Author Topic: Palpatine characterization thread: UP FOR ADOPTION!
LLL 
Title: TFN Fan Fiction Archive Editor
Registered: Jul '00
47085_2008 Winter Holidays
Date Posted: 3/1/05 5:25pm Subject: Palpatine characterization thread: UP FOR ADOPTION! - Date Edited: 1/25/08 11:45pm (81 edits total) Edited By: The_Face
EDIT: Palpatine story index begins at the bottom of this first post.

Are there any other Palpatine groupies out there?? Do you have trouble understanding him or writing a convincing representation?

Who is he? Where did he come from? Is he completely evil, or is he a "real person" like Anakin Skywalker? Has he ever been in love? CAN he love? Who cares??

I do. I'm trying to write an audio drama that heavily features Palpatine, and I've been out of the SW universe for a while. And anyway, since May will be the SW swan song, I'm going to enjoy Palpy's last hurrah as fully as possible ... that means with a few fellow writer fans.


In progress: PALPATINE STORY INDEX
Know any good Palpy stories? PM me! I'll sort them as more are added. Fics starred are personally recommended by the archivist.


Drama

Title: The Bargain
Author: leiamoody
Genre: Crossover, Angst, Borderline Horror
Timeframe: Before ROTS
Crossover With: Hellraiser
Characters: Palpatine (wearing his Palpy face), Pinhead (wearing his Cenobite face)
Summary: The corrupted come together and make a deal for one who is corruptible. Or, Leviathan's chief handy demon walks into Palpatine's office and...
Author Notes: Pinhead is the creative bad news baby of Clive Barker.
Archivist comment: *raises Spock eyebrow* Fascinating.

Title: When All Around Has Fallen
Author(s):CodyMonKenobi
Timeframe:ROTSish
Characters:Palpatine, Anakin/Vader
Genre: Songfic.
Summary:Palpatine tries to seduce Vader.

Title: Mortal Instruments
Author: leia_naberrie
Genre: Alternate Reality. Short story.
Characters: Palpatine. Padmé. (for now).
Summary: Snippets from the life of Padmé Naberrie, ward of Palpatine.

His Ultimate Punishment
Authors: sabarte and LLL
Genre: PT era, drama, missing scene
Characters: Sidious, Dooku
Summary: After the events of _Dark Rendezvous_, what induced Count Dooku to pass up the chance to kill Sidious, and to remain so loyal to him until the end of his life? How did Sidious get him back? (How did Dooku survive his master's wrath?!) Sidious and his apprentice settle their differences in mortal combat.

Often Grows the Wolf
Author: sabarte
Genre: AU, begins in 73BBY.
Characters: Qui-Gon, Dooku, Yoda, supporting cast of Jedi, and a somewhat ... different Palpatine.
Summary: Qui-Gon changed the galaxy on Naboo. Now a Jedi Knight, he means to take on a deadlier challenge. A series of vignettes over thirteen years tracing the Jedi training of a Sith apprentice.

*Title: The Man Who Would Be Emperor
Author: leia_naberrie
Characters: Palpatine. "Other." devil
Timeline: RotS AU.
Genre: Thriller.
Summary: As the Senate dome burns, the would-be Emperor celebrates alone. But not for long.

*There is No Death, There is Immortality
Author: Bale
Very short. Groovy speculation on the origins of Palpatine!

Title: Alive
Author: Brentus
Characters: Palpatine, his mother and his Master
Time Frame: Palpatine is a boy of six and then ten
Genre: Songfic
located here

*Title: Choices
Author: Brentus
Characters: Dark Leia, Palpatine, Luke, Mara, Han, Ben, OCs
Time Frame: Around ESB
Genre: Angst/Drama/some horror
located here

Title: It was I ...
Author: darth_shockwave
Genre: AU, PT, viggie
Characters: Palpatine, Padme`
Summary: Padme` survives the purge and is confronted by a gloating Palpatine.

