Who's side is Padmè really on?

Recently I've been thinking about Anakins reasons for turning/not-turning to the Dark Side.

We've all seen Anakin's tendecies towards anger, and fear, which are both paths to the dark side, but what's kept him from slipping?

IMO it's been his friends. Especially Padmè and Obi-Wan. This is especially evident in the garage scene after Anakin has killed all the Tusken Raiders. Filled with hate, Padmè is the only thing that holds him on the light side.

However, Padmè also has to be Anakin's undoing. Were it not for her, Anakin would not be doing many of the things he's not supposed to do, like falling in love. Anakin is even ready to abandon the Jedi Order for her as witnessed while chasing Dooku.

So in some ways Padmè is what keeps him good, and on the flip side, she's what causes him to fall.

Any other thoughts?

 

Well, I would say she is part of the reason.

Being watched/advised by Palpatine doesn't help him either.

Latre!

 

I think that if Padme dies, which she should, then that is the catalyst that turns Anakin. If everything was hunky dory in the GFFA then I dont think he would have turned.

 

Padme seems to have a lot of duality to her character-servent/queen, innocent/experienced, peaceful/violent, angel/devil. Her relationship with Anakin also being a dual one isn't a suprise; She's his "angel", his savior, but ultimately she may prove to be his final damnation.

I think that if Padme dies, which she should, then that is the catalyst that turns Anakin.

I agree...but I don't want Padme to die!

Why oh why can't those they have a happy ending?

 

"Who's side is Padmè really on?"

The good side.

 

In Ep.III, she'll be on her backside.

 

Actuall in Epi. III, I'll be on her backside

-Yoda

 

Padmè is on the 'good' side. She may provide the catalyst which turns Ani to the darkside, but I don't see her as being evil in motivation. So although she turns Ani to the dark side (indirectly), she is still a 'good' character.

 

Padme is on the goodside but she definitely plays a role in Anakin's turn.

 

Padme is VERY manipulative. She is to blame for a lot what has happened to Anakin.

 

Padme is VERY manipulative. She is to blame for a lot what has happened to Anakin.

How do you figure? I think she bumbles a bit especially in regardles to love and Anakin. I agree with Yomin_Carr, she is on the 'good' side but she doesn't really have evil motivation for doing so. I think she, just like Jar Jar with the senate, is a person with good intentions which don't turn out that way.

 

She may be a good guy, but I suspect that she's attracted to Anakin's dark tendencies.

Note that she declares her love for him after he's admitted to killing the Tusken Raiders and when they're in mortal danger.

 

Well if she could just turn him down it might help but still he would be emotionally attached to her.

 

How do you figure?

She uses Anakin to bounce her feelings off - the fireplace is a great scene for this - and she plays on his weaknesses.

She manipulates Anakin to rescue Obi-Wan, argues with him over his role as protector in front of Queen Jamillia. She likes to twist things to her advantage - exactly as Obi described politicians.

 

Padme is on neither the good nor the bad sides, shes a politician, she's on her side and the side of the people she represents.

 

I think there's a chance that Padme is such an influence over Anakin, that he would listen to anything she says, or follows any action that she takes in the next film.

It's obvious that she's a powerful influence over him at the end of Aotc. He lied to Obi-Wan in a strong sense that he was only escorting Padme back to Naboo, when in fact it was to marry her. So she's even at that early point, she was getting Anakin to hold things back from Obi-Wan.

So I think it will be that influence that will be Anakin's cause of falling from grace.

So in answer to the question, I think Padme is on her side. She is out for herself, and what she wants.

 

I've never really like Padme's character. She is a tease, selfish and she puts Anakin under the thumb.

 

"Padme is VERY manipulative. She is to blame for a lot what has happened to Anakin."

"She manipulates Anakin to rescue Obi-Wan, argues with him over his role as protector in front of Queen Jamillia. She likes to twist things to her advantage - exactly as Obi described politicians."

