How Anakin’s rebellious choices set him on the path to the Dark Side in ‘Star Wars: Attack of the Clones’

Attack of the Clones, the second installment of the Star Wars prequel trilogy, offers a mixture of romance, romp, and revenge. The main focus of this film is placed on Anakin Skywalker, his relationships, and his character development. While the romantic aspects of the movie may seem needlessly drawn out, the plot is crucial to the overall changes which occur in Anakin’s heart through the duration of the saga.

The Fall of Anakin Contrasted to Korah’s Rebellion

As the Jedi Order draws a number of elements from the Catholic priesthood (rooted in Israelite worship), even displaying hints of monasticism, it is easy to compare similarities between Star Wars plot lines and ancient biblical annals. For instance, Korah was a member of the tribe of Levi. During the wandering in the wilderness, priests and ministers were chosen from among the Levites.

However, obtaining the priesthood was a selective process; not all Levites were called to become priests. The priesthood was not bestowed on Korah, and he remained a minister. This did not sit well with him, and his pride led him to rebel against Moses, whose authority came directly from God.

Think about it, Anakin’s decline is not too different from Korah’s, as Anakin is desirous of a certain rank. In Attack of the Clones, he is a padawan working his way toward the rank of a Jedi Master. By Episode III, he has inevitably obtained that rank. However, he is disheartened that he is not an equal member of the Jedi Council. It’s similar to Korah being a minister and being disgruntled by the fact that he can’t have the priesthood. Similar to Korah, we know that Anakin falls. He succumbs to his pride and fear, letting his passions rule his decisions.

Anakin’s Pride and Revenge

Many of the actions escalating toward the dark climax of Episode III are depicted in Episode II. Anakin seldom voices his feelings to Master Obi-Wan Kenobi or to any of the other masters for that matter. He really only opens up to Padmé Amidala, his love interest. When he does, he tells her that he feels suppressed by his Jedi Master, held back and restrained needlessly. His pride comes gushing out shamelessly, and this is the mentality that he has been harboring and developing for years.

A key turning point in Anakin’s behavior comes at the death of his mother, Shmi Skywalker, at the hands of the Tusken Raiders. He allows his intense anger and desire for revenge to trump any reasoning that might come to his aid. The result is the infamous slaughter sequence in which the young Jedi learner takes vengeance upon his mother’s captors, their families, and their children. And no remorse surfaces, only continued self-pity. When Anakin is so willing to kill young Tusken Raiders, it should come as no surprise when he is willing to annihilate the younglings of the Jedi Temple in the next film.

Anakin Makes His Own Rules

Throughout Anakin’s character development, we see him as a genuine rebel at heart. Even early on, as a mere boy in The Phantom Menace, he does not always heed commands such as when he is instructed to stay put and instead decides to take part in an aerial battle. Not much has changed several years later. In Attack of the Clones, he is frequently seen ignoring the orders of Obi-Wan Kenobi, his instructor and master. He disobeys in small matters, and he eventually disobeys in great ones.

This rebel spirit in Anakin becomes problematic when it is permitted to go to the extreme. He does not even strive toward a mean between absence and excess; he just goes with whatever he wants to do, not what he thinks he should do. (Think of how Anakin slays Count Dooku in Episode III. He knows it is unjust to kill the Sith, but he allows his desire to do so get the better of him.) Again, this mentality is deeply rooted in Anakin’s pride, which we already analyzed. He sees his own good as the ultimate good, disregarding his greater calling: the good of all. Anakin loses sight of this and doesn’t really look back.

Anakin wants something; he takes it. It is just this mindset that leads him down the path to the Dark Side. A few prominent examples of this that can be spotted in Episode II include Anakin leaping off the land-speeder (despite Obi-Wan’s cautioning against it), his unmerciful attack on the Tusken Raiders (despite some of their innocence), and his secret marriage to Padmé (despite the fact it contradicts the codes of the Jedi). Certainly, his mode of pursuing his own selfish interests does not come to a halt by the end of Attack of the Clones.

In Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, it is Anakin’s desire to keep Padmé alive that ultimately lures him to the Dark Side. He wants something, and he takes what he believes to be the proper steps toward achieving his goal. But in the process, he completely loses sight of his calling as a Jedi and as a man. Instead of being a protector of the weak, he becomes the predator, wantonly dealing death to whomever Darth Sidious wills.

Throughout Episode II, Anakin’s morality is clearly seen slipping toward the darkness with little resistance or guidance to prevent it. That is not to say that this fall could not have been prevented for it really could have been. The main precautionary action which could have been taken would have been discourse: an opening up and an understanding shared between Anakin and his masters.

However, Yoda provides such opportunities for Anakin. And Anakin, either in shame (which again would be grounded in pride) or in fear, holds back. Anakin could have prevented his own fall through his own will power. However, he freely chose the path to the Dark Side. Nevertheless, there is redemption and hope for even the most hardened of sinners – if they choose to repent of their vices. Even stuck in darkness, the good can still be chosen.

Dedicated to Ben Pfundstein and Ted Pfundstein