In examining the fears that drove Anakin's fall into darkness I realized the power that ultimately lured him into his dangerous choice: The power of control. Of all the things that the Sith sought in their anger and hate, the ability to control those around them was paramount to their quest. For as the Jedi sought a symbiotic connection with the Force, the Sith were obsessed with bending it to their will, forging their control over its dark energies. As Anakin watched his mother die in his arms he found himself helpless, a young and powerful Jedi that simply was not powerful enough. For all that he had learned under the care and guidance of Obi-Wan, he could not save her from death. At that moment he wanted more than the life of a Jedi could offer; the power to control fate... to stop death.

Domination was central to the philosophy of the Sith, it fed their desire for power and paved the way for their intricate plans for revenge. As Palpatine gathered his plans against the Jedi, he would use fear to gradually bring the Galaxy under his control. The Darkside of the Force was the tool by which he would tempt Anakin with the promise of this very same power, at a level far more personal to the young Jedi. Though to some the power that Anakin sought would seem far more noble (control to save the woman he loved from death) by its very nature it was destructive and contradictory to the Force. Did such a power exist at all? I've explored this question before, and continually I find that it always comes up when looking into Anakin's journey. It is impossible to say for certain whether the power that Palpatine spoke of is even real, or a carefully constructed lie meant to lure Anakin into the darkness of the Sith. What it represents however, is what Anakin desired greatly: control. To have this kind of power over life was exactly what the Sith had sought for so long... it was the culmination of their dark powers. Perhaps it was indeed what drove the Force out of balance, for such control and domination would not have been a harmonious power.


"I won't fail again, I promise."


The death of his mother set into Anakin's mind the stern desire to never again let someone he loved face a fate that he could not control. Perhaps as a Jedi he believed that such a power was a right that should be afforded him, but the Jedi Order he would find could not offer him such a power. Young and immature, Anakin was gifted with abilities that he was not ready to understand or fully use... their existence stirred in him the desire for something greater. It was not enough to exist in a world where he could not control his own fate or the fate of those around him, and if the Jedi could not offer such a power then who could? Palpatine's story was an important moment for the confused young man, playing on his fear of loss and providing him with the tempting promise of the very power he wanted. At last he found someone that could offer him the ability to control the fate his wife would face, and he would be able to use that power to save her life and keep her with him. It was the lie and the promise that only a Sith could offer, portraying control as a natural part of the Force itself. Had Anakin understood his relationship to the Force more correctly he might never allowed himself to be fooled by such a tale, but his fear of loss was too great to see through such lies. Anakin felt entitled to such a power, as all Sith before him had felt, and he would not let such a power slip through his fingers. He would seize upon Palpatine's tempting offer, hopeful that at last he could gain control over fate and life as he believed a Jedi should. Fear and control, the powerful tools of the Sith, would blind him and lead him down a path of utter darkness.




The New Order of the Galaxy


It is no surprise that the government Palpatine created would take the shape of an oppressive Empire. The very design of such a government fit well with the ideals of a Sith, intended to control and dominate the population of the Galaxy. Fear became the tool by which such control was mastered; fear intensified with the creation of terrible weapons that could inspire obedience. But such a fear would inspire something far beyond obedience; it would instill among many the desire to fight back. Rebellion was a natural reaction to the domination of the Sith, and the more that Palpatine manipulated fear to extend this control, the greater the strength of this Rebellion would grow. Had Anakin understood the destructive nature of this power, in life and throughout the Force, he might never have followed his dark master down that path of lies. But could he have seen through his own fear and discovered the truth? At last he did, but the terrible price had already been paid. He lost both his wife and his soul... until his son came to save him.