Star Wars: Blogs | "Lets Blow this thing and go home!" | Anakin Vs. Luke who is greater......why this question has been a heated topic for a while!

"Lets Blow this thing and go home!"

by: jedi_abba

date posted: Nov 24, 2005 10:30 PM | updated: Nov 24, 2005 10:38 PM

Anakin Vs. Luke who is greater......why this question has been a heated topic for a while!

I usually try not to post more than one blog entry a day, but considering it is 12:30 AM where I live Im going to go ahead and post this entry.

Who is greater, father or son?
This blog is mostly a reply from this message board topic my reply was just too large.

This has been a hot topic on the message boards lately. I had a lot to say in this debate, so much I couldn't fit it within the 1000 character limit. So here is my argument on the topic.

When you ask who is greater there will be multiple replies, with multiple opinions on the matter. Greatness means something different to every person. Ask ten people about what they think great or greatness means and you probably won't get the same answer twice.

I find one great when they have set a goal, and accomplished what they have reached for. Accomplishing a goal means they didn't give up, they did their best, and planned to do what ever it took to achieve their objective.

I looked in the dictionary to see what it said the definition of greatness is, and here is what I got:
1. Remarkable or outstanding in magnitude, degree, or extent
2. of outstanding significance or importance
3. Superior in quality or character; noble
4. Powerful; influential
5. Eminent; distinguished
6. Grand; aristocratic
7. Very skillful
8. Very good; first-rate

So as you see the word great or someone's greatness can easily be questionable. Is someone great because they are powerful? I think not. I have always thought of my mother as a great human-being, but is she powerful? She holds power over her children, me and my brother. Labeling someone powerful also falls back into everyone having a different definition, but we aren't going to go into that. I find someone powerful when they can control lots of people. My mother can't control anyone for long. She can control what I do now, but once I'm at a certain age I will control my own destiny. So I find her great, but not powerful. So I don't think greatness is determined by someone's power.

Now using a few definitions from the dictionary I will analyze, in my opinion, Luke and Anakin's greatness.

If you are referring to power I would think it would be Anakin, before he turns to the Dark side. While he was fighting in the clone wars he was still a padawan and everyone knew who Anakin Skywalker was, apprentice to General Kenobi, skillful pilot, and great Jedi.

Referring to stronger I would say I think they are equally strong. Anakin loses his mother, doesn't have a father, marries when it's forbidden, betrays the order, and then loses his wife. Luke doesn't have a mother, loses ol' Ben Kenobi, finds out his father is a sith lord, and finds out one of his best friends is his twin sister! It takes strength to deal with important things as these. If Anakin was not as strong as he was in AOTC and ROTS he would have told Obi-wan about him and Padme, but he was too strong. He was able to keep their marriage together with his strength and love for Padme. The both went through a lot in their life's and found different ways to deal with the problems in their lives.

Now I will analyze Anakin and Luke from what in my opinion of what greatness means.

Anakin
Within the saga it never seemed that Anakin ever had anymore than just three major goals. First off the first major goal I ever saw him set for himself was in TPM while he was still a youngling. "I... will become a Jedi and I will come back and free you, Mom... I promise." Right there he sets a goal to become a Jedi and to free his mother. He never accomplished either of these two goals. He did come back to his home planet in attempt to free his mother, but he is too late. She had already been freed, and taken away. When he found his mother she died in his arms. Goal number two; failed. Secondly, he never did become a Jedi knight! After being put on the council to represent chancellor Palpatine he was never given the rank of master. Goal number one; failed. The third goal I ever saw Anakin attempt to achieve was keeping his marriage together with Padme. He made more commitment to her and the baby (he didn't know there were going to be twins) than he did to the order, to Obi-wan, or to anything. As we all saw in ROTS he managed to make a mistake there too. Goal number three; failed. So even though Anakin is one of my favorite characters I fail to think of him as great!

