Star Wars Revenge of the Sith

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.