prominent sith darth vader and emperor palpatine have become iconic villains in popular culture. their personae are frequently used as exemplars of machiavelianism, authoritarianism, brutality and evil in serious, humorous and satirical settings. darth sidious is archetypal as the "evil emperor"—a cunning tyrant who rules through deception, propaganda, fear and oppression. although usually considered as a villainous "enforcer" of such power, darth vader has also been regarded as a tragic figure and cautionary study in the corruption of a hero who loses sight of the greater good and resorts to evil practices out of fear and desperation. a "turn to the dark side" has become a popular idiom to describe an (often misguided) individual or institution's embrace of evil out of a desire for power.