Few points have been more strenuously argued about Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, than the actions of Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker as he completes his descent into the dark realm of the Sith. From his oath to Sith Lord Darth Sidious through the final epic battle with Obi-Wan Kenobi on Mustafar we watch Anakin make devastating choices that include acts of unspeakable violence.
When faced with the question “what was Anakin’s worst act in the film?” viewers come up with numerous scenarios, including his role in the death of Master Mace Windu and his violent reaction to his wife’s imagined betrayal. Of all the points people raise, one scene stands out in the minds of fans and critics alike: Anakin’s ruthless killing of the children who were students at the Jedi Temple.
We, the moviegoers, were horrified to see Anakin, newly christened Darth Vader, lead a battalion of Clone Troopers into the Temple. We knew from the orders he received that he was there to ensure no Jedi was allowed to live. What we didn’t expect was a scene where he enters the darkened Jedi Council chamber only to be met by several younglings hiding there. One of the younglings asks him “Master Skywalker, there are too many of them, what do we do?” Anakin’s chilling response is nonverbal. Despite the artful cut from the ignition of the lightsaber to the next scene, the magnitude of his action is clear and Lucas does not tiptoe around it. Those Jedi children died at his hand.
Most fans are aware that George Lucas is strongly family oriented and has said many times that he favored making each and every one of the saga films viewable by even the youngest family member capable of understanding the story. Yet in Revenge of the Sith he deliberately included the scene where Darth Vader ruthlessly slaughters children, garnering it a PG-13 rating and making it the only Star Wars movie in either trilogy with that distinction.
So many viewers want to know the answer to one question. Why? Why include something so monstrous in this film? Many feel that it served no purpose, that it was not necessary to move the plot forward. However, the fact that it was not left on the cutting room floor tells me that Lucas considered it pivotal to Anakin’s fall. I feel it is such a departure from the normal that it must serve a specific purpose and I can only conclude that we are meant to analyze and learn from it.
There is no debating that the Star Wars mythos has become a strong part of American culture. It contains many of the same scenarios and universal truths common to myths from many other cultures, both the recent ones as well as those that are ancient. It is from the tradition of mythcrafting that George Lucas pulled the theme of the “slaughter of the innocents” and applied it to the saga. This paper is not to apologize for Anakin’s actions or justify the unjustifiable in any way. What it will do is investigate why Lucas might have felt the inclusion of this scene was so important. It will endeavor to look analytically at the incident through historical and mythological perspectives.
Throughout mythology there are many stories about children who were killed by tyrannical rulers in an attempt to eliminate one specific child prophesied to overthrow them. Stories about prophets and deities such as Zoroaster, Krishna, Tammuz, Horus, Romulus & Remus, Oedipus, Hercules, Perseus & Adonis and Buddha all contain elements of this “Dangerous Child Myth.” Lucas touches on elements of that specific myth when he speaks that he has foreseen that the “son of Skywalker” must be destroyed lest the boy prove to be the instrument of his destruction. For the sake of my topic, I’m going to steer clear of this specific myth and stick to the “slaughter of the innocents” aspect that often serves to accompany it. Luke’s destiny as the “Dangerous Child” could, and should, merit a paper all its own.
The Bible is perhaps the best known source of this story in America. Two stories, in particular, are familiar to just about everyone. In Exodus, we see the pharaoh of Egypt order the slaughter of all male children born to the Hebrew slaves to ensure that they would never outnumber and overthrow their Egyptian oppressors.1 Though the children were killed, one small boy escaped and grew to become Moses, a prophet who did eventually result in the pharaoh’s downfall. In the gospel of Matthew is another, similar story recounting the birth of Jesus. King Herod knew there were prophecies telling of the birth of a child that could ruin him. In response, he ordered the killing of all male babies under two years of age in Bethlehem.2 As we know, his plan failed in much the same way as the pharaoh of Egypt’s.
Throughout history, legends of those who choose to murder children are infamous. Bloody Mary Worth was rumored to have killed her own children. La Llorona, a spirit from a Mexican legend, also chose to murder her children. It is fairly common to find stories like these centered around a theme of dysfunctional love -- where a parent kills a child to spare them a difficult fate. It is a way of showing us how distorted obsessive love can become. In Star Wars, we see this same kind of thing, knowing that Anakin did all the things he did in the name of love. Perhaps the La Llorona story is particularly haunting in the context of Anakin’s tale because, in the end, she is condemned to wander searching for her lost children. This strikes a chord with Anakin fans because, as a disfigured Vader, he is similarly condemned to just such a half-existence.
