Was Anakin wrong to love Padme?

I always have thought that it was all right for the Jedi to have romantic relationships. But AOTC made Anakin's love for Padme seem wrong. It made their marriage seem like a mistake. Palpatine seems to have wanted them to fall in love, a la his suggestion that Obi-Wan and Anakin protect Padme. Anakin is certainly very smart and wise, but he is immature in AOTC. Being intelligent does not mean that one is mature. Anakin may have been right to love Padme when he was ready for relationships, I think. There would have been nothing wrong with it had he have been more grown up.

What do you think? Was it right or wrong for Anakin to love Padme?

 

It isnt "wrong" to love anything or anyone. On your other issues you should refer to the Jedi code of ethics. All your answers are there.

In the end they spell out, yes. He was wrong. From a certain point of view.

 

Loving something is and can never be "wrong"

Technically, he IS wrong in 'acting' on that love and disregarding his "commitment" as if it was nothing

But hey, it's Natalie Portman - i don't care if God himself forbade me to 'try' something, i'd go for it

 

Jedi code of ethics
I feel incredibly ignorant but, what are they exactly?
Back to the topic, its not just Anakin here, Padme loves him too so he is not wholly to blame if it is considered wrong. But because of the fact that they both love each other, their love really can't be called wrong at all, its only a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

the Jedi code forbids Jedi to fall in love - they view attachment as dangerous, as emotion can cloud judgement.

But it's never wrong to love - it's just the way you go about fulfilling it that can cause trouble.

 

There is nothing wrong with being in love. The problem is pursuing that love if you have already devoted your life to other things. Anakin had decided to become a Jedi, thus he should have followed the code as it demanded, regardless of his personal feelings. Now, some of you may not condone some of the practices of the Jedi Council, but Anakin was one of few that had a personal choice to become a Jedi. It was never forced on him. As such, he is even more responsible for taking responsibility for his actions than most. If he wanted to go through with his love for Padme, he should've left the Order like he had originally insinuated. Anakin's problem is that he wanted everything without accepting the fact that you sometimes have to sacrifice one thing for another.

He was selfish, basically. That's what he did wrong. What really confuses me, though, is that Jedi did exist outside of the Order. I have no idea why Anakin couldn't feel he could just finish his studies, leave it later on, and then marry Padme...but then again, we're back to that selfish argument. He wanted the prestige, the power, and the love all at once.

 

He was selfish, basically. That's what he did wrong. What really confuses me, though, is that Jedi did exist outside of the Order. I have no idea why Anakin couldn't feel he could just finish his studies, leave it later on, and then marry Padme...but then again, we're back to that selfish argument. He wanted the prestige, the power, and the love all at once.

Exactly like Lucas was saying you choose the darkside my friend and you lose everything/ You cant be in love and kill children at the same time make a choice>Anakin made his.

 

Interesting topic...
It made their marriage seem like a mistake.
There's lots of foreshadowing, but it didn't seem wrong to me, just reckless, because Anakin had already devoted his life to the Jedi. I think trying to balance this double-life was the big mistake. But then again, how could he have chosen sides? Could he have just walked out on the Jedi at the start of the Clone Wars (of all times) to go live on Naboo with Padme? The jedi seem to strongly believe he has a destiny to fulfill.

I think it was inevitable for him to love her(and vice-versa), and it happened at the wrong time..which to me makes it more of a tragedy than a mistake.

 

Yes, because he was training to become a JEDI. he knew he was breaking the rules when he married Padme. Possesion is forbidden

What happens to Anakin is the reason why there are rules like this

 

It seems wrong, but mostly because he was forced to hide his feelings from everybody else. I think Luke eventually gets married in the EU without leaving his Jedi heritage, and nothing goes wrong there. Even if we disregard the EU I doupt anyone believes that Leia didn't marry Han or that she didn't train as a Jedi after the OT. Perhaps the counsil was wrong to have enforced such rules upon the order.

What could have happened if the Jedi could have relationships without consequence as they apparently do post ROTJ? Nothing at all. No secrets, no downfall, no OT. Anakin would have killed Palp in a heartbeat.

So it was everybody's mistake, not only Anakins and Padme's but the counsil's as well. The couple was wrong because they didn't fight openly for their love, the counsil because they had classified love as forbidden.

