Revenge of the Sith, the third episode of Star Wars, is a ‘primal’ fantasy.

By primal I mean a type of basic human experience, in the form of a fantasy.

Entitlement and power

The experience of entitlement in Star Wars is based in power.

Senator Palpatine (who later becomes the Emperor) is really a dark lord who wants to control the galaxy (in Star Wars). This dark lord believes he is entitled to control the galaxy, so he is exercising his power and authority.

The dark side in Star Wars seems plausible, though. That is because the dark side’s agents believe they are upholding the peace.

But, perhaps ignorantly, they enforce their rule and exercise a reign of oppression and terror. This is a sad indictment on power, the downside of governing.

When Palpatine is confronted about his intentions to bring imperial rule, and when he is forced back and facing death, all he can say is “No, no, no” and fight back.

He feels entitled to his position of power. This entitlement is basically self-centered.

“Sith think only of themselves. They go inward. But Jedi think only of others.”

Thinking of others allows people to choose for themselves, but sometimes people’s choices can lead in ways of destructive, self-centered living. So, there is good, and there is evil.

One Jedi will fall from grace in Revenge of the Sith, but that could have been prevented, if he had just listened.

Anakin’s problems

Anakin wants to be the most powerful, but he also wants to save his wife. He believes he will save his wife from death by the power of the dark side.

However, he is misguided and blind to the realities. The dark side destroys.

 

Anakin transforms to the dark side, becoming Darth Vader. (Image sourced via google images).
Anakin transforms to the dark side, becoming Darth Vader. (Image sourced via google images).

 

Anakin’s fall from grace could have been prevented: to be calm, collected, centered rightly, not lusting  ambitiously and trying to change things he only imagines.

In the final analysis, Anakin is blinded and nothing could have been done about it. Except to instruct the audience in what to do. And that there is a better way to live as human beings, if the world is to survive.

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