Control: The Path to the Dark Side

Inspired by another student’s post, I wanted to further explore the connection between Star Wars and IMT. The original trilogy (A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi) tell a story that follows the pattern of The Hero’s Journey. The ubiquitous archetype chronicles a reluctant hero’s call to adventure and the tests he or she faces along the path. This pattern, first identified by Joseph Campbell, appears in countless stories throughout the history of mankind.

That being said, the Star Wars saga as a whole is not the tale of Luke Skywalker’s journey to defeat the evil Empire. It’s the story of Anakin Skywalker’s tragic downfall and final redemption. Anakin was a powerful Jedi, an inspiring leader, and a passionate person. He was however, an obvious Type C personality. He clung to his values and was fiercely uncompromising when fighting for them. The Jedi Code preaches neutrality and passiveness while Anakin was driven and impulsive. This ultimately led to his downfall.

After seeing visions of his pregnant wife’s death, Anakin became incredibly stressed. His biggest fear, being unable to save those close to him, had already been realized by the similarly-foreseen death of his mother. He came to Yoda, the Grand Master of the Jedi Council, who advised Anakin to use caution and patience when dealing with visions of the future. Unable to sit idly with uncertainties of his wife’s fate, Anakin sought a means to control life itself. Achieving this unimaginable power meant looking for counsel outside of the Jedi Order. Unbeknownst to Anakin, his trusted friend and mentor, Chancellor Palpatine, was a Sith Lord. Palpatine preyed on Anakin’s fears and used him to destroy the Jedi, end the Clone Wars, and create a new Galactic Empire.

It’s easy to recognize tenants of IMT at work during the events surrounding Anakin’s downfall (seen in Revenge of the Sith). His stresses, fears, and attempts at control ultimately brought about a period of darkness for an entire fictional galaxy. This is an unlikely outcome for most people’s shortcomings but it can certainly serve as an exaggerated waring.