the Nelvaanian Braves, Anakin goes through a cave that reveals what would become of him in the future. Despite Anakin's periods of separation from his wife, the twins Luke and Leia are conceived during the Clone Wars.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Transformation to Vader

Anakin and Obi-Wan have returned to fight in the Battle of Coruscant and are performing exquisite aerial maneuvers in their Jedi starfighters. Their mission is to board the Separatist flagship The Invisible Hand, where Dooku appears to be holding Palpatine hostage. After landing on the ship and making their way to where Palpatine is being held, they are confronted by Dooku, who manages to disable Obi-Wan. Anakin defeats Dooku by amputating his hands. Palpatine urges Anakin to kill Dooku, and despite Anakin's reservation, he does. Anakin immediately expresses regret; to kill a foe who surrenders is not the way of the Jedi?although Palpatine reassures Anakin by saying that "he was too dangerous to be kept alive."

Related Topics:
Battle of Coruscant - The Invisible Hand

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Upon his return to Coruscant, Anakin is reunited with his wife and she informs him of her pregnancy. Despite Padmé's worries, Anakin is overjoyed at this news, and the couple make plans to raise their child. However, Anakin is troubled by visions of Padmé dying in childbirth, visions like those he had of his mother before she died.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Palpatine, who by now has amassed near-dictatorial power in the Senate by playing on its fear of Separatist attack, makes Anakin his representative on the Jedi Council. The other Jedi reluctantly accept Anakin's placement on the Council, but deny him the rank of Jedi Master, stating that they don't approve Palpatine's interference with Jedi affairs. Further, the Jedi Council exhorts him to spy on Palpatine, fearing that there is a disturbance in the Force centered around him. Anakin, angry with the perceived snub, loses his trust in the Jedi Council, and confides to Padmé that he is plagued with uncertainty.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As Anakin continues to meet with Palpatine, the Chancellor offers him the chance to learn the dark side of the Force. Anakin realizes that Palpatine is a Sith Lord, but Palpatine tells him that only through learning the dark side can he save Padmé from the death he has foreseen. Anakin reports Palpatine's treachery to Windu, who orders him to stay behind and goes with three other Jedi to arrest the Chancellor. Palpatine duels with the Jedi, slaying three of them before engaging Windu in a prolonged battle. Anakin, in the Jedi Temple, broods over an overwhelming thought: with Palpatine's death, he will lose the chance to save his wife.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Windu apparently comes out on top in the duel, holding his weapon on the disarmed and cowering Sith just as Anakin arrives. Palpatine attacks Windu with Force lightning while pleading to Anakin for help. Windu blocks the Force lightning with his lightsaber, reflecting it back at Palpatine and scarring him horribly. Palpatine begs for his life, but Windu is determined to kill him and destroy the Sith. Anakin demands that Palpatine must stand trial; mirroring his prior afflictions concerning Dooku's right to live, Anakin protests that executing him is not the way of the Jedi. Windu, mirroring Palpatine's assurances to Anakin aboard the Invisible Hand, declares Palpatine too dangerous to keep alive. As Windu raises his blade to finish the Sith Lord, however, Anakin ignites his lightsaber and severs Windu's lightsaber-wielding right hand. Before the stunned Windu can respond to this betrayal, Palpatine uses Force lightning and sends Windu plummeting to his death. Anakin is horrified and guilt-ridden, but Palpatine reassures him that he is fulfilling his destiny by embracing the dark side. Anakin says he will do anything Palpatine desires, but he must help save Padmé's life. Palpatine says that he and Anakin, together, can find the secret, tacitly admitting that he does not have the ability to hold back death. Anakin then pledges himself to the dark side and is endowed with a new name: Darth Vader.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In order to increase Lord Vader's power with the dark side, Palpatine orders him to lead a battalion of clone troopers back to the Jedi Temple and kill every Jedi, padawan, and youngling inside. Vader does this without question, killing venerable Jedi and children alike. Next, he is sent to the planet Mustafar where he assassinates the surviving members of the Separatist Council, including the Trade Federation Viceroy, Nute Gunray, Sidious' former ally who invaded and occupied Naboo and was defeated by Anakin in the Battle of Naboo, ten years before the Clone Wars.

