| From years of being a Jedi, Anakin's mind is controlled by the Jedi; so Anakin's desire for power is really his desire for freedom. Anakin longs for his spirit to be free of such suffocating control. Palpatine offers that freedom.
In Episode II, Anakin is young, fresh, and flows with all his feelings. Anakin is also honest and in touch with his feelings. In Episode III, Anakin stuffs his feelings and lies. Now Anakin is twisted and confused, but not by Palpatine but by the Jedi who oppress him. Padme adds to this oppression. Anakin feels like a man who aged tremendously. Anakin suddenly feels like a 40 year old in a 24 year old body. Anakin aged like some presidents do from being in that office. Anakin aged so shockingly fast. Unfortunately this is a story that could be easily renamed "Catch 22" if it weren't for the fact that that title has already been taken.
The hard transition from Anakin to Darth Vader is so emotionally and spiritually painful that even as the pre-helmeted Vader, Vader lashes out at Palpatine and sounds like Vader will ditch Palpatine and rule with Padme.
Anakin in Episode III is now absorbed by the Jedi. Anakin now stuffs his true feelings and has lost touch with them. Anakin convinces himself that he and Obi-Wan are friends, but his true feelings and self cry for Palpatine. By now the Jedi, especially Obi-Wan Kenobi, have total mind control of Anakin. Anakin's spirit is continually raped by Obi-Wan. This is why Anakin truly deeply hates Obi-Wan. This comes out strongly in the fateful light saber fight between Anakin and Obi-Wan. Anakin loses all capability for rational thought as he continually chases and lunges after Obi-Wan. When your spirit is continually bent and controlled by another, this creates a hatred of such uncontrolled rage that Anakin's temper was as hot as the lava around him. Obi-Wan is the biggest reason Anakin goes to the Dark Side because Anakin feels like a cat in a corner, desperate to free himself from the horrible grip of Obi-Wan; so when Palpatine offers the power of the Dark Side, Anakin smells freedom. And as the helmeted Vader, he gets it because Vader is the most powerful person in the galaxy next to Palpatine. Instead of bowing and scraping to many Jedi above him, Anakin as Vader only bows to Palpatine. This is the correct person to bow to since Palpatine represents (God) the Force in its judgment form. Palatine even implies this in the discussion at the opera scene.
|