Many fans of the original Star Wars trilogy accept a really hard time accepting the prequels as part of the overall story. There's many reasons why that is, and I hope to become into at to the lowest degree a couple of them. However, since in that location are so many aspects to discuss, I feel it is all-time to get in-depth into one criticism at a time and analyze whether each is a credible merits.

For now, I'd like to talk about the "tragic hero" theme of the prequels. To elaborate, inEpisode II andIII, the audition witnesses Anakin Skywalker going from beingness a Jedi Knight to becoming Darth Vader. After analyzing it, I take determined what the major flaw of this transition is: Anakin is non likeable.

Now, to explain why that is, I have to reference the very firstStar Warsmovie, now calledEpisode 4: A New Hope. While telling Luke nigh his father, Obi-Wan describes Anakin every bit a "…noble jedi…" who was "…seduced by the dark side…" The way Obi-Wan describes him, one gets the idea that Anakin was compassionate, loyal, and equally Ben puts it "a good friend." The problem with the prequels is that Anakin is portrayed as an angsty teenager. He acts equally if Obi-Wan is holding him back or asking likewise much of him, yet most of the scenes with them together, Obi-Wan is giving him very gentle communication like "…apply the force…" and "… think…" That can't even be called tough love. Information technology really makes Anakin look similar a niggling child who considers any criticism an attack towards him. Hell, even when Padme, inEpisode II, refers to him equally a "padawan," he gets irritated, and that's not even a criticism; that's just a argument of fact.

If these prequel movies wanted to exist consistent with the originals, they should have painted Anakin as someone who was actually noble. Now, don't go me wrong. I'1000 not saying that he tin can't have flaws, merely those flaws accept to be countered with positive character traits. Recall of Luke Skywalker from the originals. He may be impatient and stubborn at times, similar when Yoda trains him inEmpire Strikes Back,but he still has a good centre, high ambitions and a passion for hazard. Besides making him likable, this also makes Luke relatable. Anakin is just not similar that.

Furthermore, the fact that Anakin is not likeable is what keeps his story from being tragic, and it's also what keeps him from earning the title of the "tragic hero." At present, to illustrate this adjacent indicate I accept to talk aboutOedipus King. For those non familiar with the story, information technology'south the story of a human being who ends up marrying his mother and killing his father, but he has no idea that they are his parents, nor that they were married. Long story brusque, he finds out the truth at the finish of the story and gouges his own optics out every bit a form of catharsis. To explain, what makes Oedipus' story tragic is the fact that he never intends to impale his begetter or marry his mother. Equally a thing of fact, a prophecy says it will happen, and he leaves the town he grew up in to avoid whatsoever chances of killing his dad or marrying his mom. The problem is that he doesn't know he was adopted and as a result ends upwardly in the same city that his parents, the rex and queen, lives in.

Besides the fact that he has no control over the fate that overcomes him, Oedipus is also endlessly dedicated to find the murderer of the former king, that murderer existence himself. He has a strong belief in justice and cares securely almost his wife and his urban center, making him all the more admirable to the audience. Of course, what actually wins them over is the ending, when he gouges his eyes out, taking responsibility despite the fact that information technology actually wasn't his fault. That's what makes him a hero, and that'southward what makes his autumn tragic.

In contrast, Anakin doesn't encompass whatever of these elements. His fall isn't tragic, because his deportment aren't commendable. He slaughters an entire hamlet of sand people, killing children, and this is before he turns to the dark side. In one case he turns to the dark side, he continuous with his rampage past killing adolescent Jedi. At that place's just no mode to excuse that behavior and still requite him the fallen "noble" Jedi championship, specially when he doesn't change much from point to the other. In this style, Anakin's already evil behavior keeps his story from being a tragic one.

So in conclusion, the ultimate flaw of Anakin Skywalker's portrayal in theStar Wars prequels is that he's non a likable grapheme, and therefore his plow to the dark side lacks the tragedy that seems to be implied. I do realize that some people savour the prequels for things like lightsaber fights, but if the goal of the prequels was to show how the "noble" Anakin Skywalker turns to the nighttime side, and then the prequels clearly failed to accomplish that goal.