"She is a tease, selfish and she puts Anakin under the thumb."

I think someone had a bad Valentine's Day

 

I think Padme will most definatly be instrumental in the fall of Anakin though I think it will be unwittingly. I think that she herself is good as is Jar Jar but,she will accidently help create Vader as Jar Jar helped create the Galactic Empire

 

>>>>Filled with hate, Padmè is the only thing that holds him on the light side.

Not true.

"I'm a Jedi, I know I'm better than that (killing the Tuscans)."

What's keeping Anakin holding on to the Light Side is his training & deep down 'goodness', aka conscience.

On what side is Padme really on, if that question means 'either the Sith's or the Jedi's', the answer is neither.
The Republic, who's supposed to be the good guys? No, not their side either.

What motivates Padme?

In watching the 2 PT EP's recently, it dawned on me that Padme is a pacifist......

"I will not condone a course of action that will lead us to war." as the Trade Federation invades Naboo.

"I have not fought against The Military Creation Act for a year to not be here to see it's fate decided."

"If the Senate votes to create an Army of the Republic, I'm sure it will push us into a civil war if the Seperatists feel threatened."

"I'm a diplomat" & she's looking for a "diplomatic solution" on Geonosis (until they attempt to execute her).

Now in all these cases, we know the whole story, & Padme knows alot of it too, yet all she sees with 'tunnel' vision is only how to preserve peace.......

BTW, Padme does not manipulate Anakin into rescuing Obi-Wan. Anakin is reluctantly resigned to follow orders. She is simply giving him a way to both follow Mace's orders AND rescue OB1.

 

BTW, Padme does not manipulate Anakin into rescuing Obi-Wan. Anakin is reluctantly resigned to follow orders. She is simply giving him a way to both follow Mace's orders AND rescue OB1.

You're kidding, right?...

 

I can see from your few posts I've read that you have an 'unusual' view of things, friend.........

"You heard Master Windu, he gave me strict orders to stay here."

"He gave you strict orders to protect me, & I'm going to rescue Obi-Wan. If you want to protect me, you'll just have to come with me."

Is it my imagination, or doesn't Anakin smile at that point, indicating he's PLEASED with the idea, not feeling manipulated?

In fact, he's not being manipulated as explained in previous my post as anyone with an unbiased view could see.

Now, does that mean Padme doesn't send 'mixed signals' , i.e., manipulation (if you wish) to Anakin about her interest?

No, in fact she does. It's often a typical girl thing. Many ladies wear a revealing outfit & then complain that this guy's checking them out (put up your sheild, Obi-GYN).
Padme clearly does this to Anakin by telling him not to "look at me that way." & then wearing half a dress much of the time......

In all fairness to Padme though, I see Anakin giving HER the kiss & her allowing him to, not her giving Anakin "the kiss you should never have given me."

But, I guess the dialogue is a man's view of things: "It's my right to get everything I can from a girl until she stops me & put all the responsibility on her for the actions & consequences."

Sorry for the social commentary, but it fits the story IMHO.

 

"You heard Master Windu, he gave me strict orders to stay here."

"He gave you strict orders to protect me, & I'm going to rescue Obi-Wan. If you want to protect me, you'll just have to come with me."

Is it my imagination, or doesn't Anakin smile at that point, indicating he's PLEASED with the idea, not feeling manipulated?

Yeah, but Anakin is already going against the wishes of the Jedi by being on Tatooine: he is suppose to be protecting Padme on Naboo.

MACE: We will deal with Count Dooku. The most important thing for you, Anakin, is to stay where you are. Protect the Senator at all costs. That is your first priority.

Padme twists the situation to get him to go to Geonosis when both should be on Naboo. Padme played the 'father' game on Anakin to get him to take her to Geonosis. Very manipulative.

And let's not forget she also used Anakin in trying to find out who was killing her in the second assassination attempt...