Literature has always used the idea of fallen heroes in novels and
tragedies that it is also used in movies today. A fallen hero can be identified
as respected, well-known figure, who suffers a fatal conscious decision that
has led him to change into someone who he, initially, isn’t and to what he despises
the most. A simple yet popular example of a fallen hero is Anakin Skywalker
from the Star Wars saga. Anakin
Skywalker was once a popular hero, or Jedi Knight, before he turned to the dark
side of the force and became Darth Vader. Anakin’s determination to save Padmé
from death, and awareness of his abilities and that he’s the "Chosen One" has
caused him to consciously attain for far greater power, and this leads him to
his fall, which is portrayed at the 3rd installation of the saga, Revenge of the Sith, even though he has
multiple chance to remain as a Jedi.
Anakin becomes Darth Vader when he
decides to kill Mace Windu just when he’s about to end Chancellor Palpatine,
who is Darth Sidious, and accepts to be Palpatine’s apprentice. Anakin’s first
decision that has led to his fall is disobeying Mace Windu after he is asked to
stay at the Council Chambers. Even prior to this event, Anakin has already shown
his loyalty to the Chancellor and his dissatisfaction with the Jedi Council. He
feels that he is being restrained and not trusted by the Council, which causes
him great unrest and leads him to have a closer relationship to the Chancellor.
During this self-crisis, the Chancellor has shown support and influenced
Anakin’s mind to distrust the Council. After disobeying Mace Windu, he goes to
the Chancellor’s office and encounters the battle between the Chancellor and
Windu. Deciding to end Windu to save the Chancellor or let Windu kill the
Chancellor is the moment when he is totally lost that cost him the most fatal
decision he has made and caused his fall.
His most fatal decision is caused by his determination to keep Padamé
alive and to not have the Council restraining his powers. Anakin sees the
Council’s actions as restraining him from becoming powerful because he thinks
the Council doesn’t want him to be more powerful than them and that they don’t trust
him. The Council has always given the idea of Anakin as the Chosen One huge
consideration. They don’t disagree with the prophecy of the Chosen One or
Anakin and they know Anakin’s abilities, but they want to be sure he is the
Chosen One and will choose the right path. Anakin sees it the other way and thus,
Anakin continues to greed for power. Another factor that has made him want for
greater power is the thought of saving Padamé from his nightmares. The
Chancellor enlightens him that great power from the dark side could save Padamé
from death. His nightmares tell Padamé’s going to die just like his mother and
he wants to prevent that from happening. He is lost but those two factors blind
Anakin and lead him to his most fatal decision, killing Mace Windu and then becoming
Darth Vader. His fatal decisions, however, don’t end there because he continues
to plunge himself to bottom pit of his fall even though he still has chances to
remain a Jedi and stop himself from further going to the dark side.
Anakin’s last fatal decision happens during his duel with his mentor,
Obi-Wan, that costs him his lungs, legs, one arm, Padamé and his kids. When
Padamé confronts Anakin, she realizes that Anakin has changed, and when Obi-Wan
Kenobi reveals himself after hiding at Padamé’s star skiff, Anakin is engulfed
with anger and vengeance against both Padamé and Obi-Wan that lead to a duel
between the student and the mentor. Obi-Wan doesn’t want to fight his
apprentice and tries to enlighten Anakin. Obi-Wan states, “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, however, doesn’t falter
and replies with anger, “I hate you!” The battle between the two continues
until Obi-Wan gets the high ground and advantage, but Anakin refuses to lose,
continues to thirst for power, and tells Obi-Wan, “You underestimate my power.”
In the end, Obi-Wan wins the duel that left Anakin without legs and one arm. He
is given chances to remain a Jedi or at least, stay out of the dark side, but
he refuses to give up his power. Padamé has offered him to run away with her
and stay at the country side but rather, he suggested overthrowing the
Chancellor and taking over the empire that shows his continuing greed for
power. Also, he has multiple chances to pick whether he should go to the dark
side or not, but he still continues to create his own fall. By the time he
loses to Obi-Wan, he’s at the bottom of the abyss of the dark side, too late
and prideful to go back.
Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader in the 3rd installation
of the saga, Revenge of the Sith,
after his fatal conscious decisions to achieve power he so desires to save
Padamé and overcome the Jedi Council. He’s a well-known fallen hero who from
being a popular Jedi becomes the villain as Darth Vader after his conscious decisions
cause him to his fall. Anakin makes several decisions and each has a chance to
remain a Jedi, but still chooses to plunge down the dark side for power. It is
in his and our hands to choose our own paths though there are times we are
controlled by greed, or blinded by our feelings. All decisions, however,
whether for the better or for the worse, have consequences that in the end, may
cost us everything that we worked hard for.
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