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 | THE THIN LINE BEFORE THE DARK SIDE |
 There's a line between the good side and the Dark Side of the Force, but is it always clear? Does every Jedi know where the line is? Does every Jedi have a moment when he finds himself on the verge of crossing over?
Mace Windu channels his darkness into his fighting style and draws strength from it, and he was ready to kill Palpatine in the heat of battle. Was he about to cross the line himself? I don't think so. Destroying evil doesn't make one evil.
"It's not the Jedi way," Anakin pleads with him, but we all know Anakin's motivation is selfish. Isn't the purpose of the Jedi to guard peace and justice? To ensure freedom throughout the galaxy.
"He's too dangerous to be kept alive!" Mace replies, and indeed, how would imprison a Sith of Palpatine's power? What shackles or prison cell could hold him?
Yoda tells Luke he'll know the difference between the good side and the darkness when he's calm and at peace. Luke's moment is on the second Death Star, after attacking Vader in anger he has him down and helpless, but he refuses to kill him. "I am a Jedi," he says, "Like my father before me." He seems so sure at that moment that he's doing the right thing.
Side note: Not killing Vader was a good thing, throwing away his lightsaber was definitely NOT the "Jedi Way."
Obi-Wan's moment is on the black sands of Mustafar. He will not kill a helpless Anakin, and instead leaves his fate to the will of the Force. Was he as sure at that moment that it was the right thing, or could he not bring him self to kill the young man he loved like a brother?
That would not have been the Jedi way, to put his personal feelilngs get in the way of his duty? I wonder did he torture himself for the next 20 years every time he heard of some new atrocity committed by Darth Vader...
It's interesting to note, however, that earlier in the fight he has Anakin down and without a weapon and he raises his lightsaber to deliver a fatal blow, but Anakin calls his lightsaber to his hand and blocks Obi-Wan's blade at the last second. Obi-Wan was certainly ready to kill him at that moment, though possibly he would have regretted it afterwards?
Was that a line before the Dark Side? Or was he so deep into the Force that his actions would have been guided by it without concisous thought?
Anakin's moment comes in Palpatine's office, when he kills Mace, but he knows it was wrong. "What have I done?" And after attacking the Temple and killing the younglings he evades Padme's questions about what he's going to do. He knows he's crossed the line so far he can never go back.
Only Yoda seems sure of himself, "Destroy the Sith, we must," he tells Obi-Wan. He isn't leaving any room for doubt there, he wants them dead and knows it's the only way.
I just watched ROTS for the zillionth time... That movie is so sad, when Obi-Wan says "You were the chosen one..." I get tears in my eyes...
I was speed-watching it... which means I watch the first 25 minutes or so and then jump through the rest so I get less talk and more action... less Palpatine and more Obi-Wan...
It occurred to me that Yoda and Obi-Wan should have gone to fight Sidious together... Yoda knows Obi-Wan can't take Sidious alone, but wouldn't the two of them have had a better chance? Was he so sure he could win? Or was he afraid they'd both die and leave no one to confront Anakin?
Either way, he should have known that as long as Sidious lived it wouldn't matter if Anakin did or not, the "Oppression of the Sith" had returned, with or without Darth Vader.
All throughout the saga I'm certain Palpatine has backup plans, and no matter what happens he manipulates things to go his way. Until he meets a certain young Jedi named Luke Skywalker, but Palpatine underestimated the wisdom Luke carried, that of both Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda. Wisdom gained from experience, and from 20 years of regrets.
How could a Sith so powerful make such a devastating error in judgment? Because he was evil from within. He never faced the crossing of the line before the Dark Side.
For the GFFA's finest fan fiction: The PLB Fan Fiction Club
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http://blogs.starwars.com/grannywan/76 |
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YainiFett
Kyrimout Mountains
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date Posted: Mar 20, 2008 1:29 AM
I agree so much with you about Obi-Wans speech to Ani when hes on the ground missing most opf his limbs. If it doesnt make any true Star Wars fan cry then they are heartless. Great blog Granny Wan!!
P.S. I dont understand the side note though 
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Granny-Wan
I Am NOT an Old Fossil!
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date Posted: Mar 20, 2008 1:35 AM
P.S. I dont understand the side note though
"This weapon is your life! Try to hold on to it!" Obi-Wan to Anakin in AOTC.
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JawaJoey
Return of the Jawa
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date Posted: Mar 20, 2008 2:39 AM
Great analysis.
How could a Sith so powerful make such a devastating error in judgment? Because he was evil from within. He never faced the crossing of the line before the Dark Side.
Interesting. You can't cross a line your already on the other side of. And if you don't cross it, you don't understand it.
Side note: Not killing Vader was a good thing, throwing away his lightsaber was definitely NOT the "Jedi Way."
