What's Palpatine's motivation?

Maybe this is a silly question, but what does Palpatine want with the galaxy? He's evil, yes, thirst for power, yeah, got it... but as Emperor, what does he actually want to do? Of course he wants to wipe out the Jedi, but is that the only reason he rises to power? What then?

 

What did Hitler, Napoleon, Alexander the Great and a few others want?

It's the ultimate game - unify as much as possible.

 

[The Oracle]What do all men with power want? More power.[/The Oracle]

He became Emperor because that was the only option available to control the Galaxy. Well, he made it available. But absolute power corrupts absolutely.

But for what end and purpose? There is no answer to that question. Power is the only reason in a literal sense. Would he have killed all the Jedi if they would have turned to the Dark Side? Probably not. Of course that's highly unlikely, but I don't think killing the Jedi was his ultimate goal. The destruction of the Jedi was only a consequence of the Sith rising again. Perhaps it was a test for Vader... maybe we'll find out.

But the answer is simple. Palpatine is evil. Unlike Vader, he is portrayed as one dimensional. He was always evil, and only became more so until his death. It is never explained why. He represents all that is evil in the world, our world and in turn the GFFA. He is, oddly enough, the opposite of Anakin's tragic hero. And required in the definition of a tragic hero...there needs to exist "A person more evil that the Tragic Hero himself". That person needs to exist in all Epic stories. That's his purpose.

 

Power!

Big, total, I-can-kick-your-ass-any-day-of-the-week, power!

 

To control it...


































...and get chicks

Money doesn't grow on trees, it grows on my trees

 

jabba_the_nut: "Maybe this is a silly question, but what does Palpatine want with the galaxy?"

Why not want the galaxy, I mean look at it!

"He's evil, yes, thirst for power, yeah, got it... but as Emperor, what does he actually want to do? Of course he wants to wipe out the Jedi, but is that the only reason he rises to power? What then?"

...then he'll take over Star Bucks!

 

Pure power and a Second Golden Age of the Sith.

-Jedi Master Zax Starwalker

 

...and chicks

 

I would say that he also wants to be above everyone else - he's arrogant and full of himself. I think he would enjoy lording things over other people, saying he has power and they have none. 'Cause he's an evil guy.

 

then he'll take over Star Bucks!

This is the most evil organization there is however. Just ask Mr. 2.

 

>But the answer is simple. Palpatine is evil.

I suppose that's the honest answer. It says that the Empire is evil right there in the ANH opening crawl, and it's pretty much left at that. Still, even given the fact that he's evil, I have to wonder exactly what his policy as a public figure would be such that there's a rebellion trying to overthrow him. I mean, it's not hard to imagine the sorts of things Hitler or Alexander the Great might have done if they'd managed to control and hold the entire world, and there would certainly be a lot of people that wouldn't appreciate being under their rule.

OTOH, in the Emperor's case, I just have this scene going through my head...

INT. EMPEROR'S THRONE ROOM

DARTH VADER: The last of the Jedi have been exterminated, my master.

THE EMPEROR: Excellent work, my apprentice. The galaxy is now mine. Muhahahahahahaha!

DARTH VADER: Now, what is thy bidding?

THE EMPEROR: Uh... [scratches head]

DARTH VADER: [taps foot patiently, checks watch]

THE EMPEROR: ...go oppress some people or something! And bring me some chicks while you're out!

DARTH VADER: [shrugs] Indeed I have been wanting to oppress some people. It shall be done.

 

He also wants revenge for something the jedi did. I'm assuming it's a reference to the Jedi destroying the Sith. That was at least Darth Maul's motivation.

 

Jabba... funny stuff.

I have to wonder exactly what his policy as a public figure would be such that there's a rebellion trying to overthrow him.

Yes... indeed. People must have figured out his evil intentions- join the Empire or die. And I'm sure the Jedi didn't go out without a fight as well as a large amount of political uproar.

I mean, it's not hard to imagine the sorts of things Hitler or Alexander the Great might have done if they'd managed to control and hold the entire world, and there would certainly be a lot of people that wouldn't appreciate being under their rule.