Title: Revelations
Author: Hananiah
Genre: AU, PT, viggie
Characters: Anakin, Palpatine, Padme`
Summary: A brief flash of AU in which Palpatine is responsible for the death of Obi-Wan ... and Anakin finds him out.

Title: Palpatine: The Final Scene
Author: Rivus Palpatine
Era: Saga
Characters: Palpatine, Luke, Vader
Summary/archivist's notes: Palpatine's death scene in ROTJ from Palpatine's point of view. Very very very very very close to the movie.

*Title: Perspectives
Author: BrentusofGath
Genre: Drama
Time Frame: ANH
Characters: All Palps but references to Bail and Mothma
Summary: Palpatine's diary as he brings the Death Star online. A prelude to "Choices" by the same author.

*Title: The Defendant's Pleading
Author: Darth Kripp
Timeframe: End of RotJ
Genre: AU, General
Characters: Luke Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine
Summary: The Emperor has thought of another strategy to turn Luke to the Dark Side without Vader's assistance, in a much different way. Believe it or not, it's a courtroom drama.

Title: Mirror, mirror, on the wall ...
Author(s): Kyana-Morgaine
Timeframe: ROTS
Characters: Palpatine
Genre: drama?
Summary: A little one shot: Palpatine just after the fight with Mace Windu.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Author: LLL
I took it upon myself to attempt a voluntary redemption of Palpatine. If you were going to stop the Jedi Massacre dead in its tracks and turn two Sith Lords to the light without firing a shot, what would it take?
Characters: Palpatine, Anakin, Valorum, OC, and ... Dooku!
-Saga Story of the Month (April 2006)
-Winner, fan fiction category, 2006 Hollywood Book Festival
-Entered in the International Peacewriting Award competition. "In the case of your book, that it cannot be published was the decisive factor. The book itself is a remarkable achievement."
-- PeaceWriting International Writing Awards, 2007. No joke.



Humor

Title: Luke Skywalker, hero? Don't make me laugh!
Author: padawan lunetta
(Palpatine's side of the story, short, humor, from Palpy's POV.)

Title: The End of Emperor Palpatine
Author: Gabri Jade
Timeframe: inter-trilogy
Characters: Palpatine, Vader, Mara Jade
Genre: vignette, humor
Summary: Palpatine meets his end in a most unexpected way.

Title: The Once and Future Sith Lord
Author: Jaya Solo
Timeframe: Pre-TPM through RotJ
Characters: Palpatine
Genre: Dark Humor
Summary: Do you dare know the thoughts of the once and future sith lord? A Palpatine blog.

Title: The Day Palpy's Bunny Died
Author: JENNA
Characters: Palpy, Vadey
Timeframe: Sometime after ROTS
A viggie with a short prequel.

**Title: Purple Palate Politicians
Author: Persephone_Kore
Timeframe: Padmé's childhood, about 42 BBY
Characters: Padmé Naberrie Amidala, Palpatine, minor appearances from Sola Naberrie, Jubal Naberrie, and Anakin Skywalker
Genre: Humor
Keywords: silliness, sugar
Summary: Padmé's first meeting with Senator Palpatine, at a family party.
Archivist's Note: Double stars for this one! Priceless!! Needs to be made LFL Canon!

Palpatine Haiku
Author: Anakin Starkiller
*pretty funny!

I Hate Prettyboys
Author: VaderLVR64
Charming humorous soliliquy from Palpy about his difficulties with the Chosen One.
Some bonus "SW Personal Ads" at the end!

The New Darth
Author: Amidalachick
Unfinished but cute. Sidious locates Dooku via personal ad.

Mr. Palpatine's School of Evil
Author: livejedi
crossover fic.


**Title: "The Lightsaber up his Sleeve"
(Later: "The Imperial Lightsaber up his Sleeve")
Subtitle: The Saber wasn’t secure enough
Author: Palpy560
Characters (Major Players): Palpatine, Count Dooku, General Grievous, Yoda, Obi-wan, Anakin, Padme and Mace.
Summary: What would happen if Palpatine dropped his Lightsaber? This Screw ball comedy takes our heroes and villains to situations of anger, hatred, love, lust, bickering, sorrow and baked goods.
Type: Humor (insane comedy and silliness)
Note: You can't miss this one, it's a SCREAM!