Another famous murderer of her own children was the Greek wife Medea. Her situation differs from Bloody Mary and La Llorona in that she killed largely to get back at her husband. Where Medea murdered her own children, though, Anakin murdered other children to save his own. Though the stories are only vaguely similar, Medea’s story shares several common themes with the tale of Anakin.3 Both believe they are betrayed by those they love: Medea by her husband; Anakin by the Jedi. Both are passionate and given to impulsive acts that were motivated by anger or rage. Both are willing to sacrifice everything in the name of achieving their goals and both are doomed to exile for their crimes.4
It is true that myths are based upon the cultures which crafted them. To put it simply, many ancient cultures lacked the same respect for infant life that we have today. Infanticide was commonplace in Egypt, China, Scandanavia, Africa, Native America, India and others.5 In particular, Roman law gave the father the power of life and death over his children until that law was abolished and replaced it with the right to sell newborns into slavery.6
When we leave the realm of myth, which may or may not be based in fact, and cross into verifiable history, we find that it is full of accountings where innocent children -- as well as adults -- are killed so that rulers can gain or maintain power. The Huns, the Roman legions, the Crusaders, the Muslim sultans...all showed no mercy to any who stood in their path. Colonial Europeans killed millions of Africans to secure land. Even in North America, the policy of Manifest Destiny led to the killing of native peoples as settlers moved inland and took possession of the Louisiana Purchase. Perhaps the most blatant and horrific modern examples of genocide were the Nazi regime’s attempt to eliminate the Hebrew people and Stalin’s purge of the Soviet nations. Both had the distinction of casualties numbering in the millions, and, though not specifically focused on the eradication of children, it is true that many of those killed were children. Each time in history, the theme was the same: wipe out those who are a threat to the rulers who wish to secure power and/or position.
This lust for control and influence was most definitely the primary motivation behind Palpatine’s order to Darth Vader to kill every single Jedi. As he put it, failure to eliminate them to the last man would’ve resulted in endless civil war.
Some extreme fan reactions have people insisting that Anakin/Vader is no better than a serial killer. I don’t think that is a fair comparison. Let’s take, for example, the individual that many historians label the predecessor of today’s modern serial killer.
The Baron Gilles de Rais was an aristocrat, soldier and national hero in 13th Century France.7 He was later accused of, confessed to, and ultimately convicted for murdering potentially hundreds of children. J. K. Huysmans story, Là-bas, chronicles an author trying to write about Baron de Rais. In it, he faces the same dilemma we face when regarding Anakin’s transformation into Vader. "The great difficulty, you see, is to explain how this man, who was a brave captain and a good Christian, all of a sudden became a sacrilegious sadist and a coward. Metamorphosed over night, as it were.”8
In life, De Rais was described as “all that we imagine is required of the great knight in the age of chivalry: He was tall and handsome; he was skilled at arms, devoted, loyal, passionate and devout.”9 It could easily be said that Anakin shared all of these traits and that he was considered by much of the galactic populace to be the epitome of Jedi Knighthood.
But it is there that the similarities end. De Rais’s motives were that of a typical serial killer. He was calculating and cold blooded, motivated to kill to fulfill perverse desires. He took great joy in ending the lives of his victims. Although the young Vader was willing to do whatever his master asked, he did not kill for selfish pleasure. His primary motivation was to save the life of his wife. Interesting to note is that both men had outside influences urging them to commit their awful crimes. For Gilles, it was an Italian named Prelati who convinced him that the blood of children had high worth to demons.10 For Anakin, it was Palpatine.
I will not compare these two men in any other but these surface qualities because I believe that is where their similarities end. Revenge of the Sith makes it clear Anakin did not kill for joy or for personal satisfaction. In the novelization he is described as melancholy during his assault on the temple.11 To put it simply, he killed for the same reason he had done every other thing he’d ever done in his life: out of duty. He did not torture his victims. He dispatched each one quickly and efficiently. The film supports this, specifically the introspection scene where Vader, his cheeks tear streaked, looks out on the Mustafar lava beds. If anything, it appears he was the one tortured by his own actions.