I'd say they did plenty without controlling the entire world, althogh Alexander conquered much of the known world. And there were lots of people that rebelled aganist them. It worked in Hitler's case... ancient cases are different. The "barbarians" rebelled aganist the Roman Empire, but because the Romans were so advanced they won battles. The less advanced cultures were absorbed. But the Romans were more benevelont in their rule over these new cultures than the Empire is. The Rebellion's problem is numbers not technology. But they overcame that, largely because of Luke. All great Empires eventually collapse either under their own weight or because of the constant onslaught of "rebels"... hard to say which would have happened, had Luke and Vader not fulfilled the Prophecy.

 

>I'd say they did plenty without controlling the entire world, althogh Alexander conquered much of the known world

Yes, that's sort of what I was trying to get at - they (particularly Hitler) had agendas and goals outside of simply gaining control. In Palpatine's case, the only thing I can come up with is the elimination of the Jedi.

The best idea I have as to why the empire is actually evil in practice (instead of being a fairly nice government to live under that just happens to have an evil leader) comes from the ANH prologue... if might be that the Emperor just doesn't care what's going on, so long as he has ultimate control, and all of the bad things happening in the galaxy are the result of lesser politicians and generals and crimelords acting in their own interests.

When that prologue was written, though, I think the Emperor was intended to be more of a figurehead than the mastermind he's portrayed as now.

>All great Empires eventually collapse either under their own weight or because of the constant onslaught of "rebels"... hard to say which would have happened, had Luke and Vader not fulfilled the Prophecy.

I'd say it would perhaps be something like what happened to Alexander's empire - after his death everyone would be left struggling for a piece of the pie. Or perhaps Vader would manage to hold it together and it would end with him, the last trained force-user in the galaxy.

 

well, one would figure that the Empire would continue, as long as Palpatine was alive - how old is he, anyway?

The Rebellion had NO CHANCE - if they didn't have Luke Skywalker.

It's possible that eventually, they could have become powerful enough to hurt the Empire, but then without Luke's strike on the Death Star in ANH, they would have been almost completely wiped out.

Power is control. Palps has absolute control over the lives of billions, people live and die by his whim.

A being like him would likely consider this "fitting".

And I doubt he would have kept the Jedi around, even if they all turned to the Dark Side - then he'd have rivals for the #1 spot.

Isn't that one major reason the Sith have the rule of 2? So that there is always a master and an apprentice who know their respective places.

Even if the Jedi went DS, they would be a threat to him - the first thing a dictator does when they butcher their way to the top is to consolidate their position - remove any person that might be a rival or a threat.

 

Yes, that's sort of what I was trying to get at - they (particularly Hitler) had agendas and goals outside of simply gaining control. In Palpatine's case, the only thing I can come up with is the elimination of the Jedi.

Well the important thing to remember is that this isn't real life. This is real life intensified. Even more than the unbelievable monstrosity that was Hitler. Palpatine doesn't have to have a reason to be evil, he doesn't have to have an agenda. He does want to kill the Jedi (Maul is right, kill off your rivals), but that isn't enough. He wants more power... there is no end to it. Palpatine's character was created as a catalyst for Anakin's fall and redemption. To do that he must be evil- there is no "real" answer or explaination... just that he needs to be. He is fundamentally an icon, a metaphor for all that is evil in (our) world. .

 

Ghost_Jedi: "This is the most evil organization there is however. Just ask Mr. 2. "

Now that makes sense, as by using caffine to draw one into their evil schemes...yes...its all fitting quite nicely into place .

I wonder if perhaps Subway is also involved?
offering false hope of loosing weight on "Jared's Diet" . Its the perfect fool proof plan!

 

Power is its own reward.


Rick McCallum loves you!

 

sidious just wants control over the trillions upon trillions of beings in the galaxy....he just wants power

 

I think he [palpatine] needs to attend GRACG (Galactical Rulers Anonomyous Club Groupings)

You know as to take that six step program to become more down to earth, as he obviously has way too much time on his hand as to come up with such an in depth plan to take over the universe!

 

On a related note, one of the deleted scenes from ROTJ is Emporer Palpatine returning from his honeymoon with Anna Nicole Smith.