Character: Anakin/Vader · 1:56am Jan 11th, 2016
Dear FIMFic,
So, I've been wanting to do a characterization blog series on several major characters who inspire me. Whether or not this works out in the end, we'll have to see how it's received. Anyway, here's something I hope you'll all enjoy.
Anakin Skywalker, a.k.a. Darth Vader.
Perhaps the most famous character to come from Star Wars, the legend has a fairly complex and tragic story that seems to either be beloved or hated. Believed to be the fulfillment of a vague prophecy, Anakin Skywalker had the hopes of the entire galaxy thrust upon him when he was just a boy. With a life of fighting and a gnawing fear lodged deep in his heart, Anakin pushed on through life, believing himself to be the one to bring balance back to the Force. Along the way, he created a father/brother figure in his master, Obi Wan Kenobi, fell in love with Padme, and developed a close friendship with Senator Palpatine, who later revealed himself to be Darth Sidious.
Then, perhaps, the worst thing imaginable befell this hero.
In a horrible twist of fate, Anakin lost everything dear to him in an attempt to hold onto them longer. With the deep seated fear in his heart twisting into a burning anger, he led the destruction of the Jedi and the Republic, raising an Empire from the shattered remains. Confronted by his wife and his former master, Anakin lashed out and was nearly destroyed in the ensuing battle, losing his limbs and, most of all, everyone he ever cared about. Padme died shortly after and the man known as Obi Wan Kenobi ceased to exist, replaced by a broken and sad Ben.
What was left of the once proud Anakin Skywalker gave itself up to the new persona of Darth Vader, enforcing an iron will with an iron fist across the galaxy.
We all know the story. We've heard it hundreds, if not thousands of times, but there's more there than just another retelling of a fallen hero. Anakin/Vader's story transcends the Star Wars universe, influencing stories and film well beyond the realm of science fiction. Pick up a copy of A Storm of Swords and see his echoes in the work of Lady Stoneheart, or watch Char Aznable, the Red Comet from the Gundam anime.
Catelyn Stark, better known as Lady Stoneheart
Char Aznable, the Red Comet of Zeon
Buried beneath all of them is a wounded warrior, someone who watched their life fall apart and limps on, determined to enforce their will by strength as long as they live. In their darkest hour, they found the courage to embrace the evil and killed off their former selves, truly following in the steps of Vader.
How, though, can Anakin Skywalker or Darth Vader influence something as innocent as My Little Pony? More importantly, how can you use his example to craft your own fallen hero?
First, it is important to understand your own reasons why a hero has fallen in the first place. It hindsight, Anakin could have easily avoided his fall and never given rise to Vader should he have listened to the council of the Jedi Masters and his wife. Everything could have been avoided by a just saying no, but as we often find out in our own lives, we don't know we've made the wrong choice until it's too late to go back. Think on your own life. Is there something you wish you could go back and fix?
There's where the start of your fallen hero begins. By imitating Anakin, character flaws like pride, arrogance or greed can easily lead to the hero's downfall. Your hero can still be good at heart, even believing he's doing the right thing, but he can say or do something stupid and learn the consequences reach farther than he could have possibly imagined. His fall doesn't even have to be his fault should he be a soldier, employee or under the command of someone manipulating him. In the end, though, he still brought the worst upon himself and now must face the music.
Secondly, you must decide how he copes with his fall. To most, losing everything means they do one of two things: they either lash out or withdraw. Anakin took the route where he tried to kill Padme and Obi Wan, using his anger at his worst fear coming true to try and bring an end to his suffering. There is nothing wrong with using this option, despite his declared love of those he turns on. How often have you felt anger towards those you consider friends and family, vowing you'd never forgive them? Humans are emotional beings, ruled by our desires for our perfect world, and often forget those we love when we're angry.
For a pointed example of this in My Little Pony, look at the history of Princess Luna. She and her sister fought to free their subjects from the rule of monsters like Discord and King Sombra, yet jealousy overtook her and she lashed out as Nightmare Moon, enforcing an endless night until her own sister dared to do the unthinkable: banish her kin for a thousand years. Luna was angry, just like Anakin, and tried to enforce her will for her perfect world through force, yet she is not hated by her subjects. She's tormented by the memories of what she did, much like Vader was, and she eventually came back.
