Star Wars: Anakin Skywalker
Anakin Skywalker, the Chosen One, the Hero with no fear.
Many know his story but many seem to believe his fall from grace and into the dark side was a quick one. That point of view is a wrong one. Anakin’s fall was not something that happened overnight it started even before the Clone Wars. It started from the very beginning of his training as a youngling.
Since the beginning the Jedi council have been cautious about Anakin even thinking of denying him in joining their ranks due to his age. This was the spark of distrust between Anakin and the Council, it only grows worse due to Mace Windu who at every turn spoke of his distrust of Anakin and his dislike of Anakin’s actions. Part of Windu’s distain for Anakin is his own jealousy, though he would never admit it as Jedi aren’t allowed such emotions. But because of Windu’s own arrogance and distrust Anakin never felt he was apart of the order.
This disconnection has lead Anakin to look elsewhere, Obi-Wan although a great mentor and brother was not what Anakin was looking for. He needed a father figure which many believe Qui-Gon would have been perfect for the role had he survived his battle with Darth Maul. Ultimately this search lead him to Chancellor Palpatine the only one who “believed” in him. Palpatine has since groomed Anakin into his apprentice. Putting seeds of doubt into Anakin’s mind, fueling his own distrust of the Council, which was also being fueled by the Council’s own actions. With having him spy on a friend, those who know Anakin’s personality know that Anakin is loyal to his friends and his friends alone, as said in the Revenge of the Sith novelization.
Obi-Wan: You weren’t there. You didn’t see his face. I think we have done a terrible thing.
Mace: We don’t have the right answer. Sometimes there isn’t a right answer.
Yoda: Know how important your friendship with young Anakin to you, I do
Mace: You think Skywalker won’t be able to handle this? I thought you had more confidence in his abilities.
Obi-Wan: I trust him with my life. And that is precisely the problem.
The other two Jedi Master watch him silently while he tried to summon the proper words.
Obi-Wan: For Anakin, there is nothing more important than friendship. He is the most loyal man I have ever met—loyal beyond reason, in fact. Despite all I have tried to teach him about sacrifices that are the heart of being a Jedi, he—he will never, I think, truly understand.
Yoda: Do you fear that perform his task, he cannot?
Obi-Wan: Oh no. That’s not it at all. I am firmly convinced that Anakin can do anything. Except betray a friend.
With all this said, it’s not to dismiss Anakin of his choices, his actions were his own and they too had a part in his fall. His own arrogance, pride, and disobedience cost him so much down the line. Such as a spot on the rank of master, which was something he had been trying for for years. But because he would blatantly disobey almost every order given to him the Council couldn’t trust him with a task that didn’t require an unorthodox method to complete. Had he chosen to act differently the events that occurred would have had a much different result. Anakin Skywalker is not a role model but a cautionary tale. His story is one of love, loss, betrayal, and the loss of one’s self.