Could the galaxy forgive Anakin Skywalker?

It was the intention of Luke to redeem his father by bringing him back to the lightside. He had hoped that Anakin would survive, but at the end of ROTJ he dies.

But what if he had not? Could the galaxy forgive Anakin? Or would they demand the death penalty like so many other Imperial war criminals? Would they understand the distinction between the light and dark side and let him survive?


I understand that in an infinities Vader survives and has an all white suit. But it doesn't actually say anything about the galaxy's response to this.

 

It's hard to say, but for the general population, probably. To the averge joe Vader was just an Imperial symbol, a celebrity he saw on recruiting posters and in the news. The rebels, on the other hand, would have alot of trouble forgiving and forgetting, and most of them probably wouldn't have. It took his own daughter almost four years to forgive him even when he did die, and even then she still held resentments.

 

No.

 

Why? What did Anakin do to the galaxy? He hurt the people around him the most, the peopole he saw everyday. Some Joe Smoe on Rylos 7 out the boonies has no beef with Vader. Most people don't. Ever notice that the only people that start whining about how Vader wronged them are the ones that want something out of Luke or Leia? Most people only saw Vader from a distance. He wasn't exactly Mr. Sociability.

I think scum like Prince Xizor, a pimp and a ganster, hurt more people directly than Vader did. Vader is horrifying to Jedi, but to other people? Who knows. It's a story from the Jedi POV.

But what if he had not? Could the galaxy forgive Anakin? Or would they demand the death penalty like so many other Imperial war criminals? Would they understand the distinction between the light and dark side and let him survive?

Why not? They don't even care about what the Vong did, and that was what the Empire did times 100,000. And they get to have a free planet and do as they please, like they were blameless friends, not genocidal maniacs on an indescribable scale..

 

I think the question is, can Anakin Skywalker forgive the galaxy? He brought balance to the Force, to be remembered only as a tyrant.

 

NO.
bringing balance to the force does nothing to erase his crimes while on the darkside.

 

For once, T_F and I agree. The Empire didn't really effect the average citizen, and Vader even less so. The only folks who would have a vendetta against him are rebels and Jedi and their descendants, and the latter two are mostly gone anyway. The average person might even be miffed at his defection.

EDIT: What crimes? Killing Jedi? They were rebelling against the legally established authority-- enemies of the state, if you will. Most people hated Jedi anyway. Killing officers? Internal discipline, likely not known to anyone outside the military. Killing rebels? They're terrorists, extremists, and anarchists, bent on the overthrow of the legally established government. Blowing up Alderaan? Tarkin did that, Vader was there only as an observer. His presence probably wan't public knowledge.

To the common Imperial citizen, Vader's a hero at best, a distant symbol (think Uncle Sam) at worst.

 

About the same time the world forgives Hitler.

 

Why not? "The galaxy" treats Mara Jade like a living saint.

 

ah yes mara it only took you one post to bring her up shelley.

 

The Empire didn't really effect the average citizen, and Vader even less so.

Unless you were Wookiee, Bothan, Ithorian, Falleen, or any of many of the non-human races that were pushed from being equals under the Republic to being subordinates or even slaves or test subjects under the Empire, even directly under Darth Vader's grasp...

Even Luke Skywalker, just a farmboy on a backwater world with a minimal Imperial presence claimed that he hated the Empire in ANH even before he got involved with the Rebellion. "It's not that I like
the Empire. I hate it!"


The only folks who would have a vendetta against him are rebels and Jedi and their descendants, and the latter two are mostly gone anyway. The average person might even be miffed at his defection.

Right... because everyone thought that the enslavement of Wookiees was OK, the destruction of Alderaan was OK, taking over Cloud City was OK, wiping clean a good chunk of the Falleen population was OK, etc. There's a lot of people who chafed under the Emperor's rule, and the viciousness of Vader's tactics in enforcing that rule. As the former number two guy in the Galactic Empire, there would be a lot of people clamoring for his head, even if he had "reformed".

 

I think even Vader felt he should die for his crimes. He didn't try any alternative means to kill Palpatine, like calling Luke's saber to his left hand and stabbing Palpatine with it.

No, he used the method that had the highest probability of success, but also the highest probability of killing him.

I think his willingnes to die was a strong part of his redemption.