In all of this, there is one psychological point worthy of noting. The early years of Anakin’s life on Tatooine were harsh. He was a slave, and as such most likely had to endure -- or watch others endure -- violence as a form of punishment. Dr. David Bakan, a psychologist specializing in behavioral sciences, has this to say about children who observe acts of violence: “The child who is witness to adult violence also quite rightly asks himself why he may not use violence in order to make other people behave in accordance with his wishes.” And goes on to say, “All he lacks is power. And as soon as he gets it, he takes it as right that he should use it. Thus he uses violence on the next generation of children, and so on.”12 Thus, where a Jedi raised solely in the temple might never have been tempted to violence, it is within the realm of possibility that Anakin, especially in his new guise as a Sith apprentice, would be susceptible in this area.
Now that the precedent for the “slaughter of the innocents” has been established in mythology and history, we can see where Lucas most likely drew his inspiration. From here, we need to consider Anakin’s motivations and whether or not they ring true. A number of fans still state that they don’t understand how Anakin, upon becoming Vader, so easily acquiesced to Palpatine’s order to kill everyone -- including the children -- in the temple.
Simply put, in Anakin’s overcrowded mind, the Jedi have betrayed everything they taught him by plotting to overthrow the republic and the chancellor. He believes they are the ultimate hypocrites. They’ve refused to make him a master despite the amazing scope of his powers and abilities. They are withholding secrets from him, such as the one he so desperately needs to keep his beloved wife from dying. He is fraught with considerable frustration and emotional conflict. Add to this, the unconditional acceptance Palpatine offered him, as well as the unlimited power of the Sith and the newborn realization that all other beings are pathetically weak. These things gel into the potential for the violence that Lucas showed us.
If that weren’t enough, there is the fact that Sith and Jedi are mortal enemies. They share a “kill or be killed” relationship. Their philosophies are so diametrically opposed that each believes they cannot coexist. Anakin’s initial reaction upon realizing Palpatine is the Sith Lord was a simple and direct “I will kill you!” to which Palpatine replied “For what?” Anakin’s answer is equally direct: “You’re a Sith Lord!”13 In other words, they only have to exist to draw the wrath of the Jedi. Mace Windu reacted much the same way to Anakin’s plea to intercede on Palpatine’s behalf. He replied that the Sith was “too dangerous to be left alive.”14 The idea is further reinforced when Obi-Wan pleads with Yoda not to be made to kill Anakin. Yoda replies that he must, “Out of this misery, you must put him.”15
This theme is carried through the original Star Wars trilogy. Jedi and Sith have only to meet to draw lightsabers. When Obi-Wan meets with Vader on the Death Star, there is no thought of not fighting and it is clear that one will be struck down before the duel ends; likewise with Luke and Vader in The Empire Strikes Back. When Obi-Wan explains to Luke that there is a path he must take Luke understands what he is being told to do. He replies unequivocally “I can’t kill my own father.” This attitude is uniquely Luke’s in relation to the Sith because where the traditional Jedi are concerned, redemption for a dark lord never enters the equation.
Likewise, the Sith feel the Jedi must be destroyed. Sidious tells Anakin “Do not hesitate. Show no mercy. Leave no living creature behind.”16 Of course, the first priority of the Sith is to destroy their sworn enemy, but it could be that Palpatine’s purpose is multi-layered. Simply put, he wished to test the loyalty of his new apprentice. He gave Anakin the most difficult order he could have: to go into his former home and kill all of his Jedi “family.” The Jedi, as traitors to the Republic, had to be dealt with and the penalty for their treason was death. In his mind, there was no difference between Jedi adults and children. They all had to die to ensure the security of his hold over the republic.
Palpatine could easily have ordered an aerial strike on the Jedi Temple, or he could have sent the Clone Trooper Legion in without Vader leading it, but neither course of action would have assured him that his new apprentice truly would do anything he asked. He required two things of his protégé in order to, I believe, prove his loyalty. 1) Kill every Jedi in the temple -- including the younglings. In other words, erase your Jedi past and cement your future to mine. And 2) Be sure and kill your best friend and mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi. In Palpatine’s mind, if Anakin could do that then he was truly won over to the dark side. He needed to know the extent of Vader’s loyalty at that point and Vader knew this. To refuse would have brought certain death both for himself and...in the end...for Padmé.