Related Topics:
Mustafar - Separatist Council - Trade Federation - Viceroy - Nute Gunray - Battle of Naboo

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Padmé then travels to Mustafar to reunite with her husband. She is afraid for him and wants to leave public life to live together and raise their child. Anakin refuses, telling her that they no longer have to run because his new powers are enough to not only save her, but to overthrow the Emperor and make the Republic "the way we want it to be." Unbeknownst to Padmé, Obi-Wan has stowed away on her ship to find his former apprentice. Upon seeing his now former master, Anakin suspects betrayal and uses the Force to choke Padmé until she loses consciousness. Obi-Wan tries to reason with Anakin, but once he sees that his old friend has truly gone mad with power and is beyond reaching, the former master and pupil duel throughout the mining complex and down the river of lava outside. The battle ends on the banks of the lava river, where Anakin, overconfident, leaps to strike his former master, only to lose his left arm and both legs to Obi-Wan's lightsaber. Anakin is stranded on the embankment, desparately trying to claw his way up the scree with his remaining arm, as Obi-Wan watches from above.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Obi-Wan: You were the Chosen One! It was said that you would destroy the Sith, not join them! Bring balance to the Force, not leave it in darkness!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Anakin: I hate you!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Obi-Wan: You were my brother, Anakin. I loved you.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Anakin's clothing and body catch on fire and he is nearly immolated. Having retrieved Anakin's lightsaber (which Obi-Wan later gives to Luke Skywalker in A New Hope), Obi-Wan abandons his former apprentice to the flames. Anakin ultimately manages to crawl high enough to prevent falling directly into the lava flow, but is left with near-fatal third-degree burns and severe lung damage. After Obi-Wan and Padmé leave the planet for Polis Massa, where she gives birth, Palpatine arrives and finds his apprentice barely alive next to the lava river.

Related Topics:
Immolated - Luke Skywalker - A New Hope - Third-degree burn - Polis Massa

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The grave injuries Anakin sustains during this duel greatly reduce his power in the Force; while he remains a formidable warrior, second only to Palpatine in his dark side adeptness, he is a shadow of his former, Jedi self.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Meanwhile, Padmé dies in childbirth, just as Anakin had feared. Obi-Wan, knowing Luke and Leia would never be safe from the Sith if anyone knew who they truly were, gives Leia to Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan and Luke to Owen Lars (Cliegg's son, whom Anakin (as Vader) would have murdered years later, along with his wife, Beru) to raise on Tatooine.

Related Topics:
Bail Organa - Alderaan - Owen Lars - Beru

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Palpatine learns of Padmé's death as he returns with Anakin to Coruscant and repairs the damage to Anakin's body through intensive cybernetic enhancement, including an artificial respirator, a voice modulator, and a fearsome breath mask. Palpatine then revives Darth Vader as a cyborg in a manner reminiscent of the monster in the 1931 film Frankenstein.

Related Topics:
Cybernetic - Artificial respirator - Cyborg - The monster - 1931 - Frankenstein

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Darth Sidious: Lord Vader, can you hear me?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Darth Vader: Yes, master. Where is Padmé? Is she safe? Is she all right?

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Darth Sidious: It seems, in your anger, you killed her.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

:Darth Vader: I-I couldn't have! She was alive! I felt it! Nooo!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Vader shakes the room with the Force, breaks his bindings on the operating table and struggles to walk under the sheer weight of his new legs. Overwhelmed by his despair in the belief he has killed his wife and unborn child, the only thing that remains in his life is his service to his master, the new Emperor of the galaxy.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~