That's my two cents anyway.

 

What happens to Anakin is the reason why there are rules like this

Pizza, has it exactly right.

Who on this board has been in Love or have been married? I have 2 questions which may answer why a Jedi is not to have emotional ties to another:

1) What bad emotions come out from being in a relationship???

2) What emotions doES Yoda list that lead to the Darkside of the Force???

Also, What emotions come about when you start going after possesions??? Can these same emotions lead to the Darkside???

Now mix this with what training occurs while in the Jedi Order. The Jedi teach how to use the Force to do incredible things. If Leia never gets trained she can't use the Force to its full potential, therefore she does have the opportunity to get married. But if you are trained to use the Force, getting emotionally envolved w/ someone is EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

 

I was just thinking about this last night and I thought I should pose my question here...Do you think that because Anakin knows that he is forbidden from falling in love and marrying etc. that Padme became even more desirable? I think that might explain a lot about Anakin's turn to the dark side; along with his selfishness, he is also rebellious and won't take no for an answer...Just a thought I have to get out there

 

Priests get married everyday Daniel. I doupt that they have bad feelings. I think it could work for the Jedi if they were up to facing the challenge. After a fashion they are afraid to love which seems very stupid.To me at least.

 

It seems to me that part of what GL is trying to say with the prequels is that the Jedi of the Old Republic made a mistake in forbidding love.

In the New Republic of the EU, Luke marries Mara Jade and everyone makes merry.

Romantic love is essential for psychological health. When the urge to love is suppressed, as among Catholic priests, it can force its way out in all kinds of twisted ways.

Thus, Anakin was not wrong to give his heart to the beautiful, dynamic Padme. It was wrong of the Jedi to prevent him from doing so.

 

I'm not saying Anakin was wrong for falling in love. Falling in love is natural and neither right nor wrong. What was wrong is Anakin persuing a relationship.

Ker-Soth, Again - have you ever been in love or married??? Do people in relationships ever feel "anger", "jealousy", "fear" or even "agression"???

Common even one of my favorite preachers confessed to getting into arguements w/ his wife.

...Luke marries Mara Jade.

Luke was also able to calm himself even when Palpatine tried to drive Luke to the darkside w/ only a very short period of training. He did not have the benefit of a life time of Jedi training. Luke may be the exception (like Anakin was the exception - i.e., coming back from the darkside), or he still may be in danger of falling to the darkside. Plus, how much does Luke actually know of the Old Jedi Order???

Unfortunately I have not the pleasure of reading a lot of the EU. (I've only read maybe 3 books)

 

As has been said, from the point of view of the Jedi Code, yes it was wrong. There are definitely reasons why attachment is forbidden, because love can be a distraction (look at how Anakin almost went back to get Padme after she fell out of the ship...thus almost jeopardizing the entire mission of capturing Dooku...nevermind that the mission failed anyway).

In the EU, this rule does not stand and it seems to work just well for the mostpart. But Anakin was a part of the Old Jedi Order and blatantly disregarded their rules (not too surprising, since he has issues with authority).




The Cleric 007

 

What I'm trying to say is that Love is more than a distraction. I'm going to say that the emotional swings of love could potentially drive you to the darkside.

The reason a lot of people think the PT is boring and that it lacks some humour element is that Jedi are boring monks. The reason they are boring monks is the need to control emotions. Why else do you see Qui-gon kneel and meditate when fighting Maul. Why else are the Jedi counsel afraid of "fear","anger", "agression". The tempation to use the force for your own means when these bad emotions are felt is too great. "Once you go down the path of the Darkside, forever will it control your destiny" (or whatever Yoda says).

"the darkside, is easier, quicker, more seductive"

Then Yoda says that one line that I can't fully remember, "A Jedi must have the fullest commitment...etc., etc." (could somebody complete this quote for me? Thanks )

Now remember, I said potential danger. Like Vertigern said, Luke married. But again he may be an exception or he may still be in danger. I'll go w/ the exception, since Anakin was also an exception.

 

Yes Daniel I have been in love. Deeply trully in love if you want. That's why I know that the right person beside you makes everything better, never worse. And arguing over a slice of pizza does not lead you to the dark side. Maybe to the cold side(of the bed) but that's it.