A Walk Down Memory Lane: Remember all those old Palpatine/Sidious speculation fics?

Soul's Death, Emperor's Birth
Author: _JM_
Characters: Palps, Sidious
Sidious kills Palpatine and assumes his identity, a specfic from April '04.

Final Hour
Author: Obi-Wan21
Characters: Palps, Yoda, Obi-Wan
'04 specfic about the final battle of the heads of the two Orders.

Title: A Dark Revelation
Author: wald0
Characters: Palpatine, Sidious (presented as two different people)
Summary: Palpidious speculation fic from 2003.

Title: Dream Epiphany -- the motivation behind Palpatine's plans to rule the galaxy
Author: Ben-Max
Characters: Palpatine, Maul

And last, but most certainly not least: The few ... the proud ...

Palpatine love stories! shock

Yes, a few brave souls have done it. In no particular order ...


Title: Songfic: Lost Love
Author: jacen200015
Sad, haunting, and mysterious.

*Title: In the Shadows of the Ivory Tower
Author: Gandalf the Grey
Summary: Thirty years before the Phantom Menace, the fate of the galaxy hangs in the balance. Adrik Palpatine is torn between Light and Darkness, between the Sith Lord he respects and admires and the Jedi Knight who he loves. His choices will shape the course of the future for decades to come. The untold story of the origins of the most brilliant and evil villain of the galaxy far, far away, told in his own words.

Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
Author: LLL
I took it upon myself to attempt a voluntary redemption of Palpatine. If you were going to stop the Jedi Massacre dead in its tracks and turn two Sith Lords to the light without firing a shot, what would it take?
Characters: Palpatine, Anakin, Valorum, OC, and ... Dooku!
-Saga Story of the Month (April 2006)
-Winner, fan fiction category, 2006 Hollywood Book Festival
-Entered in the International Peacewriting Award competition. "In the case of your book, that it cannot be published was the decisive factor. The book itself is a remarkable achievement."
-- PeaceWriting International Writing Awards, 2007. No joke.

Title: Wife of Deceit
Author: Darth Ishtar
Genre: Angst/Romance
Timeframe: 3 months pre-TPM to post-ROTS
Characters: Palpatine, Original Characters
Summary: The story of the woman who was Palpatine's First Lady.

Title: Frozen Blossom
Author(s): Kyana-Morgaine
Timeframe: Between Epi I to II
Characters: Padme Amidala/ Palpatine and a few others
Genre: Romantic, Drama
Keywords: Padme; Palpatine; Anakin S.
Summary: Padme Amidala takes her first steps onto the political floor in the senate. She falls in love, but the lucky one isn't Anakin, but an old friend...

*Title: Choices
Author: Brentus
Characters: Dark Leia, Palpatine, Luke, Mara, Han, Ben, OCs
Time Frame: Around ESB
Genre: Angst/Drama/some horror
located here
(Hate to divulge plot details like this, but this one does belong down here!)

*Title: Forbidden Rendezvous
Author: Jade_Max
Timeframe: Several months Pre-AotC (AU, Padmé returned to Coruscant briefly before AotC) to the beginning of AotC (canon)
Characters: Palpatine/Corde`
Nice little vig.

For Palpatine stories with content not suitable for TFN, a C2 exists on fanfiction.net with the title Senator ... Emperor ... SITH.

 

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--Natalie Portman.
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Kynstar 
Registered: Mar '04
24172_Count Dooku
Date Posted: 3/1/05 5:33pm Subject: RE: OK, I'm starting it ... PALPATINE CHARACTER DISCUSSION THREAD!!!
Hey sweet! The Emp/Chanc/Palps thread! dancing grin Glad to know there is somebody else out there too! grin

Dunno about you but I'm enjoying Palps pre OT movies! Man him being so conniving and manipulating. It's juz sweeeet!