Losing oneself to their emotions doesn't make the hero weak, it makes them human. Emotions mean they care, they're afraid and they don't know what else to do. How they cope with it leads to whether the hero becomes the villain or they abandon themselves to the past and forget.
Finally, how the hero ends up makes this tragedy either heartwarming or depressing. After all the pain, the fear, the anger and loss, where the hero stands after all is said and done makes the most profound statement about their fall. Do you remember where you were when the guilt set in about something you did? Did you cry, grit your teeth or apologize? Guilt is an emotion just like anger or joy, but it's probably what makes the hero the most sympathetic to the reader. Anakin clearly felt guilt once he began to reawaken from his time as Vader. The way he lowers his arm in defeat when Luke lets go of the platform in The Empire Strikes Back or the way he looks between his son and his master as Luke nears death in Return of the Jedi, it all shows he still is himself underneath the mask and suit.
Think about your hero now. Does he struggle to do what is necessary even though he knows better? Often times, even the most evil of men know what they've done is monstrous and their conscience torments them about it when they listen. Anakin was no different. Despite being the most feared man in the galaxy, he still could remember the words of Obi Wan and Padme, see the faces of his former friends and remember his training as a Jedi, yet he pressed on down the dark path, knowing there was no going back.
How, though, can all of this be implemented into My Little Pony?
One way to use this story for King Sombra, painting him as a proud prince, soldier or noble of the Crystal Empire who allowed a moment of greed to overwhelm his judgement, plunging him into the darkness. With his life in ruins from his foolishness, he retaliated in anger at the Empire he loved so much, seizing the throne by force and either killing or exiling his former friends. Wracked with grief for his actions, he gave himself up to the darkness and eventually ruled the Empire with an iron hoof, becoming the tyrant king.
However, that is just one example of how a fallen hero fits into Equestria. The story of Princess Luna and Nightmare Moon is another, but it could go as far to include ponies like Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and even Princess Celestia or Discord. All of them have something at stake they could lose in a mere moment of foolishness, ruining their lives forever and turning them into a mirror image of Anakin/Vader.
Whether the hero recovers from the fall or not is entirely up to you, though. We know the story of Vader and how he killed the Emperor to save his son, probably also as atonement for what he did as Anakin, but when his story ended, he died a redeemed hero. Not all heroes come back from after their fall, though, and that does not make an unsatisfying conclusion. Sometimes, there's no escaping the fate one has built for himself and he must soldier on further into the darkness.
Still, the Dark Lord of the Galactic Empire is present even within the world of Equestria and FIMFiction. There's always flaws that lead us down dark paths and emotions that rule our lives. Our pain at our failures is personified in him and, should we follow his example, our writing. With that in mind, let's not forget there's always hope, too. No one is without it, and sometimes, it's all we have to hold on to when the darkness presses in on us.
Perhaps, even, a new hope.
RD in my opinion could easily fall into the Darth Vader category a bit more then the other Elements due to her pride and her over willingness to protect her home and loved ones.
3678198
Very true. Perhaps there's an interesting story idea within that?
3678244 Perhaps.
AHA!
I see what you did there!
In all seriousness, this is well-thought and well-written.
Bravo, good sir.
Very nice blog, here. It's definitely a good way we can take the Fall and apply it to our own fallen heroes.
3680001
I see your point, and I see that some feel that Anakin's "fall" wasn't given justice.
I was just referring to the amount of thought that Comet Burst put into writing this, i.e. you can really feel it.
>>Abcron
I tell my friends this all the time. The prequels had some good ideas that were very poorly executed. The definitive moment of Anakin's fall is slightly heroic because he is trying to save somebody's life when he does so, but he ultimately does it for selfish reasons. When Mace Windu wants to kill Palatine to ensure that he doesn't escape, by the Jedi Code that is the wrong thing to do, but he's motivated by keeping the galaxy safe. There is an interesting duality where Mace Windu is doing the wrong thing for the right reason while Anakin is doing the right thing but for the wrong reason. That is why falling to the dark side is so easy, in that moment both of them would have committed a dark side act.
Ugh moralities. While I complet agree with you on this post, if I go into detail my opinion, I will rant (and I believe I told you my method of replying, I'll loose half of my rant in the process) But best example of fallen hero? I don't know, (new version) Two face (love that movie), Vader, (mythological) Loki (though I guess marvel too), Primarch Horus of the Luna Wolves/Son's of Horus. Yeah, all of these fall under what you said. Preach on dear comet. (Write on too.)
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