HA! Indeed.
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usetheforce19
MasterMonkey13
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date Posted: Mar 20, 2008 6:07 AM
Powerful blog and I agree. There was a thin line throughout the movies. I think that it was really Anakin's immaturity made him fall. Mace, Yoda, and Obi-Wan were all powerful enough to tread on the verge of the dark side without falling in, Anakin wasn't.
There's not really much more to say because you've already said it all...
Great blog!
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JediMelindaWolf
Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try.
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date Posted: Mar 20, 2008 7:38 AM
Oh, g-w . . . what a profound blog! I love this one!
It's amazing (at least to me) that that crucial line, so thin that it is, is different for each individual. And I agree with you . . . even when one knows one has to do something that could be construed as crossing the line, like Mace knowing he had to kill Palps, it doesn't necessarily lead to the Dark Side. But, for so many, their thinking is clouded by revenge, grief, overzealousness. They cross the line without even realizing it. Like Luke, I think Mace was at peace with what he had to do.
(cont. . .)
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noiamyourfather72
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date Posted: Mar 20, 2008 7:43 AM
Granny-Wan, you never cease to amaze me with your thoughfulness and insight into the saga.
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JediMelindaWolf
Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try.
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date Posted: Mar 20, 2008 7:47 AM
(cont . . .)
throwing away his lightsaber was definitely NOT the "Jedi Way."
You know Luke  is my favorite character.  It may not have been the wisest course of action for him to toss aside his weapon. However, I've always considered this to be a symbolic gesture on Luke's part. He wasn't bent so much on disarming himself (what Jedi would!) as standing up for all the Jedi who had come before him, including his father.
I think, too, that somewhere, even deep down inside himself, Luke saw that deed as a way to reach his father. Did Luke foresee his father coming to his rescue if he stood defenseless in front of Palpatine? Food for thought.
(cont . . .)
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JediMelindaWolf
Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try.
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date Posted: Mar 20, 2008 8:04 AM
(cont. . .)
In any case, Luke, in my eyes, did what he did to stand for goodness, the Light, even in the face of certain death. How many beings would make that same sacrifice?
Mace, Yoda, Obi-wan, Luke, Qui-gon, too . . . all such strong Jedi. I think, they were Jedi who truly understood and grasped their connection to the environment around them. Anakin just had not matured to that level. I think, too, the 5 Jedi all were humbly devoted to helping others. I think that, too, played a role in their ability to keep to the Light Side of the Force.
(cont. . .)
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JediMelindaWolf
Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try.
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date Posted: Mar 20, 2008 8:11 AM
(the end . . . finally . . .)
About Palps not foreseeing Luke's "damage": How could a Sith so powerful . . . His faith in the Dark Side was his undoing. It clouded his judgement. 
g-w, I know I've gone off on tangents. This really was a great blog, and one that really has gotten me thinking. I think I'm going to go off to ponder this for a while. I can feel the wheels spinning as they take me in all kinds of directions.
Food for thought indeed!!!
Happy First Day Of Spring!
MTFBWY 
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ewanandhaydenfan5
I Have You Now!
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date Posted: Mar 20, 2008 9:38 AM
how would imprison a Sith of Palpatine's power? What shackles or prison cell could hold him?
Exactly. That's been confusing and frustrating for me.
Another Obi-Wan moment is when Maul killed Qui-Gon. The look on Obi's face was pure anger and "that's it Maul, you're Sith fodder!" It's similar to Luke in ROTJ when he gave into his anger and attacked Sidious. But they were both stong enough to pull themselves back from that precipice of crossing to the dark side.
Great blog Granny!
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nob01
Oil Bath Bubbles
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date Posted: Mar 20, 2008 9:51 AM
Very good!
It got me thinking though - wouldn't it be cool to live on a road called 'Jedi Way' ?
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Granny-Wan
I Am NOT an Old Fossil!
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date Posted: Mar 20, 2008 11:44 AM
And if you don't cross it, you don't understand it.
Exactly! That's why experience is such a great teacher!
Like Luke, I think Mace was at peace with what he had to do.
Remember what Yoda told Luke when asked how he'd know the good from the bad... "You will know when you are calm, at peace." It's knowing the difference between right and wrong, like we all must do in real life, only on a higher level.
Granny-Wan, you never cease to amaze me with your thoughfulness and insight into the saga.
Well, thank you! The saga's been with me for a long time, after all...
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Granny-Wan
I Am NOT an Old Fossil!
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date Posted: Mar 20, 2008 11:47 AM
Food for thought indeed!!!
I wonder where our own lines are... not having the mental disciplines of the Jedi, would we be able to make the tough choices?
Happy First Day Of Spring!