Luke
Luke set a lot more goals for him self in the saga than his father did, and he stuck to his goals, but we will only discuss his major ones! One of his goals was to become a Jedi. In ANH after he finds Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru dead at his past home he tells Ben Kenobi he wants to become a Jedi, like his father. This is a goal he seemed to accomplish with ease. Goal number one; successful. A more important goal of his was to save his father. He said many times there was still good in him, just like Padme told Obi-wan. Obi-wan didn't seem to believe Luke or Padme. Obi-wan and Yoda told Luke several times that his father was gone, and only Darth Vader existed, but did Luke give up? Of course not! In result at the end of ROTJ Anakin saves Luke from being killed by the emperor. There was good left in him after all. Goal number two; successful. As far as I know re-building the Jedi order was not a goal of Luke's, but he seemed to accomplish it anyways.

So there you have it even though Anakin is my favorite character I think Luke is greater thank his father. Anakin may have been the chosen one, but he wasn't as confident as his son. Luke knew what he wanted, and made it happen. Anakin knew what he wanted, but didn't try hard enough to make it happen. He had the power to, but didn't. So in my opinion Luke Skywalker is the greater one out of the two.

So when you ask who is greater it all depends on your personal definition of being great!

Comments of your deffinition of great or your thoughts of Luke and Anakin appreciated,
Jedi Abba

Jedi Abba's Blog Index

http://blogs.starwars.com/jedi_abba/35

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Jedi.Jet

date Posted: Nov 25, 2005 1:26 AM

The answer is Luke. While alot of people may disagree after watching the fight scenes in the prequel, I would remind them that film expertise and Choreography are responsible for the differences, nto skills. Luke is a stronger and more formidible Jedi. the reason. Anakin never truly grasped the importance of listening to the force's will. His connection to his senses always remained defined by his will, not the will of the force, whereas Luke listened to the force, felt it as a tangible beiung rather than a tool for his own use. Luke saw the force as a truly powerful ally, but Anakin shows repeatedly that he is on the verge of disrespecting the will of the force.

janlomona
Smugglers Rants

date Posted: Nov 25, 2005 3:57 AM

This is a very cool question, and I like the way you've set up the point of greatness and the goals each one set themselves.
I think, as the Chosen One, that Anakin could have been greater. For Luke's part, it was rekindling the spark of humanity within Vaderkin that won the day and overthrew Palpatine. Luke had defeated Anakin (who by now was well in his 40's when Luke was 23 and probably chanelling the darkside (Vapaad anyone - Yoda could well have taught it to him)) to beat him. But Luke was no match for the Emperor, in guile or power.

janlomona
Smugglers Rants

date Posted: Nov 25, 2005 3:58 AM

I think we all accept that Anakin, before Mustafar, would have eventually defeated Palpatine. Palps knew this, that's why Vader was sent out into the galaxy to enforce his will, keep him away. Even in Jedi this holds, as Palps wanted to "stay on the command ship" - he's rarely in close proximity to Palpatine, and for good reason. Most masters are defeated by their apprentice.
One on one, in a fight, I think Anakin pre-Mustafar would defeat Luke every time...but Luke is far and away the greater Jedi and the greater man, so on that level I would choose Luke.
Top blog.

Grand Admiral Veers0

date Posted: Nov 25, 2005 4:06 AM

"Your thoughts betray you father, I feel the conflict within you"
"There is no conflict"
Luke was also very much in touch with his emotions as well as the Force. He was able to channel them into something useful instead of denying them (Obi-Wan) or being controled by them (Vader), making him an excellent example of a human being.
Interesting entry Mr. abba, I hopw to hear more from thee

Now, fulfill your destiny, and take your father's place at my side
-Emperor, Return of the Jedi

	Sol Kassar Ramblings from the Detention Center (Startled)
date Posted: Nov 25, 2005 6:15 AM But here's ?uestion that will really bake your noodle: who's greater - Anakin as Anakin v. Luke or Anakin as Darth Vader v. Luke?

obidogknowbe
Star Wars Nerd - A Dog's Tail of Obsession

date Posted: Nov 25, 2005 6:40 AM

I think that Anakin never got the grasp of the full potential use of the force, he ended up being
so busy in his years during the Clones Wars (besides worrying over Padme), he never had
the one on one time he needed. I think this is where Obi-Wan and the others really failed
Anakin.
Luke had to learn the hard way, trail and error, and believe me I don't know a better way to
get a grasp on something than flying by the seat of your pants. Just Obi-dog's opinion.

