
The Chosen One...
Born of the Force, if you believe the Prophecy. Brought into the world by Shmi Skywalker. As a child growing up, young Anakin had no father to look up to, or to guide him.
But he certainly had male authority figures in his life, the foremost appearing to be Watto. The junkyard owner was tough on the boy, sometimes cruel, but seemed to have a genuine soft spot for Anakin - and a keen eye on his unique talents. But Watto was no substitute for a real father, and clearly young Anakin longed for that very figure in his life.
Then, aged 9, Qui-Gon Jinn entered his life. Finally, someone who could be the father he had always longed for. Clearly Anakin was immediately taken with Jinn, and stayed close to the venerable Jedi, especially when his Jedi heritage was revealed.
But in Anakin Qui-Gon saw something entirely different. He didn't see a surrogate son - if anything, Obi-Wan was already that. Jinn saw the Chosen One, and a powerful vergence in the Force. To Qui-Gon, Anakin was no son, but a gift from the Force.
Young Anakins life was turned upside down by two events. The separation from his mother and the death of Qui-Gon. It could be viewed the in
The Phanton Menace, Anakin lost not only his mother, but his father-figure as well.
Granting his dying wish, the Jedi Council allowed Jinns former padawan Obi-Wan to train the boy, and over the following years Ben replaced Qui-Gon as Anakin's father-figure. The young Jedi admits this to Ben in the Outlander Club in
Attack of the Clones,
"You'll be the death of me." "Don't say that Master, you're like a father to me." and again to Padme when Ben has been captured by Dooku
"He's like my father!".
But in Anakin Ben didn't see a son. He saw trouble.
"The boy is dangerous, they all sense it, why can't you?" he once asked of Qui-Gon, and although this attitude was blurred over their years of master and apprenticeship, he still knew Anakin had to be watched with a careful eye. And, as the Clone Wars were waged across the galaxy and Anakin attained the level of Jedi Knight just prior to
Revenge of the Sith they became more like brothers, squabbling and bickering like sibblings.
But in the midst of this another figure came to the fore - Chancellor Palpatine.
He had watched Anakin since the events of
Episode 1. Indeed, it has been theorised that he was a part of The Chosen One's creation. With Jinn dead and Ben now more of an equal, Palpatine became the father figure in Anakin's life, and unbeknownst to Anakin exerted his authority over the young man. Over time, Anakin came to value the words and thoughts of the Chancellor over Kenobi, or any other member of the council.
And ultimately, this led to the downfall of the Jedi, and of Anakin himself.
If Jinn hadn't died at the hands of Darth Maul, how differently would events have played out?
If Ben
had been more of a father figure, would Anakin still have turned to the dark side, or did it all come too soon to Kenobi?
And ultimately, was Palpatine Anakins father anyway?