Is it? I feel like dancing around the backyard....the grass is greeen... LOL...
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Granny-Wan
I Am NOT an Old Fossil!
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date Posted: Mar 20, 2008 11:53 AM
The look on Obi's face was pure anger and "that's it Maul, you're Sith fodder!"
Oh yes, and he may have attacked in anger, but killing Maul was the right thing... in the end, OWK acted in defense, not only of himself but of Naboo.... giving Qui-Gon justice was just a bonus 
Exactly. That's been confusing and frustrating for me.
I first thought of that when Anakin kills Dooku... " I shouldn't have done that!" Well, why the hell not?
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Granny-Wan
I Am NOT an Old Fossil!
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date Posted: Mar 20, 2008 11:55 AM
It got me thinking though - wouldn't it be cool to live on a road called 'Jedi Way' ?
Wow, another requirement to add to my househunting list...
I used to live in a town where there was a neighborhood that the streets were named after the planets and stars.... there was an "Appian Way"
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RC-6035 "Nova"
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date Posted: Mar 20, 2008 1:27 PM
He knows he's crossed the line so far he can never go back.
I disagree . . . There's always a way back. That's why you see Vader chucking Palpy down a conveniently placed bottomless pit. It just takes some serious persistence to give the final push--like Luke's adamant insistence that "there is still good in him." It's hard to step back over that line, but it can be done.
less Palpatine and more Obi-Wan...
 Ha!
Great blog!!!! Very astute.
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Granny-Wan
I Am NOT an Old Fossil!
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date Posted: Mar 20, 2008 1:48 PM
I disagree . . . There's always a way back. That's why you see Vader chucking Palpy down a conveniently placed bottomless pit.
Yes, never say never.... he just thought THEN he could never go back...
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viagoangel2
Were Anakin and Padme' really one?
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date Posted: Mar 20, 2008 8:18 PM
he was evil from within. He never faced the crossing of the line before the Dark Side.
Love it! Love It! Love It! Gave me chills, darling True, too true.
I have lots to ponder thanks, I think lol...
I'll be back on this later...
til then, Have a Happy Easter
M'wah!
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Darth_Hiram
A Journey into The Force
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date Posted: Mar 20, 2008 11:22 PM
Excellent entry, Granny! The thin line is what divides the good from the bad, the noble from the weak and the truth from despair. Anakin couldn't comprehend the truth as he approached the line, he couldn't see the evil that lay before him. It took Luke, his son, to drag him back over the line to the good side ... which included Luke throwing away his lightsabre. Whether it was smart of Luke or not, it did help him to dissolve the line for Anakin.
Again, great entry!
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padmeskywalker77
Padme's Legacy
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date Posted: Mar 21, 2008 12:02 AM
Excellent entry, my friend!!
That line between light and dark, good and bad, right and wrong really is so thin. We all balance on the edge of that line and it could take the smallest of things to push us over to the "wrong" side of it.
Anakin knew the difference...but, the further he slipped into darkness the more difficult it became for him to see that. I have no doubt that Obi Wan lived with the "regret" of his decision to leave Anakin on the lava bank, but he did come to peace with it...eventually. Luke was able to bring himself to peace in the face of evil, and helped Anakin to see what was right in front of him...what had been there all along.
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MomOf2YoungPadawan
Mamadala's Lair
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date Posted: Mar 21, 2008 5:50 AM
Yoda and Obi-Wan should have gone to fight Sidious together *lightbulb goes off in head* Wow! I never thought of that...brilliant observation, Granny!  ! You're so right - without Palpy, Anakin would still be Vader, but perhaps much easier to deal with.
As for the rest of the entry - you have given me a lot to think about. I, too have always felt the line between light and dark was a fine one - often marred by manipulation, perception and emotion. As Mara Jade said in one of my favorite SW quotes: "Perception usually overrides facts". (cont)
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MomOf2YoungPadawan
Mamadala's Lair
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date Posted: Mar 21, 2008 5:52 AM
We tend to shift that "line" based on our perceptions of what is right and wrong...what is really the difference between a "white lie" and a flat-out lie? Perception.
Luke, in my eyes, did what he did to stand for goodness, the Light, even in the face of certain death. How many beings would make that same sacrifice? I agree with JMW on this one, but I also feel the same about Obi-Wan in many ways.
Hmmm....off to meditate on this one, now....!
GREAT entry, dearie!!
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usetheforce19
MasterMonkey13
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date Posted: Mar 21, 2008 7:30 AM
That's why you see Vader chucking Palpy down a conveniently placed bottomless pit.
Ahhhh, conveniently placed pits...what would we do without 'em?