	Darth Tontie
date Posted: Nov 25, 2005 6:52 AM i know this is not important to the discussion at hand but, if i read your Anakin debate you said that he never becomes a Jedi Knight. If you watch the animated clone wars he actually does become a Jedi Knight. He just never gets the rank of master.

janlomona
Smugglers Rants

date Posted: Nov 26, 2005 3:40 AM

True, Ani was a Knight, just never became a master. But for raw talent I thnk Ani had the edge. At just 9 years of age he could fly pods - no human could do that. Luke was a fair Skyhopper and Speeder pilot, but nothing legendary like Ani. But Luke always had a clear objective - to become a Jedi. That was his focus - bringing Ani back to the good side came later, and blurred his focus somewhat. Ani had too much on his plate, to say nothing of being the Harry Potter of the SWU - the Chosen One. He always had that over his head, coupled with his natural arrogance and pride, plus his fear of losing those close to him. It was an explosive combination, one that Luke never had to contend with.

janlomona
Smugglers Rants

date Posted: Nov 26, 2005 3:43 AM

As the EU showed, Luke was the first to truly come back from the dark side, but this isn't about the EU.
In the films I think Luke proved himself to be the greater Jedi. He was the key to finally fulfilling the prophecy, a prophecy he likely knew nothing about. Ani was fuelled by rage and selfishness - his wants and needs were greater than the fate of the galaxy, or anyone else. He knew a Jedi was meant to be selfless, and yet everything he did was for his own ends. Luke was the opposite, even disarming himself before the Emperor, saying he'd rather die than join him.
Luke showed Ani the path to redemtion, and thankfully Ani took it, and in doing so defeated the Sith by taking both Palpatine's and his own life.

	StarWarsAddict5
date Posted: Dec 28, 2005 12:43 AM now because of how SW turns out Luke is the greater Jedi BUT had Anakin remained a Jedi and not killed Padme,the tusken raiders,joined Sidious,etc. Anakin probablly would have been the greater Jedi.

Agahnim1

date Posted: Jan 01, 2006 9:26 PM

Okay a couple of things here guys that many of you are overlooking

1. The fight scenes in Revenge of the Sith are NOT REAL. Real fights do not happen like that. Did anyone not notice that the jedis in Phantom Menace were about the skill level of the jedis in 4, 5, 6 movies. But by the second and 3rd movies, especially the 3rd one, the jedis are fighting at light speed. That isn't how real fights go. Lucas was cashing in on what looks good, not on realism. Hence yes, Anakin is good but Luke does much more realistic stuff.

Continued......

Agahnim1

date Posted: Jan 01, 2006 9:26 PM

2. LUKE TRAINED FOR 6 MONTHS AND HE WAS A BADASS. Anakin had to train for 13+ years before he got to the level he did. Hmmmmmmm. Yeah. I wonder if that has anything to do with it. Can you imagine Luke in 5 years? Plus here are some quotes to refresh your memory:

"Luke, you can destroy the emperor. He has seen this" - Darth Vader, movie 5
"Force is strong with this one" - Vader, movie 4

Agahnim1

date Posted: Jan 01, 2006 9:28 PM

One thing though is that the force seems to flow more smoothly with Anakin, which is something Obi One also commented on in movie 4. HOWEVER, the force also flowed very smoothly with Luke. Remember, Luke fired 2 torpedoes without his computer assistance to destroy the death star. Talk about nerves of steel and accuracy. And the guy had only been training about 3 days!!!!!! Give me a break.