 

some criminals wish to die so that they don't have to face their victims or the justice system. basically death for them is another escape from the law.

at any rate, i don't think vader wanted to die. i think he used a physical attack on the emperor because he wasn't strong enough at that time to try a force attack without it being sensed by palpatine.

 

some criminals wish to die so that they don't have to face their victims or the justice system. basically death for them is another escape from the law.

THAT is very true. You could be right. I wasn't saying Vader wanted to die. Just that he felt he deserved to after his son spared his life.

Then again I'm just saying what I'd like to believe.

 

I wasn't saying Vader wanted to die. Just that he felt he deserved to after his son spared his life.


True redemption would be Vader wanting to atone for his past crimes, and that would mean living. I'm not sure at that point Vader had thought that all the way through, but he did find the start of the path to the light - by giving up on the dark path - and save his son, who risked all to save him (which is what anakin tried to do for his mother).

 

Yes, he brought balance to the force...After killing all the Jedi.

Slimy!

 

The Empire didn't really effect the average citizen, and Vader even less so.

Unless you were Wookiee, Bothan, Ithorian, Falleen, or any of many of the non-human races that were pushed from being equals under the Republic to being subordinates or even slaves or test subjects under the Empire, even directly under Darth Vader's grasp...

Well, he was a slave too. It's hard for him to feel sympthy for what he was himself. He was a slave til ten, and then in the oppressive order for 13. That's longer thant he Empire lasted, and he's not that free there either.

Even Luke Skywalker, just a farmboy on a backwater world with a minimal Imperial presence claimed that he hated the Empire in ANH even before he got involved with the Rebellion. "It's not that I like
the Empire. I hate it!"

He was saying that in the teenage, parroting way. In reality, he knew nothing of the Empire at that point. He just parroted Biggs to be "cool'. He was dying to join the Imperial Academy, too. Luke didn't hear much where he was. The first taste he has of the empire's abuses, not Vader's, is when they blasted his foster parents.

Vader is only one person, despite what reach he had.

 

ah yes mara it only took you one post to bring her up shelley.

And it only took you one post for you to complain about me bringing her up.

Even Luke Skywalker, just a farmboy on a backwater world with a minimal Imperial presence claimed that he hated the Empire in ANH even before he got involved with the Rebellion. "It's not that I like
the Empire. I hate it!"

But wait...I thought the EU said the Empire was really pretty good! That it was wrong of Luke to destroy the Death Star! That the Empire was filled with humanitarians who only killed bad, corrupt people! That it was simpleminded and unfair to think of the Empire as evil! That the Empire provided the order the galaxy needed, was a lawfully instituted government and the Rebels were traitors, which is why the defeat of the Empire didn't affect the galaxy as a whole...oh, wait, it did, with the galaxy-wide celebration.

 

Eh, Shelley, if anything the EU portrayed the Imperials as even worse than Lucas did... unless you consider sucking out everyone's souls, infecting an entire populace with a lethal disease, or regularly incinerating planets admirable actions...

 

Well, he was a slave too. It's hard for him to feel sympthy for what he was himself. He was a slave til ten, and then in the oppressive order for 13. That's longer thant he Empire lasted, and he's not that free there either.


wait, you are saying that it is hard for a former slave to sympathize with other enslaved beings?

remember in TPM:
ANAKIN: I had a dream I was a Jedi. I came back here and freed all the slaves...have you come to free us?
QUI-GON : No, I'm afraid not...
ANAKIN : I think you have...why else would you be here?

and later on:
ANAKIN: I will come back and free you, Mom...I promise.

something tells me that anakin sympathized with the plight of slaves all too well. or are you saying that darth vader has completely given up a key issue of his past life.

 

Yeah, I think he has. He's basically bitter now, so what "goes around, comes around". If he suffered then so can anyone else. Misery loves company, no?

 

Anakin's "slave" life was better than many people's free lives. He and his mom live in their own house. He does a total of three things for Watto: look after the shop, fix things, and fly podracers. He has enough spare time to build his own pod and 3po. His horrible life is bringing me to tears as I type....

 

Oh, yes, because we all know there can't possibly be any psychological effects of being treated, owned, and sold like property.

 

yah, because evan if the thread has nothing to do with mara you bring her up at the drop of hat,with the amount of threads you've derailed i have every right to point this pointless anger at an fictional charater out,its very pathetic on your part the way you keep bringing a fictional to abuse to the point you do, get al life shelley.