Darth Vader, probably the most notorious villain in all of cinematic history, was suddenly turned from and evil monster, into something human. Not to say that we didn't get a glimpse of his humanity at the end of ROTJ, but that for the most part Vader was viewed as a twisted and evil monster. Before the Prequels came out, this was true in the OT for he never really demonstrated any qualities that would suggest that he was anything else but a monster.

However, the Prequel trilogy changed that view of Vader for many. It made him more of a tragic character, not a monster. The end of ROTS showed us that Vader was merely the broken shell of a man who had allowed himself to be manipulated, twisted, and turned into something he wasn't. The Prequels gave us a chance to see the person behind the mask. We got to see him as a boy, a slave, a podracing star, a Jedi, a husband, a soldier, a hero, and a friend. But we never really got a chance to see him as a father. We never had the chance to see what he would be like with a child nestled in his arms, or what type of dad he could have been. I mean it wasn't even until The Empire Strikes Back that he found out that he had a child at all, for remember he thought that his child (he didn't know about the twins) had died along with his wife. So how would it feel to realize all of a sudden...you are a father.

That's the subject for today's entry, and one that has fascinated me ever since I saw the ESB. Now many have debated over how, or why he didn't realize that Luke was his son as soon as he learned that his last name was Skywalker (in fact that was the subject of my very, very first blog entry. In case you want it, here it is: Right Here). That's not what I am here to talk about, just so we're clear on this.

When discussing this, we have to remember that Anakin himself never really had a father figure in his life. I know many of you are hollering at me right now about how Obi-Wan was a father figure and all of that, but here me out on this. Those two were more like brothers than anything, the entirety of Episode Three made that painfully obvious. Even Anakin says Kenobi is like his father in AOTC, but this sentiment is once again never truly demonstrated. As I said in my Kenobi entry (Right Here if you want to read it) I have always felt that these two became closer after they had ceased being Master and Apprentice, and became friends. Qui-Gon very well could have been, but he wasn't around very much, so we can't count him. Then there was Palpatine, who doesn't really show the characteristics befitting that of a father.

This of course didn't have a positive affect on Anakin, and it has been argued many times that if he had had a proper father figure, he may not have turned out so bad. No, Anakin never had a father, but he did become one...rather suddenly I might add. I feel that he actually started being a father immediately. Notice how in ESB the when the Emperor was first telling Vader about Luke, Palpatine wanted Vader to kill his son, so that he wouldn't destroy them (talked more about that plan right Here). Vader, however, was able to talk Palpatine out of this course of action. Many may argue that he only did it so that he could have a means in which to overthrow the Emperor, and to an extent that is true, but I feel it is more than that.

I think he wanted to have a family back. I mean after Padme died he thought he had no one, no one but Palpatine that is. And deep down I still think he resented Palpatine for everything he, but because he didn't have anyone else decided to stick with him. With the discovery that he still had family, I feel that Vader was desperate not to let him go, not to lose his son as he had lost everything else. He did want his son to turn to the Darkside, but because he felt that there was no turning back for himself, that he had to stick with his Master. Remember he said, "I must obey my Master," in ROTJ, and so probably felt that the only way he could have the family he wanted, was to turn Luke to his side.

Of course this doesn't seem to be a very fatherly thing to do, in fact it's down right selfish. He never really knew how to be a father, never had a true example on which to base being a dad. All he knew was that he wanted to have a family, wanted to be with his son since everyone else had been taken from him.

Vader didn't realize what it meant to be a father, or how to be a father, until Luke showed him what it meant to be a son. Luke showed Vader that dedication, love, and a willingness to help that person no matter what they have done was what it meant to be a family. Vader had never known that, not with the Jedi, and certainly not with the Sith. Once Luke had shown him how to be a son, how to be part of a family, Anakin was able to be a father. He was able to realize that Palpatine was not a father to him, and never was. He was finally able to throw off the shackles that the Emperor had placed around Vader, and be a true father. His love for his son gave him the strength he needed to lift up the Emperor, one handed, and throw him down the energy shaft. You know they say that when their children are in danger mothers receive a boost of adrenaline that allows them to lift cars or do what is needed to save their kids. The same, I am sure, goes for fathers as well. Once Anakin learned what it was to be a father, then he was able to come back to the Lightside, and was able to save his son. He became a dad.

I suppose that's enough of my babbling for tonight; hope you have enjoyed this entry.

-DLZ