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hansgirl3
Invoking the Squee
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date Posted: Mar 21, 2008 9:05 AM
There's a line between the good side and the Dark Side of the Force, but is it always clear?
Nope.
Great blog, Granny! As always...
I think you said it all, my friend!
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Michelle1968
M68- Star Wars Kid at Heart
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date Posted: Mar 21, 2008 9:42 AM
Wow, glad I didn't miss this one. Really good granny.
We tend to shift that "line" based on our perceptions of what is right and wrong...what is really the difference between a "white lie" and a flat-out lie? Perception.
Good point mamadala. :*
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Granny-Wan
I Am NOT an Old Fossil!
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date Posted: Mar 21, 2008 11:06 AM
Gave me chills, darling
It's chilling that there really are people like that... "natural born killers" etc
Whether it was smart of Luke or not, it did help him to dissolve the line for Anakin.
Well, he could have just put it back on his belt... At least he doesn't leave it behind... and whether or not he could have used it to fend off the Force lightning is an unknown....!
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Granny-Wan
I Am NOT an Old Fossil!
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date Posted: Mar 21, 2008 11:09 AM
We all balance on the edge of that line and it could take the smallest of things to push us over to the "wrong" side of it.
And we don't have the Force to guide us, or the mental disciplines of the Jedi!
You're so right - without Palpy, Anakin would still be Vader, but perhaps much easier to deal with.
I think Obi-Wan could have turned him back, especially if Padme had lived... (figuring that if Obi-Wan hadn't gone to Mustafar, Anakin wouldn't have choked Padme, she wouldn't have lost the will to live, etc)
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Granny-Wan
I Am NOT an Old Fossil!
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date Posted: Mar 21, 2008 11:12 AM
I agree with JMW on this one, but I also feel the same about Obi-Wan in many ways.
Obi-Wan, as strong a Jedi as he was, and as dedicated as he was, really wasn't willing to sacrifice Anakin, even when he should have... he made excuses for him and coddled him when he probably should have been kicking his butt...
Ahhhh, conveniently placed pits...what would we do without 'em?
And it's a good thing there's no OSHA in the GFFA....
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Granny-Wan
I Am NOT an Old Fossil!
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date Posted: Mar 21, 2008 11:14 AM
I think you said it all, my friend!
Don't worry, I'll always have more to say.... LOL
what is really the difference between a "white lie" and a flat-out lie? Perception.
It's our point of view! And whether the lie is worse than the truth....
Wow, glad I didn't miss this one. Really good granny
Thank you sweetie, perhaps we'll talk about it later....
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Sarlacc-Pitt
Slowly Digested Over A Thousand Blogs
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date Posted: Mar 21, 2008 3:16 PM
... less Palpatine and more Obi-Wan...
Oh, Granny...
Was he so sure he could win? Or was he afraid they'd both die and leave no one to confront Anakin?
I think Yoda was afraid they would both be defeated... and then what...
Very well done! But the Jedi, and their Way, never cease to give me a throbbing headache.
![]:)](http://blogs.starwars.com/share/img/emoticons/devil.gif)
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Jade Sabre777
A luminous being, I am...
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date Posted: Mar 22, 2008 9:06 PM
He will not kill a helpless Anakin, and instead leaves his fate to the will of the Force. Was he as sure at that moment that it was the right thing, or could he not bring him self to kill the young man he loved like a brother?
In the ROTS novel, he figures that Anakin will not survive the flames he's ingulfed in. He thinks it would be a mercy to kill him, but he wasn't feeling all that merciful. I almost disagree with that though - I'd say that he just couldn't bring himself to kill Anakin.
I wonder did he torture himself for the next 20 years every time he heard of some new atrocity committed by Darth Vader...
I certainly would.....
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Jade Sabre777
A luminous being, I am...
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date Posted: Mar 22, 2008 9:15 PM
And after attacking the Temple and killing the younglings
I can't even imagine how he worked himself up for that. That must have been a VERY dark moment.
That movie is so sad, when Obi-Wan says "You were the chosen one..." I get tears in my eyes...
Me too. 
Because he was evil from within. He never faced the crossing of the line before the Dark Side.
I don't think anyone is born evil. Sin nature, yes, evil, no. But he certainly could have been raised evil from birth by Darth Plagueis. Really wish we could learn more about both of their origins!
Great blog, Granny-Wan! You've inspired me . . . .
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Qui-Gon Reborn
The Fifth Dimension
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date Posted: Aug 25, 2008 3:35 PM
That's why I prefer the "gray side" like Qui-Gon...
By the way, Granny, I'm sort of in a hurry, but in case you haven't read it yet, I would really like it if you read my 50th Blog, because I made some comments about you. I hope you like it, and that you're not offended, and that you enjoy reading it!
May the Force be with you!
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