The Many Betrayals Of Anakin
I know what you're thinking, this is all about how many people Anakin betrayed. Anakin had his faults. He was arrogant, headstrong, angry and dangerous. He was also kind, curious, witty and loyal to a fault. I imagine he often felt like he was walking a line between the Jedi he should be and the passionate warrior he felt he was. Hiding in plain sight is hard. It takes a toll. It twists you in to two different people, as Anakin became. This post is not about how many people Anakin did wrong or hurt, but who hurt him. Who took advantage of Anakin's unwavering loyalty? Who pushed him further toward Vader?
In May, the group Finish The Clone Wars released a video called Jedi Deception. The video makes interesting points about Anakin's life as it pertains to the people around him. I highly encourage you to watch the video here as we take a look at a few highlights.
"How many other lies have I been told by the council?!
Some of the most obvious betrayals during TCW came from the council. The first involving a four episode arc beginning with Deception and ending with Crisis on Naboo. A bounty hunter is hired, unknowingly, by the council to kill Obi-Wan. They make sure it looks like he succeeds, and then Obi-Wan takes his form to get information about a possible assassination attempt on Palpatine. Anakin and Ahsoka watch Obi-Wan "die" and believe him to be dead for some time while he is under cover. When Anakin discovers Obi-Wan is alive, he is understandably furious. True, the council may have needed Anakin's reaction to pull it off, but he should have been told. Later, it appears Yoda realizes this and admits that they may have taken the wrong path.
"You've already made your decision! This meeting is just a formality!"
The second, and larger, council "oops" was in expelling Ahsoka from the Order so she could stand trial. Although Anakin wasn't purposefully kept in the dark, it was still an amazingly unfortunate move. (albeit one that probably saved Ahsoka's life by removing her from Anakin's side). He felt he could exonerate his Padawan, which he eventually did, and the council was jumping to conclusions. He lost his Padawan because of the council's actions.
"Do you know what I've become?"
Perhaps the greatest hurt Anankin experienced during the war was losing Ahsoka. We saw in Rebels, at the temple on Lothal, Ahsoka meditating. Anakin comes to her in a vision and accuses her of betraying him, leaving him. The implication is that if Ahsoka had stayed, he might not have been so angry. He might not have turned. I don't believe this is true. Anakin would have turned anyway and Ahsoka would have died in Order 66, probably by Anakin's own hand. Ahsoka couldn't stay under the rule of a council who didn't trust her. It was about her, not Anakin. In their last scene together at the temple, Anakin says he understands what it's like to want to leave. Ahsoka's words are "I know". She surely felt that he and Padme had a connection. This may have made it worse. Anankin believes he has just as much reason to walk away, but he isn't! She is. So, in his mind, she didn't just leave the Order. She abandoned him.
"I did it because I've come to realize what many people in the republic have come to realize. That the Jedi are the ones responsible for this war!"
There would have been no need for Ahsoka to be on trial if it weren't for Barriss Offee. Now a Jedi Knight, Barriss bombed the Jedi temple and killed many. Not only did she betray the entire Order, she hurt Anakin personally by framing his Padawan.
"I have seen that is the Jedi that will stand in the way of peace."
Remember those odd Mortis episodes? In this mythos-changing arc we see Anakin briefly turn to the dark side when the Son shows him his own future. The Son knew Anakin could control him, so his only option was to put Anakin under his thumb first. Luckily the Father could erase the memories and Anakin turns back. In the episode previous, the Son turns Ahsoka dark and uses her against Anakin, knowing he wouldn't kill his own student.
That guy was just loads of fun, wasn't he?
"You cannot deny your feelings Anakin. They are what make you special."
The largest and most obvious betrayal was Palpatine. Talk about playing a long game. He told Anakin what he wanted to hear, showed him favor, and gave him permission to dismiss the council at times. From the very beginning, he knew what Anakin could be. There could be no greater challenge than turning the Chosen One to the dark side. Little did he know that in doing so, he would seal his fate. Anakin was the Chosen One, right to the very end.
Anakin had his reasons, real or not, for turning to the dark side. We see the manipulations that may have led to his choice throughout the clone wars. You have to wonder, if things had gone a little differently...If that one person hadn't done that one thing; would Anakin have still been Vader?
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