 

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Member of Rebel Legion and Jedi Assembly (Kynstar Lans)
Only thru fear, hatred, and pain will the true power of the Force be revealed.
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Ace_Venom 
Registered: Sep '02
42086_Cade Skywalker
Date Posted: 3/1/05 5:35pm Subject: RE: OK, I'm starting it ... PALPATINE CHARACTER DISCUSSION THREAD!!!
Old Palpy gets his due. We shall not pay the price for our lack of vision.

Anyhoo, Palpy seems real enough on screen to me. Very cunning and manipulative, he is.

 

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LLL 
Title: TFN Fan Fiction Archive Editor
Registered: Jul '00
47085_2008 Winter Holidays
Date Posted: 3/1/05 5:37pm Subject: RE: OK, I'm starting it ... PALPATINE CHARACTER DISCUSSION THREAD!!!
I hate that he is presented as a cardboard villian. Powerful and smart, yes, but cardboard just the same. Anakin has depth. Palpatine is there just to make the story go, so he has NO depth.

I want to fill him in and make him complex and human.

 

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''Overall, to get a real deep, nuanced understanding of human behaviour, art is the best way.''
--Natalie Portman.
Have a question or suggestion for the Archive? PM me anytime. happy
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Herman Snerd 
Registered: Oct '99
6234_GNK droid
Date Posted: 3/1/05 5:45pm Subject: RE: OK, I'm starting it ... PALPATINE CHARACTER DISCUSSION THREAD!!!
Palp-ster has no apparent depth because he does everything he can to seem present himself as a schmoozing politician rather than the scheming uber-genius villain that he is.

As a politician he appears to bow to the will of others. As a Sith Lord, he sends his apprentices out to do his work for him.

Meanwhile, he sits back and smiles as his plans come together.

 

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Idrelle_Miocovani 
Title: Solar Power loving Scattergories Hostess
Registered: Feb '05
22182_Kyp and Jaina
Date Posted: 3/1/05 5:45pm Subject: RE: OK, I'm starting it ... PALPATINE CHARACTER DISCUSSION THREAD!!!
Ooh, yay, finally a Palpy thread. happy

^I agree, LLL, he usually is the carboard villain. Ugh. He deserves to have depth and character. Gie reason for his evilness. Mwhaha.

 

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"Can I just run by my battle cry?"
"As you run, as you fight the evil Lord Vader—"
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LLL 
Title: TFN Fan Fiction Archive Editor
Registered: Jul '00
47085_2008 Winter Holidays
Date Posted: 3/1/05 6:35pm Subject: RE: OK, I'm starting it ... PALPATINE CHARACTER DISCUSSION THREAD!!!
Discussion Question #1:

What has been your biggest problem in writing Palpatine?

I did this with Palpatine: Went around to several appropriate message boards and asked people the question: Is Palpatine human? The responses I got indicated that most people think of him as a real person, like you or I, rather than a figment of the Force or just the embodiment of evil. But when I asked if there was anything redeemable about him or if anyone wanted to see him redeemed, a'la Anakin Skywalker, the responses were overwhelmingly negative. People don't seem willing to accept much evidence of any good in old Palps.

So my biggest challenge in writing him is to present softer evidence that humanizes him and makes him sympathetic, enough to move or intrigue but not so much that people can't/won't accept it.

For instance, the drama I'm working on now. I'd like to imply that Palpatine USED to be very attached to someone and that his Sithly life has caused him to choose between other attachments and his destiny as a Sith ... and that although he did make the latter choice, it was with a heavy heart at times. But how to intrigue ppl instead of turning them off? THAT is the question!