Continued.....

	Agahnim1
date Posted: Jan 01, 2006 9:28 PM Was Anakin good? Yes. Was he the chosen one? No. Enough said. LUKE SKYWALKER, JEDI KNIGHT vs. ANAKIN SKYWALKER, JEDI KNIGHT - Advantage: LUKE

	jedi_abba "Lets Blow this thing and go home!"
date Posted: Jan 02, 2006 7:43 AM *Anakin was* the choosen one!**

	Agahnim1
date Posted: Jan 02, 2006 8:13 AM Anakin was NOT the chosen one. His son was the chosen one. The chosen one would bring balance to the force. Did Anakin bring balance? WRONG. Did he bring destruction? YES. Luke brought balance because he destroyed the sith while being able to know what the dark side of the force was like. He was in the end, the ultimate jedi.

Agahnim1

date Posted: Jan 02, 2006 8:24 AM

If any of you remember watching the movie and seeing a lot of Anakin's somersaults being strange looking, that's no coincidence. Computers were used and so sometimes the person doing the stunts would become blurry. Also, the one time that Anakin does do a real stunt on his own, it wasn't very impressive and was done even slower than what a normal fight scene should be like. I'm talking about the part where he and Obi One are fighting on Mustafar. Anakin runs toward him (a bit too slowly) and hits him with both his legs, sending Obi One backwards. If anyone watching the movie was paying close attention, Anakin's legs are not together and it just doesn't look like a very smooth kick.

	Agahnim1
date Posted: Jan 02, 2006 8:25 AM Continued from above.... Sorry fellas, but the real Anakin (without CGI) is a fraud. I'd even have to venture to say that I'd take Obi One over Anakin. 1. Obi One fights General Grievous and wins 2. Obi One fights Anakin and wins 3. Obi One knows who the father of Padme's child is - perspicacity like that is invaluable

	Agahnim1
date Posted: Jan 02, 2006 8:28 AM Here's a real somersault to refresh your memory guys. Watch the cleanly executed acrobat that Luke does. Also notice his speed when he reaches for his sabre in Jabba's house - http://media.putfile.com/ReturnOfTheJedi

Darthvader4199

date Posted: Jan 12, 2006 12:49 PM

Anakin can beat luke because well anakin was trained a longer time with obi wan than luke was to Yoda. Anakin had more knowledge than luke and was faster and stronger. In Empire strikes back luke didn't have as much training and in Return of the jedi Yoda didn't teach him any thing, Yoda just said "to become a true jedi you have to destroy Darth Vader" Luke is to slow in Episodes 5 & 6 luke would be so slow with the lightsaber so I think Anakin would win.

SnoopDarthyDarth
Sith point of view related to real world...

date Posted: Jan 15, 2006 8:09 PM

Anakin was outstanding. His natural ability and 13 years of training made him so.
But Luke was incredible. Except for a few days with ObiWan and a few weeks (im guessing) with Yoda, he was entirely untrained. He had 6 months of self training of Tatoine while planning Han's rescue and that was it.

So, I think Luke may have had more potential then his father, force-wise. Or at least a better moral compass and a higher IQ.
Shoot ahead 10 years after ROTJ and Luke was much more powerfull (now at age 35ish) then Anakin was in ROTS.

Still in a straight saber duel, Anakin in his prime would beat Luke (with his Ep:6 skills).
Luke just didnt have the training or experience, at that point, to stand a realistic chance.

	DarthScrewball
date Posted: Jun 05, 2006 4:32 AM btw Agahnim1 Anakin is the chosen one. George Lucas said it himself. So there. I think that if u pit Luke against Anakin in a one on one duel, Anakin pre-mustafar and Luke in ROTJ, then Anakin would win If you tested knowledge and skill with the Force, Luke would be the victor

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