Anakin’s
dream is to become a Jedi and because he was “Chosen One”, he became arrogant.
When his mother was killed, he chose to get revenge and destroy the village of
sand people, and the Jedi do not condone this. His anger over his mother’s
death leads him to down a path to the dark side. Master Yoda told him to let go
of everything he fears to lose.
Since he
already started to go against his Jedi training, this leads him to take further
steps toward the dark side. Falling in love with Padme was easy to understand
because he already had an attachment to his mother. If he had fought against
his attraction to Padme, he could have had a chance of remaining a Jedi.
Palpatine
built up Anakin’s confidence by praising him and making him think he could be even better than Master Yoda. Anakin was swayed by all this positive feedback,
but Palpatine was just trying to manipulate him. He knew of Anakin’s weakness
and took advantage by first getting him to trust him.
Anakin
believed that Palpatine was his friend, and when the council denied him the
rank of Jedi Master because they didn’t think he was ready, Palpatine told him
it was because they didn’t trust him because they knew he was better and they
feared him. Anakin believed him because he was full of anger and fear, which
leads to the dark side.
When Obi-Wan
told Anakin that the council wanted him to spy on Palpatine, Anakin not only
felt betrayed for being denied the rank of a Master, but he felt betrayed
especially by Obi-Wan, for asking him to do such a thing when Palpatine was not
only a close friend of his, but the Chancellor as well. He lost trust in the
Jedi after this.
Anakin’s
fears about Padme’s death became his biggest weakness, and Palpatine
manipulated him by taking advantage of this weakness. These weaknesses were the
very reasons why the Jedi believed him not to be ready yet. Palpatine convinced
him that he could help Anakin save Padme if he came over to the dark side.
As he fell
further and further into the dark side, Padme confronted him and he accused her
of betrayal and acted out violently using the force on her. Luckily Obi-Wan
saved her, but Anakin thought shed died. He blamed Obi-Wan and fought his old
master who finally cut off Anakins arm and legs and left him for dead. Torn by
his grief over not only Padme, but his mother, Obi-Wan his mentor, and the loss
of his limbs he becomes evil.
