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Rappingrancor's Pit -- And No, I Don't Mean My Room!

date posted: May 05, 2008 7:04 PM

Always Two (Or More) There Are...

I know, I know. Two blogs in one day? Well, I've finished my outline for my project, so I don't have to worry until a week from today.

I love procrastination.

Anyways, I read an old blog by Darth Hiram a few minutes ago, and it got me thinking.

How did Palpatine see what he was doing?

#1 Did he understand what he was doing, sowing the seeds of discontent and malice throughout the Republic? Did he think that he was doing his job as a Sith by shattering the Republic?

#2 Or did he, like so many other dictators that we know of, believe that he was doing it for the greater good? Did he truly believe that only through himself could the Republic stand?

#3 Or was it his goal all along to crush the Republic and install himself as the supreme leader? Did he lust for power and use his knowledge of the Force to exploit those who had weak minds (which brings up another point: Not everyone in the Republic had a weak mind, or there obviously wouldn't be a Rebellion!)?

Now, I know this is longer than my usual posts, but hang tight.

I personally believe that it was #3. As a Sith, it was natural for him to want to crush and destroy and usurp...

Or was it? Was it truly natural for him to want to take over the entire galaxy? Was it natural for Vader to have such a deep loathing for his son? Was it natural for Dooku to turn his back on the Jedi Order that had nurtured him throughout his youth? Was it natural?

In my opinion, no. The Sith were bred to be this way...but this was not natural. They were selected based on a combination of Force talent and raw fury. However, this does not mean that their more...unsavory...attributes were natural.

So...I believe that Palpatine wanted to control the Republic (or, if not the Republic, what was left of it) because he couldn't resist such a tempting target. A crumbling, weak bureaucracy in the grip of equally weak politicians and a galaxy split by minor disputes that eventually escalated into a full-scale war! What self-respecting Sith Lord would not exploit such a situation for their own selfish gain?

Comments?

Wherever the Force may guide you, God will bless you.

RR out.

P.S. If my thoughts seem just a tad unorganized, sorry. Lack of sleep is finally catching up to me.

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

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usetheforce19
MasterMonkey13

date Posted: May 05, 2008 7:49 PM

I've gotta go with #3 for Palpatine. Now, if you look at Anakin, the answer will be #2. For Dooku, the answer will be #1. I think it was natural for a Sith to want to destroy. Just as you've said, sorry if my writing is sloppy or unorganized, I myself am tired as well. I might stay up and watch a little of the basketball game that's on now, or maybe I'll just go to sleep. Hmmmmm, decisions...

Great blog!

Darth_Hiram
A Journey into The Force

date Posted: May 05, 2008 9:22 PM

Great thoughts here, RR. I think you're right concerning Palpatine ... in that #3 fits him. He was portrayed as an unrelenting power-mad dictator who was only satisfied with being in control. From manipulating the Senate and the Jedi and installing himself as Emperor to his demise he always tried to remain in control ... at the expense of all the others.

Great blog, and thanks for the link!

shoppingMaul61

date Posted: May 06, 2008 5:17 AM

Pure social Darwinism - 'the strong devouring the weak'- was Palpatine's motto. He probably felt it was his right to do so in a (seemingly) pathetic and decaying galaxy. Evil is and was, as he said, a point of view.
Anakin too had the beginnings of this kind of thinking, as evidenced by his subtle 'pro-dictatorship' speech in AOTC.
So in answer I'd say a little from a), b), and c)

JediMelindaWolf
Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no try.

date Posted: May 06, 2008 5:42 AM

Wouldn't it be interesting if some day we were treated to a (series of?) book(s) delving into Palpatine, his youth and what led him down his path? (for those of us who are EU fans, that is.

) Of course, there really is something to be said for the shroud of mystery.

Since you asked, I'll throw my 2 cents into the mix . . .

I do not think he was inspired by any sense of 'doing the right thing' (from his perspective, of course). I think he knew exactly what he was doing (a) and that his goal all along was to be the one in power (c). His patience paid off.

Great blog!

MTFBWY

	comanderbly That's Impossible. Even for a Computer.
date Posted: May 06, 2008 5:51 AM Interesting. I think Palpatine could have started with #2 - believing in the greater good and then transitioning into #3. After the rise of the Empire he destroyed the Jedi and anything that could be used to restore order so no one could oppose him.

Master Deireanach

date Posted: May 06, 2008 6:02 AM

It's definitely #3 for Palps, he had no interest in the greater good. If you've read the two novels about Darth Bane you'll see that this was the ultimate plan of his line of the Sith. He invented the rule of two for the sole purpose of having the strongest possible Sith to eventually take over the Galaxy. Anakin of course thought he was doing the right thing and only completely gave himself over in order to save Padme. If you look closely at ROTS Anakin is one of the few Jedi who tries to do the right thing all the time; wanting to help the clone pilot, save obi wan, not wanting to spy, didn't want to kill Dooku at first etc

	Irwin03 CDS: The Art Side of the Force
date Posted: May 08, 2008 4:18 PM Good blog! Intriguing questions! Hey, I have your Happy Rancor. Sorry it took so long. I actually finished it a few weeks ago, and I e-mailed you the link, but I guess it didn't go through or something.

Jade Sabre777
A luminous being, I am...

date Posted: May 12, 2008 12:39 PM

Hey, good blog, RR!

Since everything has pretty much already been said, I'll say this...
Did he think that he was doing his job as a Sith by shattering the Republic?
This has always intrigued me: if the Sith don't care about anyone but themselves, why do they feel the need to train apprentices and keep the Sith dynasty going? Just out of pure hatred for the Jedi? Heck, as long as the Jedi never bothered me, I'd just do whatever I wanted. I wouldn't care about "my job as a Sith."

...

	Jade Sabre777 A luminous being, I am...
date Posted: May 12, 2008 12:43 PM But that's just me. Maybe once I read Darth Bane: POD, I'll have a different outlook. Again, great blog!

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