Does <PERSON> becoming <PERSON> actually make sense?
I like to pretend that the Star Wars prequels never happened.
Don’t get me started on <PERSON> story arc. You’re telling me that an independent, fearless woman, who defended her planet against the trade federation and advocated for intergalactic democracy in the senate, would give up on life immediately after giving birth? Padme Amidala would decline the role of mother, arguably her most important role?
The question was about <PERSON>, though, so I shall focus on him.
<PERSON> was taken from his mother and his home planet at a young age (though, we are frequently reminded, he was considered old for beginning Jedi training). <PERSON> is not old enough for his personality to have solidified, but we do see that he is compassionate and willing to help. He is close to his mother and wants to return to Tatooine one day to free his mother. Can any mama’s boy turn into a vengeful, evil villain? I would say that it is unlikely, but <PERSON>’s close bond with his mother is not the only reason his transformation into <PERSON> is not believable.
As <PERSON> gets older, we are told that he becomes a skilled Jedi. <PERSON> is frustrated when he believes the Jedi council does not recognize his skill and impedes his promotion within the Jedi ranks. <PERSON> did not seem arrogant or ambitious as a child, but certainly those are traits a person could develop later in life. As a young adult, <PERSON> displays inconsistencies in his personality. He develops feelings for Padme <PERSON>, but <PERSON> genuinely seems to respect his crush. When they are fighting monsters side-by-side, <PERSON> appears to admire Padme Amidala’s skills. 663
Just as mama’s boys don’t usually transform into horrible murderers, men who respect women are generally more in touch with their feelings and able to process anger in healthy ways.
Perhaps the most disappointing facet of <PERSON>’s fall to the dark side is his motivation for seeking <PERSON> powers. <PERSON> cares for <PERSON> and is afraid of losing another woman he loves, just as he lost his mother. Because <PERSON> has visions of Padme Amidala dying, <PERSON> tries to learn how to keep people alive - which is, supposedly, a Sith power. Of course his desire for this power is not the only reason <PERSON> falls prey to the dark side, but it is a reason that is covered heavily in Revenge of the Sith. Despite the fact that <PERSON> wants so desperately to keep <PERSON> alive, the first time he wonders if she betrayed him, <PERSON> force-chokes <PERSON>. He rapidly switches from loving and respecting the women in his life to hurting the mother of his unborn children. I was disappointed by this plot point as once again, the abuse of a woman was used to further the character journey of a man. For a franchise with so many positive female role models, Revenge of the Sith felt very out of place.
The rapid transformation of <PERSON> also felt inauthentic to the character. Throughout the prequel movies, <PERSON> was depicted as a flawed and deeply hurt man, but he never appeared to be on the cusp of evil. As a result, <PERSON>’s transformation into <PERSON> never made sense. 605