PT Why was Anakin chosen as Padme's bodyguard by the Jedi council?

I feel this question might be better suited for a forum where AoTC is discussed.

 

From watching TPM and AOTC, I don't get the impression that it is super uncommon for a Master and an older Padawan (which Anakin probably is at this point) to split up during the course of a mission to better achieve the objectives of the mission. In TPM, Obi-Wan remains with the ship to guard the queen in disguise (Sabe) and all the other handmaidens while Qui-Gon goes into Mos Espa to get the replacement parts needed to make the ship functional again, and it's not really treated as anything unusual that Obi-Wan would do so. He just gets some instructions from Qui-Gon and they keep in touch via comlink on any significant developments. It has the feeling of routine, standard operating procedure to me.

So, I don't think it is an inherently bad idea for an older Padawan like Anakin to be left in the role of bodyguard. His training has prepared him to take such roles and from the perspective of his Force and combat skills he is more than ready to take on such a role.

There is also a lot of friction and butting heads in his relationship with Obi-Wan so if the Council is aware of that tension, they might think it would be good for Anakin and Obi-Wan to spend some time apart.

I get the impression from AOTC that Anakin, like many teenagers, is pushing for independence and the chance to make his own choices. So the Council is giving him that independence and that chance to make his own choices. Anakin is on the cusp of adulthood and becoming a Jedi Knight in his own right in AOTC. Part of being an adult and being a Jedi Knight would be the independence and responsibility of making one's own choices. Anakin isn't a nine-year-old boy any more. He is an immensely talented Padawan who is itching to become a Jedi Knight. A young man who is being given the opportunity to prove his skills and his judgment. His worthiness to become a Jedi Knight as it were. If he never gets such opportunities, it will be difficult for the Council to determine when and if he is ready for Knighthood.

The Council knows that Anakin and Obi-Wan have a history with Padme since Palpatine mentioned it and it is one of the reasons that Padme likely agreed to have Obi-Wan and Anakin assigned to her for her protection in the first place (that and Palpatine pushed for it with no real gracious way for Padme to refuse). However, I am not sure that the Council does know of Anakin's attachment to Padme until Obi-Wan mentions it to Mace and Yoda after Anakin has already received the assignment. As far as the Council knows prior to that, Anakin and Padme, like Obi-Wan and Padme, haven't been in contact for ten years. So I would think that the assumption would have been that Anakin wasn't overly attached to someone he had met ten years ago and hadn't really seen since then.

Anakin's arrogance doesn't make him inherently incapable of being a bodyguard for Padme, and sometimes when arrogant people are given responsibilities and independence, they can begin to realize how much they don't know and become more humble. Sometimes it is easy to think, "I could do a better job" until one is in the position and sees how hard the job can actually be to do.

I am not sure that the Council does know about Anakin's nightmares. Obi-Wan does, but I don't get the impression that he necessarily is reporting them to the Council. A comparison might be that at work I might tell things to my immediate supervisor but she doesn't necessarily pass those same things onto her supervisor unless it is really necessary and important. I could definitely imagine those nightmare conversations being sort of confidential and private between Obi-Wan and Anakin. I think the Master and Padawan bond could be very close and could have a lot of those sort of private conversations and understandings. Masters are very personal sort of mentors and guides to their Padawans, I think, so they probably are more in tune with everything that is going on with their Padawans than the Council which has the whole Order to manage.

As far as the Council knows, Anakin is equipped to deal with the situation, and it is an opportunity for him to demonstrate his skills and judgment. To prove that he is worthy of being considered for the rank of Jedi Knight. That he can take on the responsibility and independence he is craving throughout AOTC. It is an example of the Council not trying to hold Anakin back and trying to give him a chance to grow into the Jedi he could be.

There might be better qualified Jedi for the role at the moment, but the Council is trying to encourage growth within Anakin. It is hard for someone to grow without being given an opportunity to do so.