At the very end of Return of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker is able to finally rescue his father, Darth Vader, and bring him back from the dark side just before his death—revealing that he did still have a little bit of good in him, buried deep down.
In Revenge of the Sith, we learn why Darth Vader turned to the dark side: fear. Specifically, it was the fear of losing his wife, Padmé. Then, George Lucas had to show why, after failing to save her, he would remain with the Sith: because all those who gain power are afraid to lose it.
Questions about Fear (of Loss)
- Why does Anakin put so much stock in his bad dreams? Why do they make him so afraid?
- How does Padmé respond to Anakin's fear? Does she support him or dismiss his dread?
- Does Chancellor Palpatine fear losing his power? What does he do to prevent such a thing?
- Does the adage "those who gain power are afraid to lose it" apply to the Jedi, too?
Chew on This
Take a peek at these thesis statements. Agree or disagree?
A fear of losing Padmé was the only force strong enough to make Anakin switch to the dark side.
Anakin was headed toward the dark side no matter what; it was only a matter of time.