 

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''Overall, to get a real deep, nuanced understanding of human behaviour, art is the best way.''
--Natalie Portman.
Have a question or suggestion for the Archive? PM me anytime. happy
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JalendaviLady 
Registered: Nov '02
40044_Padme and Vader
Date Posted: 3/1/05 6:39pm Subject: RE: OK, I'm starting it ... PALPATINE CHARACTER DISCUSSION THREAD!!! - Date Edited: 3/1/05 6:46pm (1 edits total) Edited By: JalendaviLady
I've tried to create a backstory for Palpatine in my fics (the big long interconnected AU series). He's got the Sith 'we will have our revenge' thing going on towards the Jedi, but he's also got issues with the rest of the galaxy. Basically, because of a long chain of events long since passed into legend for most beings not in his family he thinks that he is owed the galaxy. Literally.

I suppose he is a bit of a tragic figure in the total arc of the series, because he chose to interpret things that way and let his mind get warped around the past. He was born in a comfortable position in a matriarchy where his mother was the leader of his entire people (he's human, but wasn't born within the realm of Republic control). He had several kids at several points in his life, all of whom ran away or were discarded at various ages. He could have had a very comfortable life, but he chose to decide that the galaxy owed him for offenses incurred before the Republic was even formed.

 

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Hold Your Head High (pre-TPM OC vignette) http://boards.theforce.net/before_the_saga/b10475/28694279/p1/?0
Signs of Life, Chapter 37 now up http://boards.theforce.net/Beyond_the_Saga/b10477/15114788
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Kynstar 
Registered: Mar '04
24172_Count Dooku
Date Posted: 3/1/05 6:44pm Subject: RE: OK, I'm starting it ... PALPATINE CHARACTER DISCUSSION THREAD!!!
For instance, the drama I'm working on now. I'd like to imply that Palpatine USED to be very attached to someone and that his Sithly life has caused him to choose between other attachments and his destiny as a Sith ... and that although he did make the latter choice, it was with a heavy heart at times.

Ohhhh I'll look forward to that one then for sure! I juz mainly write him as a schemer/planner and manipulater for sure.

In my fic that I'm doing currently - he's using a Jedi and unfortunately something 'good' is going to happen from it. Though that 'good' doesn't come into affect until end of RotS. Hehehehe oh well wink

I agree that he sits backs and let others do his work for him. Nothing wrong with that mischief and allow them to take the fall if there is one. *evil laugh*

 

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Member of Rebel Legion and Jedi Assembly (Kynstar Lans)
Only thru fear, hatred, and pain will the true power of the Force be revealed.
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dianethx 
Registered: Mar '02
47113_2008 Winter Holidays
Date Posted: 3/1/05 6:58pm Subject: RE: OK, I'm starting it ... PALPATINE CHARACTER DISCUSSION THREAD!!!
I've only written Palpy in one fic but I've written him as exceptionally manipulative and evil, cunning, patient and cruel. Seems to enjoy his 'work' by hurting and killing innocents for fun. Sort of like Caligula without the madness - much more dangerous and harder to catch.

However, I don't consider him as cardboard at all. I've meet people almost as manipulative in real life who seem to enjoy making other people unhappy for the sheer pleasure of it. And we have had truly horrible people running countries in the past who have killed millions.

I'm sure Palpy loved his mother until he killed her for gain...

 

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Betrayal - http://boards.theforce.net/s/b1/10935143 updated 9/22/08
Fragments of Illusion- http://boards.theforce.net/bts/b10475/28456473 updated 11/20/08
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pokey1984 
Registered: May '04
7931_Binary Sunset
Date Posted: 3/1/05 7:00pm Subject: RE: OK, I'm starting it ... PALPATINE CHARACTER DISCUSSION THREAD!!!
My biggest problem with wrting Palpatine is trying to figure out a why for anything. I can't figure out what he'd say or do b/c I don't know why he'd say or do it.

He just doesn't make any sense to except as a "card board villain." I'm glad to see this thread, maybe you all can help me figure this out. happy (we really need a [face_hopeful] I am always wanting to use it...)

 

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Burden of Choice - An Obi-Wan and Anakin story
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JediMaster_Jen 
Registered: Jun '02
42358_Jacen Solo
Date Posted: 3/1/05 7:05pm Subject: RE: OK, I'm starting it ... PALPATINE CHARACTER DISCUSSION THREAD!!!
Great discussion!! Glad to see other Palpy fans.