And yes though it may be hard to believe but there are actually real people that don't fly off the handle with every little detail. If a couples arguments are more intence than Ben's and Anakin's was in Padme's suite, they need proffesional help.

And don't start with some "friendship vs love" thing. The Jedi are in constant unison with the Force.They can see in other people's hearts. They are taught all kinds of philosophy and the like. They are supposed to be more than simply wise and smart. If they cannot enter in a relationship and behave like adults and not like 16 year old spoiled brats that fall in love every other day, then they are emotionaly immature which contradicts their entire existence. The greatest emotional maturity comes from love,not friendship,or duty.That's how I see it anyway.

 

I dunno if this has anything to do with this post but I thought it while reading all the postings.

If you look at Anakin and Luke's childhood they're both similiar yet different.

Anakin grows up as a slave with only a loving mother never knowing a caring father. The only father figures he comes in contact with are probably criminals n slave owners

Luke grows up a farmboy with a loving n caring aunt n uncle. He doesn't know his father either or mother but have two loving n caring people act as his father n mother.

IMO Luke upbringing is in balance with a caring mother n father while Anakin's is out of balance only having a caring mother and most of the father figures in Anakin's life, exception of Obi Wan, are not what you'd call good infulences.

This could explain some ( or maybe not) of how Anakin and Luke react to love.

 

I find it hard to say love is wrong, its such a powerful human emotion but I do believe as stated above that Anakin was 'wrong' to act on his love for Padme. It does well for a love story but personally I believe what Anakin and Padme did was wrong.

 

Ker-sloth,

Even the best of Lovers will piss each other off. Why else is there a 50% divorce rate. And if it takes only 2 fully trained Sith to disrupt the entire galaxy, the odds aren't very good to risk Jedi to have emotional attachments.

In the context of the SW Universe where you have special / powerful beings involved I don't see where I'm not correct. And I am definitely willing to admit where I err.

I'm refering to what has been spoken and Yoda never qualifies [bwhere[/b] the emotions of "fear", "anger" or "aggression" come from. He just seems to teach that they should be avoided if at all possible.

 

It's Ker-Soth if you don't mind.

Yes even the best of lovers will piss each other. I do not argue with that, but with the fact that Jedi are supposed to have a great deal of spiritual maturity. I find it hard to believe that they can trust the Force to give them wisdom in all other matters exept love. It's like demonizing it. A very calm and wise etc person will be like that always not always exept-things-regarding-love.

I mean have you never met someone that is frustratingly (to the others) calm?

Or imagine Qui-Gon who finds the strength to meditate during the pause of the duel. Wouldn't he be able to so equal wisdom in a relationship,to avoid conflicts and the Dark Side? I believe he would.

 

Thus, Anakin was not wrong to give his heart to the beautiful, dynamic Padme. It was wrong of the Jedi to prevent him from doing so.

No it was wrong for Anakin to pursue it like he did. He wanted to become a jedi for that to happen you need to make up your mind about committment. Also he became too possessive and obsessive over his love for Padme. There is nothing wrong with love but undertand there is a difference between loving someone and trying to possess someone. I think Anakin got the two confused.

 

I think that you are making the mistake of looking at this in the context of normal people. The Jedi have an affinity with the force, including the dark side. Considering the slippery slope that everyone who dabbles with it seems to be on and the countless warnings from those in the wise, you must respect it. It is like a drug that dominates the user's destiny, and perhaps we cannot relate. Just as a reformed drug or alcohol abuser must avoid certain situations or actions that might send them spiraling out of control, a jedi must admit that he is vulnerable to the dark side. To toy with attachment is to toy with the dark side, and with 10,000 Jedi, the odds of disasters are high.

And disregarding the EU, I think Luke was pure old-school Jedi, and that is why he succeeded in ROTJ.

 

That could make an entire new thread. Did Anakin realy love her? Since Lucas is trying to sell a tragic love story in AOTC I think it's best we treat it that way,however we may see it.I have my doupts too,but maybe that just because we already know he'll turn to the Dark Side later.


Edit:I believe Luke is a lot more than old-school, and disregarding the EU I'd still imagine him having a family, completing his success in all sectors his father failed. It would be hard to think of himself as someone who souldn't have existed.