Anakin had to follow Palpatine’s order. At that point he was out of choices. You don’t pledge loyalty and service to the Sith and then refuse the first order you are given. Had he refused, his new alliance with the Dark Side -- the one necessary to save his wife -- would have been over. In the final scene on Mustafar before Padmé arrives, we are never told outright the reason for Anakin’s tears. My suspicion is that he is reflective in those minutes, counting the cost of all he has done. Perhaps he is even mourning the loss of his own humanity.
The thing we had to know -- the thing that the scene with the children in the Jedi temple tells us -- is that the Dark Side is true evil and that it corrupts. We had to know how absolute that corruption was. We had to be shown that Anakin’s transformation into Vader was real and it was final. That he can’t ever go back. Killing children was the unredeemable act, meant to destroy any shred of sympathy we were feeling for Anakin. It breaks every tie Darth Vader had to the good man we knew as Anakin Skywalker.
I liken the Dark Side to a form of insanity. Once you start down that path, it takes hold of you and transforms your values. You “think inward, only about yourself” and everything else takes a back seat to getting what you want. The fact that Anakin slaughters children only underlines the instability of his ideology and his insanity. Think of the mentality a suicide bomber must surely have. He doesn’t care about anything except the fulfillment of the grander scheme of things. The goal, usually erasing his enemy from existence, must be met and carried out.
Numerous papers have been written on Campbellian themes in Star Wars. It is particularly notable that the Campbellian hero must fail. He must fall into a dark abyss, a place of damnation from which there seems to be no escape. For Anakin/Vader, I believe the slaughter of the innocents becomes that black hole, the stepping stone for worse evil deeds.
Lucas has said on many occasions that Star Wars is Anakin’s story. It is the story of how any man, even one destined for good, can make poor choices that place them in a situation that seems unforgivable. It is a story of how forgiveness is available through love, to even those who seem beyond redemption.
Most people argue that showing the killing of children was unnecessary. Perhaps from their perspective this is true, they did not need to see it to believe Anakin was truly evil. I believe it was necessary, but even if Lucas didn’t need to show us in quite such detail, I believe it serves another, perhaps higher, purpose. I believe it was a firm statement on the nature of repentance and true forgiveness.
Yes, Lucas could have had the clone troopers carry out the slaughter of the younglings, but without that one particular act, the enormity of Darth Vader’s redemption is trivialized. His salvation had to come from a place we didn’t think he could return from, a place we weren’t capable of going in order to bring him back. Only unconditional love, and a touch of the divine, could have accomplished such a thing. The “slaughter of the innocents” theme is included in Anakin’s journey to show us the extent of the miracle it took to bring Anakin back from the abyss and banish Darth Vader forever.
Dedicated to the fan discussions at TheForce.Net and at The Anakin Skywalker Homepage, who provided many insights and ideas that contributed to the content of this paper.
Works Cited:
1 The Bible. Exodus 1:15-16, 22
2 The Bible. Matt. 2:2-16
3 ClassicNotes on Medea. Themes. 1999-2006 GradeSaver LLC. http://www.gradesaver.com/classicnotes/titles/medea/themes.html
4 ClassicNotes on Medea. Summary. 1999-2006 GradeSaver LLC. http://www.gradesaver.com/classicnotes/titles/medea/shortsumm.html
5 Bakan, David. Slaughter of the Innocents: A Study of the Battered Child Phenomenon. Boston: Beacon Press. 1971. p. 30
6 Lee, R.W. The Elements of Roman Law. London: Sweet and Maxwell, 1956. p. 80
8 Huysmans, J. K. Là-bas, Ch. 4. Project Gutenberg. http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/14323
9 Wolf, Leonard. \ Bluebeard: the Life and Times of Gilles de Ray. Crown Publishers, Inc. New York. 1980. intro p. x
10 Wolf. p. 133
11 Stover, Matthew. Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. Ballantine Publishing Group, New York. 2005. p. 342
12 Bakan. pp. 115-16
13 Stover. p. 282
14 Stover. p. 334
15 Stover. p. 379
16 Stover. p. 340