What has been your biggest problem in writing Palpatine?

The biggest problem I've had is the question asked below-is he human?

I think he is. Palpatine's evil comes from very human things, human emotions. He's greedy and he's arrogant. He doesn't do things just to do them, he has a purpose and a vision, for lack of a better term. That's what makes him so evil. I don't see him as a cardboard character with no depth. I don't necassarily think we need a back story for him to give him depth--his actions and the motivations behind them give him depth.

 

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Kynstar 
Registered: Mar '04
24172_Count Dooku
Date Posted: 3/1/05 7:10pm Subject: RE: OK, I'm starting it ... PALPATINE CHARACTER DISCUSSION THREAD!!!
Then at least we are all in agreement on one thing... he's evil laugh And it is great to see others talking here about Palps grin

I'm sure Palpy loved his mother until he killed her for gain...


You know diane I do wonder about that too wink Oh great comparison there too!

 

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dianethx 
Registered: Mar '02
47113_2008 Winter Holidays
Date Posted: 3/1/05 7:12pm Subject: RE: OK, I'm starting it ... PALPATINE CHARACTER DISCUSSION THREAD!!!
Hi Pokey.

As for why he would do this, in a word, power!

Some people gather money to protect them from the vageries of the world, some people gather friends, some gather possessions or blindness or silence.

And some gather power - to manipulate, to control, to be 'better' than anyone else. Some are obvious in their lust for power, others not. Palpy was the master manipulator and I think he enjoyed it very much. Just look at his face when Amidala told him she was returning to Naboo in TPM. The subtle change in his eyes (Ian did a great job with the role).

And even more so when you see him with Luke and Vader near the end of ROTJ - trying to make Luke turn, insulting his friends, pitting father against son. Classic control freak. And, because he had been ruler for so long, overconfident that he could manipulate Vader to the killing of his son.

 

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Betrayal - http://boards.theforce.net/s/b1/10935143 updated 9/22/08
Fragments of Illusion- http://boards.theforce.net/bts/b10475/28456473 updated 11/20/08
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Ace_Venom 
Registered: Sep '02
42086_Cade Skywalker
Date Posted: 3/1/05 7:14pm Subject: RE: OK, I'm starting it ... PALPATINE CHARACTER DISCUSSION THREAD!!!
Palpy is indeed human. We know his motives, but we really don't know why he has those motives. Problem with this is that he's not like Dooku or Skywalker. He was never a Jedi (quite obvious even without E3 Spoilers), so his turn to the darkness was nowhere near as dramatic as far as we know in the canon.

It's clear that Palpatine is the incarnation of the human desire to dominate.

 

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vader_incarnate 
Registered: Jul '02
7398_Darth Vader
Date Posted: 3/1/05 7:25pm Subject: RE: OK, I'm starting it ... PALPATINE CHARACTER DISCUSSION THREAD!!! - Date Edited: 3/1/05 7:27pm (1 edits total) Edited By: vader_incarnate
I'm on a Shakespeare kick a the moment. Please excuse the randomness. blush

I don't think that a lack of depth for Palpatine is necessarily a bad thing. Take Iago from Othello. Since reading that play, I've looked at Palpatine as something of an Iago-esque villain: he's evil, damned good at being evil, but the Force alone knows why he does what he does. It's what makes Iago one of Shakespeare's most astounding villains: the utter lack of conviction or motivation for why he does what he does. I don't think Palpatine's motivations are ever quite clear, because anything so transparent just wouldn't be Darth Sidious.

Other Shakespearean villain that makes me immediately think Palpatine is Richard III. He's a villain, but so unashamedly so: utterly heinous, manipulative, scheming, and just so damned evil that we can't help but watch with a certain degree of awe. His open allegiance to the dark during the OT and his relentless pursuit of power during the PT fascinate us no less than the good guys and their escapades.

Anyway. happy hugs Yes, I think Palpatine can be a human figure, but I definitely understand the temptations in casting him as evil incarnate.

 

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