Darth Vader's Psychological Profile
Alex K.
Ms. Fitzgibbons
Adv. Psychology-C
October 31, 2011
A Psychological Analysis of the Character of Darth Vader The Star Wars franchise has enlightened us about visions of the possible future; from flying cities to powerful weapons that can destroy entire planets. The mystical Jedi, the guardians of the Galactic Republic and users of the light side, fighting the Sith, evil warriors of cunning and treachery who use the dark side, both of whom wield the Force, an interconnecting of all living things, set up the back-story to this space epic. However, the one character that has been given the most depth is, the one that the movie series chooses to focus on: Darth Vader. “More machine than man, twisted and evil” (Episode VI), Vader, formerly known as the Jedi Anakin Skywalker, “turned to the dark side, believing that it was the only way to save his wife from death” (Anakin Skywalker). He defended the evil then-Chancellor of the Republic, Palpatine, from a Jedi attack, betraying his Jedi brethren, and helping the Sith. “By giving in to his darkest nature, Anakin Skywalker had become Darth Vader. At Palpatine’s command, he led a[n]… assault on the Jedi Temple, slaughtering hundreds, including even the youngest students” (Wallace 82). Palpatine, now crowned the Imperial Emperor, had all Jedi executed for treason, and few escaped the wrath of the Empire. However, Skywalker’s former mentor, Obi- Wan Kenobi, “faced his former apprentice in battle. The battle left both combatants bruised and exhausted, but in the end Obi-Wan maimed Anakin…” (Wallace 84). “Emperor Palpatine’s surgical droids rebuilt Darth Vader, and his ebony skull mask reflected the darkness of the spirit within. Encased forever in a walking coffin, his every wheezing breath in pure agony, Darth Vader was doomed to live that Padmé (his wife) had died… He, Vader, had killed the only thing he had loved” (Wallace 84). It was at this point that Palpatine kept Vader “constantly on the
Ms. Fitzgibbons
Adv. Psychology-C
October 31, 2011
A Psychological Analysis of the Character of Darth Vader The Star Wars franchise has enlightened us about visions of the possible future; from flying cities to powerful weapons that can destroy entire planets. The mystical Jedi, the guardians of the Galactic Republic and users of the light side, fighting the Sith, evil warriors of cunning and treachery who use the dark side, both of whom wield the Force, an interconnecting of all living things, set up the back-story to this space epic. However, the one character that has been given the most depth is, the one that the movie series chooses to focus on: Darth Vader. “More machine than man, twisted and evil” (Episode VI), Vader, formerly known as the Jedi Anakin Skywalker, “turned to the dark side, believing that it was the only way to save his wife from death” (Anakin Skywalker). He defended the evil then-Chancellor of the Republic, Palpatine, from a Jedi attack, betraying his Jedi brethren, and helping the Sith. “By giving in to his darkest nature, Anakin Skywalker had become Darth Vader. At Palpatine’s command, he led a[n]… assault on the Jedi Temple, slaughtering hundreds, including even the youngest students” (Wallace 82). Palpatine, now crowned the Imperial Emperor, had all Jedi executed for treason, and few escaped the wrath of the Empire. However, Skywalker’s former mentor, Obi- Wan Kenobi, “faced his former apprentice in battle. The battle left both combatants bruised and exhausted, but in the end Obi-Wan maimed Anakin…” (Wallace 84). “Emperor Palpatine’s surgical droids rebuilt Darth Vader, and his ebony skull mask reflected the darkness of the spirit within. Encased forever in a walking coffin, his every wheezing breath in pure agony, Darth Vader was doomed to live that Padmé (his wife) had died… He, Vader, had killed the only thing he had loved” (Wallace 84). It was at this point that Palpatine kept Vader “constantly on the
Cited: "Anakin Skywalker." Wookieepedia, the Star Wars Wiki. N.P., Oct. 29, 2011Web. 29 Oct. 2011. Perry, Steve. Star Wars: Shadows of the Empire. New York: Bantam, 1996. Print. Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope. Dir. George Lucas. Perf. Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing, and Alec Guinness. Twentieth-Century Fox Corp., 1977. Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. Dir. George Lucas. Perf. Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, and Frank Oz. Twentieth-Century Fox Corp., 1980. Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Dir. George Lucas. Perf. Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, and Frank Oz. Twentieth-Century Fox Corp., 1983. Wallace, Daniel, and Kevin J. Anderson. Star Wars: The New Essential Chronology. New York: Del Rey, 2005. Print. ----------------------- Insert the light side dark side stuff with the other details about them- The mystical Jedi, guardians of the Republic and users of the Light side”- feels tacked on at the end of the sentence You seem to be over-quoting. Use quotes only when you couldn’t say it better yourself (and then only sparingly), otherwise just paraphrase and cite the source. Pretty good. much of it seems to be random background- only provide background information when it is relevant to your point. Details such as the entire plot of the original trilogy are unnecessary; say only the things that will help your reader understand what you are saying about his personality. Example: eliminate the part about the Rebels going to Hoth- there wasn’t a mention of Vader at all, and it really wasn’t that important to him.