Darth Vader, Dark Lord of the Darth Sidious, was the scourge of the Jedi, a master of the dark side of the Force, and one of the Emperor's most trusted servants. He wasn't always a fearsome enforcer. Born from a virgin birth to Shmi, a slave on Tatooine, Anakin Skywalker was introduced in “The Phantom Menace”. Discovered by maverick Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, Anakin was taken before the Jedi Council to be trained by Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi. Ten years later, in “Attack of the Clones”, he protects Padmé and they fall in love. Anakin fights Count Dooku, but is defeated, losing his right forearm. Back on Coruscant, he is fitted with a prosthetic hand, and marries Padmé in a secret ceremony.
After three years, in “Revenge of the Sith”, Anakin is portrayed as a full-fledged Jedi Knight. Padmé is pregnant, and Anakin keeps getting visions about her dying. Anakin then pledges himself to the dark side after Darth Sidious promises to save Padmé, and is given the Sith title and name Darth Vader.
In the original trilogy, “A New Hope”, “The Empire Strikes Back”, and “Return of the Jedi”, he comes face to face with Leia and Luke. He cuts off Luke's hand and tries to bring Luke to the dark side and confesses to being their father; however, Luke refuses. Vader telepathically probes Luke's mind, learns Leia is his daughter, and threatens to turn her to the dark side. Luke nearly kills him; he looks at his father's mechanical hand and his own, and realizes that he is becoming like Vader himself. Vader saves Luke's life from his master.
As Vader lays dying, he asks Luke to remove the mask. His mask and life support removed, Anakin looks upon Luke for the first and last time. He then dies, his body disappearing into the light side of the Force. |
