There is much fear in you...Skywalker. You have hate; you have anger...but you don't use them. Dooku to Anakin (ROTS)
I can feel your anger. It gives you focus...makes you powerful. Palpatine to Anakin (ROTS)
I hate you!! Anakin/Vader to Obi-Wan (ROTS)
You were my brother...I loved you.Obi-Wan to Anakin/Vader (ROTS)
OK...you may be wondering *what is she talking about here?!* Well, I am referring to this particular *Still Moment in a Galaxy Far, Far Away..*
The *Battle of Heroes,* Anakin versus Obi-Wan, one of the most important battles of our beloved saga, was much more than just a battle between the two people we see on the screen. This was a battle between Anakin and Vader...a *Hero's Battle* of sorts. Anakin was always full of passion...a passion that allowed him to be the Jedi he was. It motivated him to do things throughout his entire life. As the Dark Side clouded the minds of the citizens of the Old Republic, it added fuel to Anakin's fire. His passion, his "hatred and anger," allowed him to be successful in battle. He channeled these Dark Side emotions when confronting an opponent...and was successful. However, as per the Jedi Code, use of the Dark Side was discouraged, as the powers were considered *unnatural*. But Anakin had fueled these emotions, these feelings, all his life. It was what made him...him.
As Anakin faced Obi-Wan, a fire was ignited within. He was now Darth Vader, a Sith Lord, one who was "all-powerful." Nobody could stop him...not Obi-Wan, not Palpatine, not even himself. He felt invincible...ignited by an energy for which he had long desired. Not even the river of hot lava below him could stop him.
But, just as the passion burned inside, so did the fire that fueled it. Anakin's passion was so strong that he would eventually get burned...and he did. He let his, well, arrogance get the best of him (as much as I hate to admit that ). The previously feeling of invincibility was cut short by those he thought could not do so...namely Obi-Wan and himself. Obi-Wan may have literally cut him down, but the continued fire that fueled the hatred toward this one-time mentor...brother...essentially led to him erupting in flames. The angrier he became, the faster he burned. But...out of that hatred and anger came a plea for help...a subtle change of expression that indicated that Anakin was still there...that he had not been completely lost to the Dark Side. However...Obi-Wan turned, picked up Anakin's lightsaber, and walked away...leaving him to breed even more hate and anger toward those he once loved.
Backing up to Dooku's words to Anakin...he just may have been on to something. Sure, it was a ploy to bring Anakin closer to the Dark Side. However, as one of my good friends pointed out the other night, we all have anger and hatred within us. Sometimes we allow it to surface, but most of us know how to work through it. Anakin, however, always had to suppress that, and was never really taught the proper way of working through it. As a slave on Tatooine, he had to control his reactions or risk punishment by Watto. As a Jedi, he was taught to control his emotions and channel them through the Force. He was never really allowed to just "be"...to work through his emotions and conflicts. We all know what happened when Anakin was finally pushed over the edge on which he was so tediously balancing...he lost everything and everyone near and dear to him.
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