Comparing Anakin and Luke Skywalker is a fantastic insight to the parrallels and analogies of the two trilogies. I was recently pondering Anakin's fate, and suddenly made a connection that I was shocked to have never realized before.

In ROTS, Anakin falls into the lava, and sets on fire. This scene has very interesting connections to the end of ROTJ, when Luke is being tortured by the Emperor with lightning.

Anakin was burning.
Luke was frying.
Both were the essence of the abyss; the lowest, saddest point in the climax of the film.

Palpatine, Anakin's only remaining father figure, saved him from death.
Anakin, Luke's father, saved Luke from death.

Anakin helped Palpatine become Emperor, then burned.
Luke was burned, then Anakin ended the Emperor's reign.


But what really got me thinking about this in the first place, is how did they each survive? Both of them undoubtedly should have died before they were rescued. I've already written a blog about how Luke survived, and completely unharmed, no less. Basically, it was hope. Luke faced pain and torment with serenity and hope, not anger or retaliation, or even defense.

Anakin, though, how did he survive? He was very strong in the Force, and was also filled with hate. His story of survival is very much the Dark Side reciprocal of Luke's.

Through hate and passion, Anakin kept going. Notice that Anakin is far more passionate and hateful while burning ("I HATE you!") than he ever was during the fight. He survived through sheer strength and strength of will. He survived, but was full of hate for nearly the rest of his life, and was deformed until death. The passions of the Dark Side have him unnatural strength, but only temporarily, and at great cost.

It's an interesting opposite/parallel of Luke's experience with lightning at the hands of the Emperor.